The Directors of Vermeer Charitable Foundation (VCF) are pleased to continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to sons and daughters of Pella, Des Moines, Ames, Griswold, Freeman, and Vermeer MV Solutions team members as they have done each year since 1983.  Applications are accepted during a three-month time period, December 1, 2023-February 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.  Recipients will be named in early April 2024.  The IRS allows VCF to grant scholarships to whichever is greater:  25% of actual completed applications received, or 10% of all students eligible regardless of whether or not they apply.

Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be:

• Current high school/home school seniors or college students working toward an under-graduate degree.
• A dependent child of, a legally adopted dependent child of, or a dependent stepchild of a full-time or regular part-time Pella, Des Moines, Ames, Griswold, Freeman, or Vermeer MV Solutions team member, or a child whose legal guardian is a full-time or regular part-time Pella, Des Moines, Ames, Griswold, Freeman, or Vermeer MV Solutions team member. 
• Unmarried and not planning to be married during the 2024/2025 academic year.
• Planning on being a full-time student during both semesters of the 2024/2025 academic year.

How does a student apply?

Applicants must:

1. Submit an Application Form

     -Students may locate and submit the application form by visiting the Vermeer Corporation web site (www.vermeer.com) and clicking on About Us - Vermeer Charitable Foundation - Scholarships - Apply for Scholarship.  Follow the instructions found there for the on-line application.

     -This link will be available December 1, 2023.

2.  Submit three Recommendation Forms 

     -Students will find an area on the application in which they will give the names and e-mail addresses of the three people they would like to fill out a recommendation for them.  The recommenders will then automatically receive an e-mail which will allow them to complete the recommendation form on-line.

     -Applicants should ask teachers, professors, guidance counselors/advisors, employers, coaches, youth leader or pastor etc. to fill these out. Family members may not fill out recommendations.

     -It is highly suggested that college applicants have at least one of these recommendations come from someone they interact with in college:  a professor, college coach, college music director, etc.

3.  Submit Transcripts (high school, home school, and college) and ACT/SAT scores.

     -Official high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores will be uploaded by high school personnel directly to the student's on-line application.  Students will find a place on the on-line application to enter the name and e-mail of the high school secretary or guidance counselor who will receive an automatic e-mail and then be able to upload this information for them.  High School transcripts of high school seniors must include the first semester of the current academic year.

     -Official college transcripts must be sent to VCF by the college.  Please do not send until the first semester of the current academic year is included on the transcript.  Please send official transcripts of all colleges the student has attended.

     -Home school students must provide the same documentation as high school and college students (official notarized transcripts and test scores).

      -Four-year college applicants (studying in a 4-year degree program) must include ACT or SAT scores.  Students attending a two-year school with intent to transfer to a four-year school must also submit ACT or SAT scores.

     -Trade School and Community College applicants preparing for technical or industrial positions (a 1-, 2-, or 3-year degree program) may also submit ACT/SAT scores. 

     -Students who have transferred from one college to another must provide their transcripts from each college they have attended.

Please send college transcripts to (all other information should be uploaded on-line):
       VCF Scholarship
       Vermeer Corporation
       PO Box 200
       Pella, IA 50219

Eligible applicants and/or parents may contact us at [email protected]  with questions.  Many questions can be answered by viewing the Frequently Asked Questions document on the Vermeer Corporation website (www.vermeer.com) and clicking on About Us - Vermeer Charitable Foundation - Scholarships - Apply for Scholarships.

Important:
The deadline for submitting all complete application materials is February 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.  All items being sent through the U.S. Postal system must be postmarked on or before February 23, 2024.
Any applications which are incomplete at that time will not be considered.

**Due to the large number of applicants for the scholarship program, it is imperative that the applicant be aware that they are ultimately responsible to ensure all required application materials have been received.  All applicants will receive an e-mail when their application and all materials have been received stating that their application is complete.  If an applicant has not received this e-mail, but believes their application and the additional materials to be received, the applicant should contact the VCF office ([email protected]) before the stated deadline of the scholarship process.