Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship

Scholarships & Awards

This scholarship honors Ron Herndon’s tireless efforts to champion and support Head Start parents. It celebrates Head Start parents who, through their own efforts to mobilize other parents and community members, have created real change in their Head Start programs and/or communities.

The nominee must be enrolled at an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Scholarship winners will receive an award of $2,500 and a commemorative certificate. Funds may be applied to the documented cost of tuition or books.

The nominee must:

Have a child enrolled in a Head Start or Early Head Start program
Be a high school graduate or GED recipient, be pursuing a post-secondary education, and submit proof of acceptance or enrollment in an institution of higher learning
Provide two letters of reference from two people who know the nominee as a student and as a Head Start or Early Head Start parent
Provide a personal statement addressing the following:
- Details about the nominee, the nominee's family, and their connection to Head Start or Early Head Start
- Activities and mobilizing efforts contributed by the nominee that affected change in their local Head Start program or community
- Personal education and professional goals
Comply with all NHSA general rules and regulations as listed on the Scholarships & Awards homepage.

Application

Award Nominator

First Name

Last Name

Professional Title

Organization Name

Phone

Regional Contact

First Name

Last Name

Title

Office Phone

Select Award

Aubrey Pucket Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Ron Herdon Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Vanessa Rich Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Alumni Scholarship Award

In honor of Head Start’s proven model of success, the National Head Start Alumni Scholarship is a non-renewable merit award to celebrate Head Start student achievement in high school and support students as they begin the next leg of their educational journey.

Scholarship winners will receive an award of $5,000 and a commemorative certificate. Funds must be applied to the documented cost of tuition or books at a 2-year or 4-year institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The nominee must:

Provide proof of enrollment in a Head Start or Early Head Start program as a child for one or more years.
Provide a cover letter with key details about the nominee and the nominee's family and connection to Head Start as a child.
Submit proof of the nominee’s status as a high school senior on target to graduate with at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale or equivalent as indicated on school transcript.
Provide three letters of recommendation (two from academic subject teachers who taught the nominee within the last 2 years and one from a civic/religious organization where the nominee is active).
Provide proof of nominee’s application to at least one 2-year or 4-year academic institution registered by the US Department of Education (proof of enrollment will be required before distribution of funds).
Comply with all NHSA general rules and regulations as listed on the Scholarships & Awards homepage.

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Ed Zigler Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Program Details

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Community Partner Details

Community Partner Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Sargent Shriver Award

Individual Nominee First Name

Individual Nominee Last Name

Program Details

Head Start Program

NHSA Program Member ID

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Community Partner Details

Community Partner Name

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

ZIP Code

Phone (office)

Phone (mobile)

Aubrey Pucket Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Vanessa Rich Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Ron Herndon Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Résumé

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Headshot (jpeg or png)

Completed IRS W-9 Form

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Zigler Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Organizational Statement

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Logo of nominee (jpeg or png)

Logo of Community Partner

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Sargent Shriver Supporting Documents

**Click here for more details about the scholarship requirement

Organizational Statement

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Logo of nominee (jpeg or png)

Logo of community Partner

Regional or National association, Letter of Support on their letterhead.

Sample letter of support

Additional Comments

Alumni Scholarship Supporting Documents

Proof of Head Start Enrollment

Cover Letter

High School Transcript

Proof of college admission

Academic Letter of Support #1

Academic Letter of Support #2

Civic / Religious Organization Letter of Support

Additional Comments

Meet Paris Hill, NHSA’s 2022 Herndon Scholarship Awardee

December 12, 2022

Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship 2022 awardee Paris Hill says that Head Start has been instrumental in reaching her goals.

Past Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship Recipients

2022-23: Asli Mohamed, Reach Up, Inc., Saint Cloud, MN

2021-22: Paris Hill, Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Greenville, SC

2020-21: Sasha Reese, Episcopal Children's Services, Jacksonville, FL

2019-20: Lara Urdenta, Orange County Head Start, Orlando, FL

2018-19: Amy Hurley, Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Greenville, SC

2017-18: Omome Ayemhenre, Lutheran Services of Florida, Duval County, FL

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