Scholarship Policy

Policy: The South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation (SCTPF) College Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to graduating high school senior tennis players during their first year of college.

1. The overall objective of the scholarship program is to recognize the most deserving students. The scholarship program includes four individual $2,000 scholarships each year. Two scholarships are funded by the SCTPF. These scholarships are named in honor of Lucy Garvin and Jim Russell. The third scholarship is funded by the Coastal Community Foundation in Charleston in memory of Randall G. Heffron. The fourth scholarship is the Foster Family Scholarship that is awarded only to applicants who have played at least two years of high school tennis including their senior year.
2. Selection Criteria: The following Selection criteria are listed in order of significance:
   1. Academic achievement (35%)
   2. Notable tennis achievements (25%)
   3. Character and sportsmanship (15%)
   4. Extracurricular activities and community service (15%)
   5. Individual Essay‐‐‐”The Impact of Tennis on My Life” (10%)
3. Scholarships are awarded to the top four applicants based on the overall criteria above assuming at least one of the four meets the high school tennis requirement associated with the Foster Family Scholarship. If none of the four meets the high school tennis requirement, the top three applicants will receive the other three scholarships, and the Foster Family Scholarship will be awarded to the highest evaluated applicant who does meet the high school requirement. The Scholarship Committee designates the Heffron Scholarship for the selectee who best exemplifies character and sportsmanship. The Garvin Scholarship is designated for the selectee who best exemplifies volunteerism in school and community and the growth and development of the sport of tennis. The Russell Scholarship is designated for the selectee who exemplifies the greatest individual achievements in tennis competition.
4. Students are eligible for consideration only in the calendar year in which they graduate from high school.
5. Students who have received a full scholarship, a full scholarship equivalent (combined scholarships) or an appointment to one of the military service academies are not eligible for the SCTPF Scholarship Program. Additionally, students who receive the Dunlop Scholarship are not eligible for a SCTPF scholarship.
6. Students who delay college entry for one semester are eligible to use their scholarship for the following year. All funds must be used within 12 months of entering college for the student’s first semester.
7. Scholarship payments will be made directly to the college or university in the name of the student. Scholarship funds may only be used to defer costs of tuition, books, campus housing and/or campus food service programs.
8. The SCTPF Chairperson shall appoint a Scholarship Committee, consisting of a chair and no fewer than two additional members. These individuals shall serve until they resign or they are replaced.
9. The Scholarship Committee shall have final decision authority for selecting and designating recipients for all four scholarships. The committee will use a quantitative, point‐based evaluation system to evaluate applications, and to select and designate recipients. Committee decisions will be by majority vote.
10. The Chair of the Scholarship Committee will mail notification letters to designees and non‐selectees no later than July 31 of each year.
11. Confidentiality: Information submitted by applicants shall be designated as confidential and shall be used only by the Scholarship Committee and only for evaluating scholarship applications. All aspects of the Scholarship Committee’s evaluation and the scoring of applications, including the Scholarship Committee’s deliberations, shall be considered confidential.
12. Applications must be submitted and receipt must be confirmed using the on‐line application and confirmation process. The deadline for on‐line submittal of the scholarship applications shall be June 30 of each year.

For additional information, please contact us online.

Policy Approved by the SCTPF Board on June 24, 2010. Amended on December 11, 2011, March 12, 2013, June 7, 2014, December 11, 2016, and January 23, 2023.