FAQ’S

To be eligible for a scholarship from the Kiwanis Club of Carefree Benefit Foundation:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be an Arizona resident
• You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA (unweighted)
• You must be graduating high school in the Spring of 2026
• You must register and submit your application by the February 15, 2026 (midnight) deadline. No exceptions.

No. While academic performance and achievement are important, we also consider such areas as leadership, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and financial need.

Critera
We understand that each student has a unique educational journey, so multiple criteria are considered when assessing every eligible application that has been completed and submitted. While academic performance and achievement are important, we also consider such areas as leadership, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and financial need. If you are selected as a potential Kiwanis scholarship finalist, you will be required to provide us with your official transcript(s) and the financial aid letter you received from the school you will be attending in the Fall.

Procedures
The Kiwanis Club of Carefree Benefit Foundation and its scholarship committee are required to follow certain procedures and criteria in selecting scholarship recipients and determining the amount of an awarded scholarship. Be aware that simply being eligible for a Kiwanis Club of Carefree scholarship does not guarantee that you will receive any scholarship. The Kiwanis Club of Carefree Benefit Foundation does not discriminate in the selection of scholarship recipients on the basis of race, creed, gender or upon any other prohibited basis.

Interviews
You may be invited and required to complete an interview online or in-person as part of the selection process. However, you may receive an email notification indicating you are selected for a scholarship award with no interview required.

Award Amount/Duration
We award scholarships for students attending 2- and 4-year colleges, and trade schools. The amount and duration of each scholarship is at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee. For example, if you will be attending a 4-year college, the scholarship committee will determine how the total scholarship award is paid out over 1 to 8 semesters. Additionally, the scholarship amount is based on the information you provide during the application and screening process. In the event you enroll at a school that differs from the original information provided, we reserve the right to adjust or revoke our scholarship offer.

PLEASE NOTE
The Kiwanis Club of Carefree offers this scholarship program at its sole discretion and has appointed the scholarship committee as the decision-maker regarding any scholarship awarded. The scholarship committee’s decisions shall be final.

Don’t procrastinate
Procrastination is the enemy of a well-prepared scholarship application. Complete and submit your application while there is ample time to gather information, answer short essay questions, and meet the final deadline by February 15, 2026 (11:59 pm).

It’s about more than your grades
While academic performance and achievement are important (a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5 is required), the scholarship committee considers many other factors such as leadership, community involvement, extracurricular activies, financial need, and even the challenges you’ve overcome.

Seek guidance
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to teachers, mentors, or guidance counselors for advice and feedback. They can provide valuable insights and help you refine your application.

Be genuine in your short essays
The short essay section is your chance to let your personality shine and show what sets you apart from other applicants. Be authentic.

Proofread carefully 
Since attention to detail shows commitment and professionalism, be sure your application is free of errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.).

If you just registered online, simply login and you will be redirected to the application page with your account information. Click “Official Application.” If you started your application and clicked “Save and Resume Later,” you will have received a link to your saved application at the email address you provided. You must use that link to continue from where you left off. The link expires in 30 days, after which time you will have to start the application over. Don’t delay.

Applicants will be notified by email on March 9, 2026 of the status of their application.

Check the inbox (and spam) of the email address used on your application.

Students who are awarded a Kiwanis scholarship are required to provide us with their college student ID number and address for where the scholarship funds are to be sent.

No.

We require students to be enrolled as a full-time student each semester (with a minimum of 12 credit hours).

Only official transcripts sent by the college/university will be accepted.

• Mailing address is: PO Box 1498, Carefree, Arizona 85377

Deadlines for transcripts are as follows:

• Fall semester transcripts received by January 30
• Spring semester transcripts received by June 30

Please submit an email to the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@kiwaniscarefree.org. Or, call the administrative office at 480-597-9731.