Guild of Oregon Woodworkers

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Scholarship Program

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Guild's Scholarship is intended to preserve and pass on the craft of woodworking. Currently, scholarships are available to Guild members only.

The Guild's Scholarship Program relies on the generosity of our Members and Community Institutions. If you would like to donate, please do so at the Guild's Donate page. Make sure you select the Scholarship checkbox.

If you know of public or private organizations (companies, trusts, foundations etc.) willing to donate please notify us at scholarship@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org

What Scholarships are available?

At present, we provide two types of Scholarships to Guild members seeking to advance their woodworking skills and careers:

General Scholarship
Oregon Community Fund (OCF) Career Training Scholarship

Each scholarship type is described in the sections below including details of qualifying criteria, application process, the application itself and important dates.

How are Scholarships awarded?

The Scholarship Team considers the relative strength of the applications and the available funds at the time of award. The criteria for selection is outlined for each of the available scholarships.

How can I apply?

Click here for the Application
Complete attachments per instructions in the Application
Be willing to participate in a brief phone interview

NOTE:

Our Application form does not accept Attachments: To have a complete application you will need to submit your Statement of Purpose as an attachment separately via email per instructions in the Application form
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your Application within 7 days, please reach out to us directly at scholarship@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org

What is a Statement of Purpose?

The Statement of Purpose is the way you can represent yourself to the scholarship team. It is not necessary for it to be a lengthy document. What we are specifically looking for are: your background, your interest areas, your current skills, your objectives, obstacles you are facing to accomplish your objectives, what classes you intend to take and your commitment to the Guild. Optional (not necessary) content includes: a portfolio of your creative expression (in wood or in any medium).

Why is a Statement of Purpose Needed?

The scholarship team is looking for candidates who demonstrate a personal commitment to woodworking, not a just passing curiosity. All things being equal, we are looking for candidates who already are or have a serious willingness to join the volunteering culture of the Guild. Your statement of purpose is the best way we can get a glimpse of you in that context. It helps us understand the path you are building from where you are to where you want to go. And lastly, it helps us choose the best fit from a pool of candidates.

What can I do if I am not good at writing a Statement of Purpose?

We ask you do the best you can. If instead you would prefer an interview we can accommodate that.

Do you need Letters of Recommendation

If a scholarship requires a Letter of Recommendation, it will be listed in the Criteria. In general, we do not require and prefer not to have letters of recommendations. If there are other circumstances where we feel a Letter of recommendation is needed, we will reach out to you.

What can I do if I have other limitations?

If you are passionate about woodworking, but find the scholarship application difficult to complete, please contact us directly. We will do our best to understand and accommodate your limitations.

When are Scholarships awarded?

Please review the Deadlines and Current Status under each Scholarship.

What are my obligations if I accept a Scholarship?

All Scholarship awards and names of recipients will be announced in Guild communications that goes out to our membership.

Beyond this, we want recipients of Scholarships to be ambassadors of the Program. Examples of this are: telling positive stories, being featured in the Guild's newsletters, increasing program’s visibility within the Guild, participating in activities that bring in more funds, giving constructive feedback to improving the program, etc.

How can I use the Scholarship money?

You may use your scholarship money toward tuition at the Guild or at other institutions at are aligned with the Guild's program.

If you are taking classes at the Guild: Send your scholarship letter to registrar@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org with all the details of the class you wish to attend. Do not register for the class online without contacting the registrar first.
If you are taking classes offered at other institutions: You will need to pay the full tuition at the institution of your choice and submit a Guild Reimbursement Form for the amount you want deducted from your Scholarship award. Contact scholarship@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org for a reimbursement form.
You have 6 months from the date on the award letter to cash your Scholarship. In case of unforeseen circumstances, we can make an exception and extend the time a further 6 months for a maximum of 12 months from the date of this letter. After 12 months, you will no longer be eligible to cash your Scholarship.
If you decide you do not have a need for the award, please inform us immediately so we may extend it to other eligible applicants.
NOTE: Scholarships are for tuition or shop time. They cannot be applied toward expenses related to travel, room, board, food etc. Scholarship cannot be used to get reimbursed for classes already taken, open shop used or to clear your account balance at the Guild.

Who can I contact?

If you have questions or difficulty with the application, send a note to: scholarship@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your Application within 7 days, please reach out to us directly at scholarship@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

General Scholarship

General Scholarships are funded mostly through member donations. This Scholarship offers full or partial support for Membership Fee, Guild Shop time, Classes at the Guild and Workshops/Classes at outside institutions.

NOTE: If you are planning on taking classes at outside institutions, please consult with the Scholarship team before you apply so we can ensure it is aligned to the program's goals.

Available funds:

There is no fixed amount for these scholarships as it depends on “funds available at the time.” Criteria:

While any Guild member may apply for a General Scholarship, we prioritize supporting those with:

Financial need
Strong record of volunteering at the Guild
Willingness to share their wood working knowledge within and outside the Guild, such as writing for the Guild Newsletters, conducting Guild classes, teaching at local educational institutions, etc.
First time recipients
Future wood working professionals

Deadlines:

Applications are due before the 15th of every even-numbered month (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct and Dec).
If funds are available, decisions are made on the 30th of the month.

Current Status:

Applications for the April cycle is now Open
At the present time, we have $2,064 in this fund

OCF Career Training Scholarship

OCF scholarship is made possible through a $2,500 grant from the Bob and Leona DeArmond Scholarship Fund of Oregon Community Foundation to support people seeking career training in woodworking and demonstrate financial need. This Scholarship offers full or partial support for Membership Fee, Guild Shop time, Classes at the Guild and Workshops/Classes at outside institutions (e.g. the Krenov School).