NCAEOP Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by North Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals

Overview

NCAEOP (North Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals, Inc.) administers a multi-level scholarship program that recognizes academic achievement, initiative, and financial need. Applications are submitted at the local level; selected recipients advance to district, state, and national competitions. Scholarships support graduating high school seniors and students enrolled in post–high school programs. The program is sustained through member fundraising and named scholarships honoring notable contributors.

Description: Annual scholarships are awarded through local, district, state, and national channels to support North Carolina students pursuing further education.

• Local submission with advancement to higher levels
• Focus on merit and financial need
• Funded by member contributions and local fundraising

Eligibility & Requirements

Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens who attended or graduated from a North Carolina high school and who are either graduating high school seniors applying for post‑secondary admission or freshmen currently enrolled in post‑high school programs. Applicants must submit a completed application package with specific supporting materials. Schools and recommending individuals are expected to provide documentation and assessments required by the application. Only the listed documentation will be accepted; incomplete or extraneous materials are not permitted.

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, graduating seniors from a North Carolina high school or freshmen in a post‑high school program, and must submit the required documentation.

1. Photograph (follow application cover sheet directions)
2. One‑page biographical sketch titled "Why I Am Choosing to Further My Education"
3. Most current official high school transcript showing GPA, class standing, and relevant test scores
4. Graduating seniors: letter or email from the post‑high school institution confirming receipt of application and intended course of study; freshmen: letter or statement confirming current full‑time enrollment and course of study
5. Three letters of recommendation:
   1. One from a principal, counselor, or school administrator addressing activities, leadership, character, initiative, home background, and financial need
   2. One from a teacher
   3. One from an individual who is not a member of the sponsoring association and not a family member

• Strict documentation requirements; no additional materials accepted
• Acceptance/enrollment verification required before scholarship payment
• Recommendations must include specified perspectives (administrator, teacher, outside individual)

Application and Selection

Applications are reviewed at successive levels: local, district, state, and national. Winners at each level advance to the next stage according to program rules. Selection is based on academic achievement, initiative, and financial need; an alternate recipient will be selected. Payments require submission of acceptance or enrollment verification prior to disbursement.

Application Process: Submit the complete application package to the local sponsoring association; local winners advance to district and then state and national competitions.

Selection Criteria: Recipients are chosen primarily for academic achievement, demonstrated initiative, and documented financial need; an alternate will be named.

• Local review with tiered advancement
• Decisions emphasize merit plus need
• Acceptance/enrollment confirmation required before funds are paid

Award Value & Distribution

NCAEOP awards annual scholarships whose individual amounts exceed $9,000 in total state scholarship funding, with combined state, district, local, and national awards exceeding $50,000 each year. Districts and local associations also provide scholarships annually, contributing a significant portion of the total award distribution. Member fundraising efforts (bake sales, raffles, silent auctions) are a primary source of scholarship funding. Historic totals reflect substantial long‑term investment in student support.

Award Value: State scholarships total approximately $9,000+, with overall annual awards across levels exceeding $50,000.

• State scholarships: $9,000+ in total
• Total annual awards (state, district, local, national): in excess of $50,000
• Local and district scholarships contribute to recurring annual support

History of the Award

Since its inception, NCAEOP has created scholarships named for members who made outstanding contributions to the association, including Pauline T. Helms, Wanza Y. Davis, Lula M. Burrell, Lena Belle Parsons, Guy B. Teachey, Mildred F. Chrisco, and Charlie Mae Holland. Over the past decades, the association has awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarship funds, with some historical totals noting over $100,000 awarded to 193 students and 32 members, and local/district awards exceeding $50,000 annually. This legacy is the result of sustained member engagement and fundraising activities. The program continues to expand through local and district initiatives established as early as March 1972.

History of the Award: Named scholarships honor notable contributors; cumulative giving exceeds $1,000,000 over 30 years, reflecting broad member support and local/district participation.

• Named scholarships recognize notable association members
• Over $1,000,000 awarded historically
• Local and district scholarship activity dates back to 1972