Montana Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) Seeking Applicants for Circle of Succe$$ Grants

Montana college students are invited to apply by Nov. 15 for $112,000 in Circle of Succe$$ Grants to be awarded by nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) http://www.safmt.org.

According to Marti Johnson, grants manager for SAF, two, $1,000 scholarships will be given away to qualifying students in each of Montana’s 56 counties later this year.

“At Student Assistance Foundation, we believe in Montana students and are committed to helping them achieve their education goals,” she said. “Circle of Succe$$ Grants are our special way of demonstrating that — these grants are provided through employee contributions in combination with other fundraising efforts, like our annual golf scramble and excursion.”

This marks the third year that SAF has sponsored the grants. SAF distributed $15,000 in grants in the program’s first year, and $45,000 in its second.

In order to qualify for a Circle of Succe$$ Grant, applicants must be Montana residents attending a Montana college or university at least half time, be in their second, third or fourth year of postsecondary education and maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA). A committee of SAF employees evaluates the applications to determine who receives the grants.

“I cannot express my gratitude for being awarded this grant,” said Jessica Smith, an Alberton resident who received a grant through the program last year. “I can officially say that hard work does pay off and this is a good example.”

To apply, go to http://www.smartaboutcollege.org before the Nov. 15 deadline, click on the “Circle of Succe$$ Grants” tab and follow the instructions. For more information, call toll free (877) COLG4ME (265-4463).

Student Assistance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Montana corporation that provides students with knowledge and tools to finance and pursue their postsecondary education. Funds generated by SAF are returned to Montanans in the form of education grants and public benefit programs – to date more than $10 million. For more information, visit http://www.safmt.org or http://www.smartaboutcollege.org.

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