Chemeketa Foundation Scholarship Application Tips

Follow these tips and best practices to increase your chances of receiving a scholarship offer.

New Scholarship System

In 2023, we launched a new scholarship system to manage applications and award notices. You will still find helpful information from the instructional video below, but please know that the application format and login process have changed.

We appreciate your patience as we work through updating our materials to reflect the changes. In the meantime, please stop by our office on the Salem Campus in Building 5, Room 264 or email us at foundation@chemeketa.edu with any questions.

Tips Before You Begin

If you're a new student, you will need your cumulative GPA from the last educational institution attended or your GED score
You will need your SAI value by filling out your FAFSA or ORSAA application before you apply
You may edit or review your online application at any time during the application window, but changes must be made before the deadline
See our Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page for more information

How to Apply

Applications are accepted February 1 through April 15 each year for the following academic year. Additional application opportunities may come available throughout the academic year during summer and fall terms, though it is highly recommended to get your application submitted as early as possible for the best chance at receiving a scholarship offer.

Complete just one application to be considered for our awards. If you qualify for one of our scholarships, you will be automatically matched in our system to that opportunity and added to a pool of finalists.

Steps to apply –

Visit chemeketa.academicworks.com
Log into the scholarship portal using your Chemeketa user name and password
Select My Applications to fill out the general application
- You can log in to make changes to your application at any time during the application window
- You can update your application materials at any time, until the application deadline, by selecting My Applications and clicking Update under the General Applications section
Eligibility depends on complete answers to all questions

If you have already submitted your application, you will be redirected to your Scholarship Opportunities Dashboard where you can review any pending scholarship offers, or any other items for review.

Foundation Scholarship Application Instructions (PowerPoint)

Scholarship Workshops

We will be hosting virtual workshops over the application cycle to answer questions and assist you in completing our online scholarship application. Below are available times and links to attend. No need to register in advance.

2025 Virtual Workshops- 10 am-12 pm

Feb. 7, 2025
Feb. 14, 2025
Feb. 21, 2025
Feb. 28, 2025
Mar. 7, 2025
Mar. 14, 2025
Mar. 21, 2025
Mar. 28, 2025
April 4, 2025
April 11, 2025

In-person Workshops

For in-person assistance, visit our scholarship coordinator at the Salem Campus in Building 6, Room 127 on:

Tuesday, March 18 between 9 am-noon and 2-5 pm.
Monday, March 24 between 9 am-noon and 2-5 pm.

Short Answer Questions

While these questions are not required, many community-based scholarship may give preference to students responding to prompts regarding obstacles or barriers you've overcome or will need to overcome to be successful in your career, as well as your personal experiences or commitment to specific populations. We encourage you to respond to these questions if they are relevant to your experiences. You will have up to 200 words for each response.

Essay & Activities Questions

In the essay section of the application, you must respond to the first two questions (200-300 words each) –

GOALS ESSAY: Describe your educational and future career goals. Include what steps you have taken and tell us what motivates and/or inspires you to reach these goals. Include how long you have attended Chemeketa, if you have been accepted into your program of study, or if you have applied for or are taking prerequisites for your program of study. Be sure to list your specific program in your essay including which degree or certificate you will be pursuing. Ex: For Hospitality - Event Management Certificate, Lodging Management Certificate, etc.
EXPERIENCE ESSAY: Write about one or more of the following experiences and why it was meaningful for you:
-Been in a leadership position in a school, community or work organization
-Volunteered or worked to help others or to improve your school/community
-Worked at a job that was meaningful to you
-Served in the military
*Answer all that apply. If none apply to you, tell us more about you.
VINEYARD ESSAY: If you are a student in Vineyard Management, you may be considered for the Bryce Bagnall & Supporters of Bryce Scholarship. This scholarship requires applicants to write a 250-300 word essay based on the following instructions –

The Oregon wine industry demonstrated extraordinary generosity to Bryce Bagnall and his family when he was diagnosed with ALS in 2003. As a future member of this wine industry community, how will you carry forward the spirit of community mindedness during your career? List three specific ways you plan to participate in, serve and benefit your Oregon wine industry neighbors and colleagues.

Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Chemeketa Foundation scholarships?

These scholarships are for new or returning students who plan to attend Chemeketa. Contributions come from local businesses, grant organizations, members of the community, and Chemeketa staff.

Where can I see a list of scholarships or get additional information about Chemeketa scholarships?

For more information, including tips and guidelines, visit the Chemeketa Community College Foundation webpage.

Where can I get the application?

The Chemeketa Foundation Scholarship application is available online and you can apply during the application window. We recommend you use Google Chrome and not Internet Explorer when accessing and completing the application.

To apply,
1. Visit chemeketa.academicworks.com
2. Log into the scholarship portal using your Chemeketa username and password
3. Select My Applications to fill out the general application
4. You will not be able to access the application before or after the application period.
What do I need to do before I can apply for the Chemeketa Foundation scholarships?

Everyone interested in applying for these scholarships must first apply for admissions at Chemeketa. The admission form may take up to 10 business days to process. Once the admission form processed, you will be assigned a username and a temporary password. For accepted students, you will log in using your Chemeketa user name and password to access the scholarship application and review your offers.

Do I have to be eligible for FAFSA to receive a scholarship?

No, you do not need to be eligible for federal financial aid to receive a scholarship but students must complete and submit one of the following (whichever applies). Links are available on the scholarship application –
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides access to federal financial aid which includes grants, loans, and Federal Work Study jobs.
- The Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is an alternative to FAFSA for international students, Oregon students including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) status.
What is an SAI (formerly EFC) value?

The SAI is an eligibility index number that your college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attend the school. It ranges from –1500 to 999999. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need. This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide.

I can't find my SAI value.
- In the FAFSA, the SAI value is available in the FAFSA Submission Summary. If your FAFSA form is complete and fully processed, you can find your estimated federal student aid and SAI by:
- Logging in to StudentAid.gov using your account username and password
- Selecting your processed FAFSA submission
- Selecting “View FAFSA Submission Summary; and
- Selecting the “Eligibility Overview” tab of your online FAFSA Submission Summary.
I clicked on one of the links on the application to complete the FAFSA or ORSAA but when I try to go back to the application, it wasn't there. What happened?

When you click on a link, it may open in your current window. To avoid this, right click the link and select Open in New Window. This will allow you to remain in the application. If the application times out, simply log back in, and select Update on your General Application to continue submitting your information. We recommend saving periodically to ensure you do not lose your work.

How do I apply for the different Chemeketa scholarships that you offer?

When you complete the scholarship application online, you will be automatically considered for all the Foundation scholarships based on your eligibility. You will not need to review the list of scholarships or apply to them individually. We recommend you use Google Chrome and not Internet Explorer when accessing and completing the application.

When can I apply?

The Chemeketa Foundation accepts applications once a year. It is available beginning at 12am PST on February 1 and typically closes at 11:59pm on March 31. Your scholarship will be for the following academic year (Summer-Spring).

My personal information on the application is incorrect. How do I correct this?

Contact Enrollment Services at 503.399.5001 to change your personal information.

Do I need to have my GED certificate before I apply for scholarships?

If you do not have a GPA, please call the GED Department at Chemeketa at 503.399.5224 for assistance.

Do I need my GPA or GED score?

Yes, your GPA and/or GED scores are required on the application –
- Current students: your cumulative GPA from the last term you completed at Chemeketa will automatically populate onto the application
- If you have earned a GED and do not have a GPA, please call the GED Department at Chemeketa at 503.399.5224 for assistance and they will convert your GED score to a GPA to enter on the scholarship application
- New students: enter your cumulative GPA from the last educational institution you attended, whether high school or another college
It’s been a long time since I was in high school or I obtained my GED. What do I do?
- Current Chemeketa students: your current GPA is automatically pre-filled to the application
- New students must either –
  - Contact the Board of Education Department in the state you obtained your GED, or
  - Contact the high school you graduated from to obtain an unofficial transcript.
What do I do if my program or major is not listed, or I am not sure what I am going to study?

