Bird Dog Foundation College Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Bird Dog Foundation
Description
**Purpose and scope**
The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. sponsors an annual College Scholarship Essay Contest through its Scholarship Fund to encourage interest in hunting, wildlife conservation, and the United States’ outdoor heritage. The contest combines educational outreach with financial support for college-bound students by awarding scholarships to top essays that adhere to the contest rules. Submissions are judged for content and compliance with the published guidelines; strict rule adherence is required for award consideration. Teachers are encouraged to review student work before submission to improve clarity and correctness.
Key takeaways
- Annual essay contest run by the Bird Dog Foundation Scholarship Fund.
- Promotes hunting, wildlife conservation, and outdoor heritage education.
- Winners are selected based on essay quality and rule compliance.
- Teacher review and proofreading are strongly recommended.
- Official rules and topics are available on the Foundation’s website.
Eligibility
**Who may enter**
Entry is limited to U.S. citizens who are high school seniors (12th grade) preparing to enter an accredited college or university as freshmen. Applicants must either reside in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas, or be affiliated with a bird dog club, organization, or field trial association in any other U.S. state. No other age groups or grade levels are eligible. Entrants should confirm their eligibility before preparing a submission.
Key takeaways
- Open only to U.S. citizens who are high school seniors entering college.
- Residency requirement: live in TN, MS, or AR, or have qualifying bird dog affiliation elsewhere.
- Affiliation includes bird dog clubs, organizations, or field trial associations.
- Confirm eligibility prior to submitting an essay.
Application rules & submission requirements
**Required format and cover sheet**
Strict adherence to the contest rules is required for a submission to be considered for an award. Each essay must include a cover sheet containing the entrant’s full name, complete residential mailing address, email address, phone number (for alternative contact), date, and the name and address of the school currently attended. No entry fees are required, and entrants should avoid submitting secure personal information such as Social Security numbers. Grammar, clarity, and compliance with formatting rules are important; teachers are advised to review student essays prior to submission.
Key takeaways
- Submissions must follow contest rules exactly to be eligible.
- Cover sheet must include full name, mailing address, email, phone, date, and school name/address.
- No entry fee and no SSN or other secure personal data required for entry.
- Teachers should proofread and review student essays before submission.
- Full guidelines, rules, and suggested topics are published online.
Award details
**Prizes and disbursement**
The contest awards first, second, and third place scholarships as one-time payments to accredited colleges or universities. Current award amounts are $2,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s chosen institution upon receipt of proof of registration. Awards are not paid to individuals for personal use; they must be applied to tuition or other college charges through the institution.
Key takeaways
- Three one-time scholarships awarded: $2,000; $1,500; $1,000.
- Payments are made directly to the accredited college or university.
- Proof of student registration at the institution is required before disbursement.
- Funds are applied through the institution, not paid directly to winners.
Privacy and data use
**What information is collected and how it’s used**
The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. states that it does not collect website visitor data and that contest entry requires only limited contact information on the essay cover sheet. All information provided for contest entry is kept confidential and will not be shared outside the Bird Dog Foundation, except when necessary for awarding the scholarship or conducting contest-related communications. If an entrant is selected as a winner, additional contact information (such as parents’ mailing addresses) may be requested to facilitate invitations and announcements; winners must also permit sharing of basic information (name, address, phone) with their chosen college for scholarship processing. Social Security numbers and other sensitive secure data are not requested.
Key takeaways
- Foundation does not collect website visitor information.
- Only limited contact details are required on the cover sheet; no SSNs requested.
- Entrant data is kept confidential and not shared outside the Foundation, except as needed.
- Winners may be asked for additional contact details for invitations and scholarship processing.
- Winners’ basic contact info may be shared with the recipient college to award funds.
Event and ceremony
**Award presentation location**
All contest-related events and the award ceremony are held at the National Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, Tennessee. Winners will receive invitations and announcements about the award ceremony; mailing information may be requested to facilitate those communications. Entrants should plan for the possibility of attending the ceremony at that location if selected as a winner. Event dates and logistical details are provided with the contest rules and notifications.
Key takeaways
- Award ceremony and related events take place at the National Bird Dog Museum, Grand Junction, TN.
- Winners receive mailed invitations and announcement details.
- Additional contact information may be requested to send event invitations.
- Check contest rules and notifications for specific event dates and logistics.
History and frequency
**Background and continuity**
The Scholarship Fund and annual College Scholarship Essay Contest were established by the Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. to promote education and interest in hunting, conservation, and outdoor heritage while providing financial assistance to college-bound students. The contest has been held annually for several years and continues as an ongoing program of the Foundation. The Foundation maintains the fund and updates contest rules, topics, and timelines each year to reflect current priorities and requirements.
Key takeaways
- Scholarship Fund and essay contest established by the Bird Dog Foundation to support education about outdoor heritage.
- Contest has run annually for multiple years.
- The program provides both outreach and financial support for college-bound students.
- Rules, topics, and timelines are reviewed and updated periodically by the Foundation.