Empowered To Achieve

Scholarship Disbursement Policy: Path-Based Release

1. Purpose

At Empowered To Achieve (ETA), scholarships are more than just rewards for service and fundraising. They are investments in a student’s future, released when the student takes their next step into education, career, or entrepreneurship.

2. When Scholarships Are Released

Scholarship funds are earned through verified service and participation in ETA-led campaigns, but they are only released when a student officially steps into one of the following ETA Pathways:

  • College enrollment

  • Vocational training or trade school certification programs

  • Workforce entry with professional development needs (licenses, tools, certifications)

  • Entrepreneurship launch or preparation

  • Supplemental education, such as Coursera, Sophia, or other verified college-prep programs (case-by-case early release)

3. Early Release Eligibility (case-by-case)

ETA may release partial or full funds early if the student:

  • Enrolls in an accredited trade or vocational program

  • Needs funding for verified college prep or developmental courses

  • Demonstrates readiness to launch a business with support

All early releases require:

  • Verification of enrollment or opportunity

  • Parental/guardian acknowledgment

  • ETA approval and partnership review

4. Eligibility & Verification

  • Only service hours and fundraising activities verified and approved by ETA or ETA-recognized nonprofit partners will count toward scholarships.

  • Hours or fundraising conducted outside ETA approval will not be acknowledged or rewarded.

  • Student misconduct, including violations of the ETA Student Code of Conduct (such as inappropriate social media activity, hate speech, or criminal behavior), may result in suspension or forfeiture of scholarship eligibility and disbursement.

  • Students must remain in good standing within ETA to access their earned scholarship funds.

5. Why We Wait: Family First, Future Focused

We designed this policy with purpose. We want:

  • Parents to see the fruit of their child’s service and growth

  • Students to stay focused on long-term goals

  • Donors and nonprofits to know their contributions are creating lasting, life-changing impact

When a student receives their scholarship, it is not just a payout — it is a rite of passage that affirms:
“You’ve served your community. Now your community is here to serve you.”