Eligibility
Competition open to all high school seniors who are U. S. citizens and are planning careers of service to the United States in local, state, or federal government. Entrants receiving full four-year tuition scholarships shall only be eligible for one-year special awards.

To Apply
A complete scholarship application must include:

THREE (3) COPIES of a double-spaced COVER PAGE containing, in order, the following information:
a - Applicant's Full Name (nickname in parentheses)
b - Applicant's Home Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code)
c- Applicant's Home Telephone Number with Area Code
d- Name of Applicant's School
e- Applicant's School Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code)
f- Applicant's School Telephone Number with Area Code
g- Number of Students in Senior Class/Number of Students in School
h- Name and Title of Principal and/or Guidance Counselor recommending applicant
i- Name(s) of college(s) preferred: First three choices in order of preference
j- Sex: M or F
k- Applicant is HS senior. Yes. No.
l- Applicant's Date of Birth
m- If applicable, Pennsylvania county of residence (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery)
n- Student's Home e-Mail Address
o- Student's Cell Number (if available)

* You may send a photograph.

A CONTESTANT'S COMPLETED, SELF-DESIGNED COVER PAGE SERVES AS THE "APPLICATION FORM".

THREE (3) COPIES of a ONE-PAGE ESSAY not to exceed 300 words stating why applicant is planning a career in government service including any inspiration to be derived from the leadership of George Washington in his famous crossing of the Delaware.

Statement will be confined to Viewpoint, Attitude, and Purpose in career choice. Essay must be typewritten in not less than 12 point type, double-spaced, on a single page.  Be sure toner and ink cartridges are in appropriate condition.  Faint essays will not be read.

THREE (3) COPIES of a LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION from the applicant's high school principal or guidance counselor containing an evaluation of the applicant's accomplishments both academic or otherwise, particularly any preparation relevant to his/her career choice.

THREE (3) COPIES of the applicant's HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT plus SCORES from a national testing program such as SAT, ACT, etc. Transcripts and scores may be photocopies.

THREE (3) COPIES of any other documentation the entrant, the principal, or the guidance counselor may wish to submit, e.g., other recommendations, class rank, or G.P.A.  Please take note that a concise résumé of biography, honors, awards, and activities is preferable to excessive documentation. Do not send photocopies of awards. List them!

The above information is to be assembled into three dossiers. ALL information is to be collated in the above order and STAPLED together in the upper LEFT corner.

Transcripts and letters of recommendation are to be collated with the rest of the dossier and MUST NOT be mailed separately. Where school policy requires confidentiality, the student will submit the three dossiers to the school which will collate the transcripts and/or letters of recommendation in their proper place in the dossiers WITHOUT SEALING THEM IN SEPARATE ENVELOPES and place the school's official seal on the outside of the envelope in which the dossiers are to be mailed. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the rejection of the application.

Winners get an all expenses paid weekend, including transportation and housing, in Bucks County Pennsylvania to attend the scholarship Awards Ceremony.  All winners must attend the Scholarhship Awards Program on Saturday, April 19, 2008 in order to win their scholarship.

Judging

The judges' decision will be based on Understanding of career requirements, Purpose in choice of a career, Preparation for such a career, Qualities of Leadership exhibited, Sincerity, and Historical Perspective. The Board of Judges will consist of at least three Trustees of the Washington Crossing Foundation, at least one former scholarship winner and a prominent educator.

Semi-finalists may be interviewed by telephone as part of the selection process. All finalists will be interviewed by telephone.

Notification

Semi-finalists and finalists will be notified of their status in March. Winners will be notified by telephone by April 1st(confirmed by mail). Winners' names and school addresses will be posted on the WCF web site by June 30.

Submission of Application

The three dossiers are to be mailed together, UNFOLDED in one, flat, 9" X 12" envelope.  Affix correct first class postage; applications with postage due will be returned to sender.   We do not recommend going to the extra expense of express mail or overnight delivery services. 

Applications must be RECEIVED by January 15, 2008 and addressed to

Eugene C. Fish, Esquire, Vice Chairman
The Washington Crossing Foundation
P. O. Box 503
Levittown, PA 19058-0503

The Foundation does not accept and will not consider applications submitted in any other manner, including email.

All entries become the property of the Washington Crossing Foundation and may be used as the Board of Trustees shall decide. By accepting an award, winners grant permission to the Foundation to release their names and the names and addresses of their high schools to the media and to post them on the internet.