Second Career Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2024 Second-Career Scholarship Cycle, sponsored by Gunderson Funeral Home.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You must complete the Eligibility Questionnaire at the beginning of the online application confirming that you meet the following requirements:

• You are enrolled and attending classes (in-person or online) either on a part-time or full-time basis at an ABFSE-accredited Mortuary Science Program.
• You are not related to an owner of a funeral home currently operating in North America.
• You can provide proof of the following:
  • You have previously worked full or part-time in at least one career other than funeral service and that funeral service will be a new career for you.
  • Tuition and fees owed and any financial assistance you have already or are currently receiving.
  • What mortuary sciences courses you have completed to date and what courses in which you are currently enrolled.
  • Your current Mortuary Science GPA.
• You can and will complete and sign the online application form and submit all the required documents by the deadline identified.
• You are not a former recipient of a Second-Career Scholarship Award.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Applicants must submit a completed online application on or before May 31 (for the Spring cycle) or October 31 (for the Fall cycle) each year. The application includes:

• Personal essay (not to exceed 1,500 words)
• Financial Needs Assessment Form completed and signed by an authorized representative of your academic institution
• Coursework and GPA Assessment Form completed and signed by an authorized representative of your academic institution
• Letter of recommendation from a member of the faculty of your academic institution
• Letter of recommendation from a current or previous employer

Who is considered "eligible" for this scholarship?

Eligible applicants must:

1. Be currently enrolled and attending classes in an ABFSE accredited Mortuary Science program during the time for which the award is being used.
2. Not be related in any manner to an owner of a funeral home currently operating in North America.
3. Provide proof of the following:
   • that you have previously worked full- or part-time in at least one career other than funeral service.
   • that Funeral Service will be a new career for you.
   • Tuition and fees owed and financial assistance currently being received.
   • Mortuary Science courses you are currently taking or have taken and dates of those courses.
   • Grades and GPA for all Mortuary Science courses completed.
   • A completed online application.
   • All completed forms required as part of the online application.