You can select Other not listed or do not know from the drop down list under Desired Program. Be sure to state your interests of study while at Chemeketa in your goals essay.

Currently, I am in one program, but I am changing to a completely different program next year (ex: from automotive program to nursing). What program do I list on the application?

List the program you intend to pursue for the academic year you are applying for a scholarship. If you are offered a specific program scholarship, you will be required to enroll in the courses for that program.

None of the questions in the Specific Criteria section apply to me. Does that mean I am not eligible for any scholarships?

No, the criteria questions are for specific scholarships. There are several scholarships for students pursuing any certificate or degree.

Do I have to write an essay to receive a scholarship?

Yes, the Goals and Experience essays are required. Otherwise, you may be eliminated from consideration for a scholarship. The other essays are not required, but we suggest you respond to those questions for the best chance at receiving a scholarship. The Scholarship Committee reads essays when considering applicants for scholarships.

Will the information I enter in the application be automatically saved?

The application may time out due to inactivity. If it times out, the information will not be saved. Be sure to periodically save your application while you are working to ensure you do not lose progress. Periodically click the "Save and Keep Editing" button as you work on the application.

For your convenience, the essay questions are also available on the public Chemeketa Foundation webpage. You can type your essay and short answer responses in a Word document and then copy and paste into the application to avoid timing out.

I just realized I entered the wrong information on my application. How can I correct it?

You can log back into the online application to edit or review at any time throughout the application period. You will not be able to access the application after the deadline.

What is the definition of first-generation?

For this application, you are a first-generation student if neither of your parents graduated from college with a bachelor's degree. This does not include brothers, sisters, or other relatives.

How do I know if my application has been received?

After you submit the application, you will receive an email at your My Chemeketa email address confirming it has been received. You can also log back into the scholarship portal to review your submitted application. If you are missing any required information, your dashboard will have a section called Needs Attention where you will see your incomplete application.

Will I be notified whether I get a scholarship or not?

Students will be notified, as committees make their selection, at your My Chemeketa email address beginning in April and throughout the summer. Therefore, it is very important you check your email weekly. If you do not accept the scholarship by the deadline, it will be canceled and re-offered to another student.

Students not selected for a scholarship during the first round will be notified at the end of June. As funds become available, all applications are reconsidered. Therefore, it is important you check your My Chemeketa email weekly throughout the summer.

Do I have to pay back the funds I receive?

The Chemeketa Community College Foundation Scholarship funds are to be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, and other educational expenses. You do not have to pay back funds unless you receive funds and then drop all classes.

I applied for the nursing or dental program, but I don’t expect an acceptance notification to the program until the end of summer. Should I apply for scholarships during the application period?

Yes, you should apply. Students applying for the Nursing, Dental, Fire Science, and Paramedic programs are considered for all scholarships, in addition to scholarships specific to their program. Make sure to select the program you are pursuing as your academic goal – even if you are unsure you will be accepted.

In August, only students who have submitted a scholarship application during the application period and are accepted in the programs listed above will be considered for these scholarships.

I have a question regarding the application. Who can help me?

Scholarship workshops are available throughout the application period. You can email questions to foundation@chemeketa.edu or call the Chemeketa Foundation staff at 503.365.4747. For additional campus contact information:
- Yamhill Valley Campus, Academic Advising, 503.472.9482, email
- Woodburn Center, Academic Advising, 503.981.8820, email
- Polk Center, Academic Advising, 503.623.5567, email
I can’t access the application in My Chemeketa. I keep getting an error message. Who can help me?

Contact the Chemeketa Help Desk at 503.399.7899.