Les Best Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Ohio Civil Service Employees Association

Description
**What the Les Best Scholarship Program is**
The Les Best Scholarship Program is an annual OCSEA fund that provides college and vocational financial assistance to active, dues-paying members, their dependent children, and spouses. It supports undergraduate study, full-time vocational/trade/technical programs, and union apprenticeships. The program distributes a total of $12,000 each academic year, allocated across multiple recipient categories.

Key takeaways:
- Annual scholarship fund administered for OCSEA members and qualifying family.
- Supports college, vocational/trade, technical, and apprenticeship programs.
- Total disbursement is $12,000 per academic year.
- Awards are allocated across several defined recipient categories.

Eligibility
**Who may apply**
Eligible applicants include active, dues-paying OCSEA members, their dependent children, and spouses. Dependents can apply for college/vocational/apprenticeship awards; members and spouses may apply for college awards. Eligibility also requires acceptance or enrollment in an accredited college/university, vocational school, trade/technical program, or union apprenticeship (as applicable to the category).

Key takeaways:
- Applicants must be OCSEA active, dues-paying members, or their dependent children or spouses.
- Acceptance or enrollment in an eligible educational or apprenticeship program is required.
- Different award categories apply to dependents, members, and spouses.
- Vocational and apprenticeship applicants have eligibility equal to college applicants for dependent awards.

Award Value
**Amounts and category distribution**
The program awards a fixed $12,000 each year, divided among three categories: Dependents’ College/Vocational Scholarship, Members’ College Scholarship, and Spouses’ College Scholarship. The Dependents’ category receives $8,000 annually (either four $2,000 awards or three $2,000 + two $1,000 awards). The Members’ and Spouses’ categories receive $2,000 each annually (each category awards either two $1,000 scholarships or four $500 scholarships).

Key takeaways:
- Total annual fund: $12,000.
- Dependents’ category: $8,000 total (combinations of $2,000 and $1,000 awards).
- Members’ category: $2,000 total (either two $1,000 or four $500 awards).
- Spouses’ category: $2,000 total (either two $1,000 or four $500 awards).

Application Process
**Required materials and submission basics**
Applicants must complete and sign the Les Best Scholarship application and submit supporting documents that verify enrollment and academic standing. Required materials include an official acceptance letter to the applied program, a 500–1,000-word essay on the annual topic, an academic/professional reference form, and transcripts as appropriate. High school seniors must submit SAT/ACT results unless enrolling in vocational, trade, or technical schools; transcripts are required for Dependent College/Vocational applicants.

Key takeaways:
- Submit a completed, signed scholarship application.
- Provide official acceptance letter to the program or school.
- Include a 500–1,000-word essay on the yearly topic and a reference form.
- Transcripts and SAT/ACT results are required as specified by applicant type.

Application Timeline
**Important dates and deadlines**
The application window opens January 1 and closes at the end of April each year. Applicants must assemble and submit all required documents within that period to be considered for the current academic-year awards. Because the program runs on an annual cycle, late or incomplete submissions are typically not accepted.

Key takeaways:
- Application period: January 1 through the end of April (annual).
- All required materials must be submitted during this window.
- Plan ahead to gather transcripts, test scores, and recommendation(s).

Selection and Award Distribution
**How awards are allocated**
Scholarships are awarded once per academic year from the $12,000 fund and allocated according to the category amounts stated above. Recipients are selected based on the completed application and required supporting documents; the program administrator or designated committee reviews submissions. Exact notification and disbursement procedures are managed by OCSEA and follow the program’s annual schedule.

Key takeaways:
- Winners are chosen annually from submitted applications and supporting documents.
- Awards are distributed according to the pre-set category allocation totaling $12,000.
- Notification and payment follow OCSEA’s internal procedures for the scholarship cycle.

History of the Award
**Program purpose and continuity**
The Les Best Scholarship Program exists as an ongoing OCSEA-funded initiative intended to increase access to postsecondary education and trade training for members and their families. It operates on an annual funding cycle and has become a recurring opportunity for eligible applicants to receive targeted financial assistance. Specific founding details or inception dates are managed by OCSEA and are not required to apply.

Key takeaways:
- The program is an ongoing OCSEA initiative for educational support.
- It functions on an annual grant cycle providing recurring opportunities.
- Applicants do not need historical background information to apply; focus on current eligibility and materials.