Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility varies by individual scholarship, but our general requirement is that applicants must be current students, graduates, or former attendees of schools within the Westside Unified School District. This includes Westside High School, Westside Preparatory Academy, and the three district middle schools. Some scholarships, such as the Returning Scholars Opportunity Fund, are specifically designed for adult learners aged 25 and older who are re-entering higher education after a career interruption. The Graduate Research Fellowship is open to alumni currently enrolled in accredited master's or doctoral programs. The First-Generation College Pioneer Grant additionally requires that neither parent nor guardian has completed a four-year bachelor's degree. Complete eligibility criteria for each scholarship are published on our Scholarship Directory page and in the official application packet available each January.

The foundation operates on a single annual scholarship cycle. Applications open each January 15 and close on March 15 at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time. No late applications are accepted under any circumstances, as the review committee begins its evaluation process on March 16. The volunteer review committee scores all applications during the period from March 16 through April 30 using our standardized multi-criteria rubric. Finalists are notified by email during the first week of May and may be invited for a brief telephone or video interview. Final award decisions are announced on June 1, and scholarship funds are disbursed directly to the recipient's accredited institution before the fall semester begins. Recipients must submit proof of enrollment to maintain their award.

Each application is independently scored by a minimum of three volunteer reviewers using a standardized rubric that evaluates five weighted categories: academic achievement and GPA trajectory (25%), demonstrated community service and leadership (20%), strength of the personal essay (20%), quality of recommendation letters (15%), and demonstrated financial need where applicable (20%). For merit-only scholarships like the Westside Founders Merit Scholarship, the financial need component is replaced by an expanded assessment of academic distinction and extracurricular leadership. Reviewers are required to complete conflict-of-interest disclosures before accessing any applicant materials. The scholarship committee chair, Dr. James Okonkwo, conducts a final calibration review to ensure consistent scoring standards across all reviewers before presenting the recommended award slate to the full Board of Trustees for ratification.

Yes, applicants are encouraged to apply for every scholarship for which they meet the published eligibility criteria. A single application submission is used for all foundation scholarships; you do not need to complete separate applications for each award. During the application process, you will indicate which specific scholarships you wish to be considered for, and the review committee will evaluate your application against the criteria for each selected award independently. However, please note that individual recipients may receive a maximum of two foundation scholarships in any single academic year, with a combined maximum annual value of $12,000. This policy ensures that the foundation's limited resources are distributed as broadly as possible across the eligible applicant pool.

Yes, the Westside Alumni Foundation has been a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization since our founding in 1998. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 47-2918304. We are also registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as a domestic nonprofit corporation (Registration #20091847291). All donations to the foundation are fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by federal and state law under Internal Revenue Code Section 170. Our annual IRS Form 990 filings are publicly available through GuideStar and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search portal. The foundation maintains a Charity Navigator four-star rating and a GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency, reflecting our commitment to fiscal responsibility and public accountability.

Career mentors are recruited from our verified alumni network and from community professionals who have a demonstrated commitment to youth and young adult development. To express your interest, complete the Mentor Registration form on our Get Involved page. The Alumni Relations team will review your submission and contact you within five business days to schedule a thirty-minute orientation session. Mentors commit to a six-month engagement with one assigned mentee, meeting twice per month for approximately one hour per session, either in person at our Denver office or via video conference. The foundation provides structured conversation guides, milestone checklists, and ongoing support from our program coordinator. All mentors must complete a background check and sign a confidentiality agreement before being matched with a mentee.

The Westside Alumni Network does not charge an annual membership fee. Membership is complimentary for all verified graduates, former students, and retired faculty of the Westside Unified School District. This policy reflects the foundation's core belief that every alumnus, regardless of financial means, should have full access to our professional development resources, career networking events, job board, and regional chapter activities. The foundation's operations are funded entirely through charitable donations, endowment income, and event proceeds, not through membership dues. While membership itself is free, we gratefully welcome voluntary annual contributions of any amount to support the foundation's scholarship and mentorship programs.

In our most recent completed fiscal year, 84.2% of all expenditures were directed to program services, encompassing scholarship disbursements, career mentorship program operations, alumni networking events, and direct community investment grants to Westside district schools. An additional 9.8% was allocated to fundraising activities, including the cost of producing our four signature annual events and donor communications. The remaining 6.0% covered administrative overhead, including office lease, insurance, accounting, and technology infrastructure. Donors may designate their gifts to a specific fund, such as the STEM Innovation Fund, the First-Generation Student Support Fund, or the Career Mentorship Program. Undesignated gifts are deposited into the General Scholarship Fund, where the Board of Trustees allocates them based on current-year program priorities and applicant demand.

Absolutely. While our scholarship programs serve Westside Unified School District students and graduates, the foundation warmly welcomes financial contributions, volunteer service, and corporate partnerships from anyone who shares our commitment to educational equity. Non-alumni donors receive the same tax deduction benefits, impact reporting, and recognition as alumni donors. Non-alumni professionals are also eligible to serve as career mentors if they possess relevant industry experience and complete the standard orientation and background check process. Corporate partners, regardless of alumni affiliation, may participate in our matching gift program, sponsor signature events, or fund named scholarships. We believe that expanding educational opportunity is a community-wide endeavor that benefits from the broadest possible base of support.

Alumni who need to update their mailing address, email, phone number, professional title, or employer information can do so by contacting our Alumni Relations office at (303) 555-0247, extension 202, or by emailing alumni@westsidealumnifoundation.org. You may also visit our foundation office at 1847 Westside Parkway, Suite 305, Denver, CO 80204, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM MST). If you believe there is an error in your graduation year, school of attendance, or degree record, please contact us with any supporting documentation you have available, and we will coordinate verification with the Westside Unified School District registrar's office. Record corrections typically take ten to fifteen business days to process and will be reflected in the alumni directory upon completion.