Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant must be one of the following:
  • Graduating high school senior from a charter school in Houston, TX
  • Current college student who graduated from a charter school in Houston, TX
  • Previous recipient of the Strong Family Scholarship applying for graduate school (graduate degrees not limited to business or STEM studies)
• Must plan to major in business or STEM
• Minimum cumulative GPA to apply: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
  • Students with a GPA of 2.49 or below are not eligible.
  • Please review this guide for instructions on converting your GPA to a 4.0 scale. GPA should be rounded to two decimal points.
    
    
• This scholarship is for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year.
• Current recipients of the Strong Family Scholarship who are planning to renew the scholarship for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year must complete several Renewal Tasks through this application. 

Award Information:

• Multiple scholarships awarded annually for the following amounts:
  • Associate's Degree or Trade School- $5,000
    • Renewable for one year after original award as long as the student meets eligibility criteria
  • Bachelor's Degree- $15,000
    • Renewable for up to 3 years after the original award as long as the student meets eligibility criteria
  • Graduate Degree- $15,000
    • Renewable for one year after original award as long as the student meets eligibility criteria
      
      
• What can the scholarship be used for?
  • The scholarship will be mailed directly to the student's college to be used towards tuition, required academic fees, and/or book expenses. 
  • Scholarship funding cannot be distributed directly to the student. Funding cannot be used for room and board, rent, meal plans, parking passes, or other similar living expenses.
    
    
• Are there any requirements I must meet if I'm selected as a scholarship recipient?
  • Recipients must attend an accredited university, community college, or trade school in the United States.
  • Recipients must enroll in at least 12 credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters (or be enrolled full-time according to your school if it is on a different system).
  • Undergraduate students must continue pursuing a degree related to business or STEM studies
  • To receive subsequent annual awards (i.e., renewals), recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester.
  • Recipients must submit college enrollment information online through GHCF Scholar the summer before the academic year begins. This information is required in order for the scholarship check to be mailed to the student's college. Instructions will be included in the student's award letter.

What Is Needed for This Application?

• Eligibility questions based on the criteria above
• Two (2) essays 
• Transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
• Financial information
• Education information
• Resume (involvement in activities and service)