Virginia Taxidermists Association Scholarship Program

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Policy

There will be up to (2) two $500 scholarships awarded each year as funds are available in the scholarship account. Scholarships will only be awarded if the funds are available in the scholarship account. 

One given to a Youth and one for an adult.
As the scholarship fund grows the board can adjust the amount awarded up to $1,000. 

The scholarship fund will be funded only via fundraisers such as the summer seminar series, other fundraisers approved by the board and direct donations.
The VTA Scholarship Committee will review the applications and decide who will be awarded the scholarship. 

The recipient will be announced at the awards banquet at the annual show. 

Applicants must be present to accept the award. The VTA will pay the instructor/institute directly upon receiving proof of completion from the instructor.
Each application will be independently reviewed by committee members with no knowledge of the applicants name and each application will be scored using a points system before determining the recipient.

Eligibility

Applicant must be a paid VTA Member for two or more consecutive years.  

Immediate family members listed on the family membership are also eligible.

Applicant may be related to a VTA Board Member; however, the related Board Member must abstain from voting on recipient if that board member is also a scholarship committee member.

VTA Master Taxidermists are eligible for the scholarship providing they do not take their class in a category they are a master in. (They are encouraged to teach these courses.)

Applicant can not have received a scholarship in the last 2 years.

Youth will be considered under the age of 18 and an Adult will be considered age 18 and over

Criteria

Complete the VTA scholarship application in full. 

The scholarship application can be found on the VTA website under your member portal. 

Items left out will cause disqualification of application.

Applicant must provide course description of the instructor/institute of choice or class flyer, with the application. 

Submit the completed application to the current Secretary/Treasurer by December 31st. 

Late applications will be denied.

Class must be completed within 12 months of receiving the scholarship, or before the next convention. 

If the applicant does not complete the class, the scholarship will be forfeited. 

Instructors
Instructors must be a Master Taxidermist (VTA members preferred), or an instructor/institution approved by the VTA Board. 

Approved Instructor list will be posted on the VTA website.

Scholarship may be used towards tuition at a taxidermy institution.

COMMITTEE MEMBER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Scholarship committee members shall be elected by the board every two years (the odd-numbered years). At the end of the two-year term, two members will go off the committee and one person will remain on the committee.

2. The committee will consist of three VTA members/board members from three different parts of the state. (A member cannot be from the same town as another member) and who have been a VTA member for at least two consecutive years. Please let the current Secretary/Treasurer know if you’d like to serve on the Scholarship Committee.

3. Current scholarship committee members or family members are not eligible for a scholarship.