On Friday, April 8, the Sinclair Welcome Center sent an email to the student body with important updates and announcements, including the presentation of a $1,000 scholarship for the fall semester.
This scholarship will be awarded to 20 randomly selected students who register for fall courses by April 30. Five scholarships will be given per each of the four academic divisions, for a total of $20,000 in scholarships. The only eligibility requirements are that students must be seeking a degree or certificate and not part of the College Credit Plus or Advance Job Training programs. Students must also have been enrolled in classes for the Spring 2022 semester.
The Clarion spoke to Karla Knepper, the director of academic advising at Sinclair, about what this scholarship means for both students and the college.
Knepper stated that this is the first time Sinclair has offered a scholarship incentive for registration. She also said that other than getting students to register early, the college hopes that this will create “buzz” around the topic and be something that people have conversations about. Sinclair wants all students to start every semester on a good note, and this is just one of the ways they can do so.
“Data shows that students who register early are more successful,” Knepper said.
Students can be connected to any support they need, evaluate their program, and make any necessary arrangements much earlier, eliminating stress closer to the term. She said that early registration “connects students to [the college’s] offices” much quicker and “frees up services” that normally get heavy traffic during the summer months. There are also many more choices for courses, instructors, modalities, and times.
Students will only need to be enrolled in one class to be entered in the drawing. Schedules and academic plans can easily be altered to accommodate any life changes that may occur. However, Knepper said that dropping classes before the start of the term will result in ineligibility for the scholarship.
Knepper suggested that those who are ineligible continue to register early and stay motivated. Offices such as College Credit Plus are always available to speak to students who have questions about funding.
When asked if Sinclair will continue this initiative in the future, Knepper replied that the college “will need to ask questions” and “see the outcome” of offering the scholarship. This process might include getting feedback from students.
Payout of these scholarships will occur closer to the beginning of the fall semester, after other financial aid items have been addressed.
If students have questions about the scholarship, MAPs, or anything related to registration, they should speak with an academic advisor. Appointments can be scheduled through the student portal or by calling 937-512-3000. To ensure everyone can meet with an advisor, students should plan to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
To see course offerings and build a schedule, visit the Sinclair Registration Portal.
Carly Webster
Reporter