Albuquerque Public Schools
Varsity Awards
Varsity Awards are directed by the APS Education Foundation's student board members to address a student-informed need.
Supporting Three Key Areas
During the 2023-24 school year, the Varsity Award will support three key areas.
- The Varsity Field Trip Award is aimed to engage students in their curriculum by providing up to $600
in funding for field trip-related fees, including transportation. Apply through the Grant Portal (Google Site). It is the third application embedded, so scroll down to find it! - The Varsity Garden Award will support school garden initiatives including indoor and outdoor planter boxes and indoor hydroponic gardens. The funding is up to $500. This application is invite-only. Please contact the Foundation, 881-0841, foundation@aps.edu.
- AP Ambassador Clubs at high schools may be eligible to receive funding to help them fundraise to cover the costs of AP Exam fees for their peers.
Information For Varsity Award Scholarship Applicants, School Year 2023-2024
Taking steps to prepare for college and career makes all APS students eligible to enter a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. Seven scholarships will be awarded to students in the amount of $1,000 each. Student members of the APS Education Foundation Board of Directors have agreed upon the following criteria in order to enter a student’s name into the Varsity Award Scholarship Drawing:
- A student must be a senior who is graduating in May 2024 from an Albuquerque Public Schools traditional or magnet high school and planning to pursue post-secondary education in the fall of 2024.
- Students will submit documentation electronically for the activities listed below that they have completed. They will do this by completing the APS Foundation Varsity Scholarship Entry Form and uploading documentation of completion.
- A student’s name can be entered once for each category listed below that they complete. There are ten (10) categories which means a student who completes each item will receive up to 10 entries.
Categories to Compete In
| Category | Description | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply to a 2- or 4-year college or university, trade school, certification or apprenticeship program | Examples of documentation include an acceptance letter, email confirmation that you applied, etc. |
| 2 | Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service) Profile through College Board or if you are not eligible to fill out the FAFSA, you can complete a school-based financial aid form | Examples of documentation include taking a screenshot of the confirmation page once it is submitted or an email confirmation |
| 3 | Participate in a college or university visit with a tour (it can be virtual); you can also attend an online information session; you can also contact a recruiter directly or a member of admissions for more information | Examples of documentation include a confirmation letter or email showing you registered for a tour or information session or email confirmation from admissions |
| 4 | Complete a Career Assessment | Upload a copy of your results and/or career pathway |
| 5 | Plan to take and complete an AP test your senior year | Acceptable documentation would be a screenshot of your myAP classroom showing you are signed up to take a test or a copy of your receipt for payment |
| 6 | Participate in a job shadow, internship/mentorship, or pre-apprenticeship program | Examples of documentation would include a copy of an email or letter from the professional you shadowed, worked for or did the pre-apprenticeship with. |
| 7 | Pass a Dual Credit Class with a “C” or above | You will need to provide a transcript or grade report that shows your final grade |
| 8 | Take an ACT, SAT or ACCUPLACER Practice Test | Documentation should be a copy of your score report from your practice test |
| 9 | Set up a Career Solutions Student account at www.nmcareersolutions.com and complete the “Why I Work” Financial Tool Activity (under the Career Exploration Tab). | Documentation required is a screenshot of the completion page |
| 10 | Apply for a scholarship (other than this one) | Documentation could include an email confirmation of your application or a copy of your completed application |
Process
- Students will complete the APS Foundation Varsity Scholarship Entry Form and attach their documentation for the items they have completed. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.
- College & Career Counselors will promote the scholarship at least once a month, teach students how to apply and let them know what documentation is acceptable.
- APS Education Foundation Student Board Members will review the uploaded documentation for acceptability and draw seven names for scholarship winners in May of 2024.
- The APS Foundation will announce scholarship winners on the APS and APS Education Foundation websites, and notify their respective school College and Career Counselor.
This page was last updated on:
February 27, 2023.