Moorings Park Dining Server Scholarship Program
The Moorings Park Dining Server Scholarship Program is designed to reward participants who care about enhancing the lives of senior citizens and who are committed to employment in a dining services venue for at least three (3) or four years during which the scholarship is provided. The fourth year of employment may be in a department other than dining services.
Eligibility: Anyone 18 years or older who is both eligible and qualified to work as a Server in Moorings Park dining venues.
The scholarship may be granted to current Moorings Park partners or outside job applicants who would otherwise be eligible for hire to work as a Server in a Moorings Park dining venue.
Selected external candidates must complete required steps in Moorings Park’s hiring process, including employment application, interview, and pre-employment screenings.
Scholarship Application Period: Complete Scholarship applications must be received in Human Resources by June 30th, 2019.
Official Transcript from applicant’s most recent two (2) years of school (high school, or college or combination of both), three (3) Letters of Recommendation from a school counselor, current employer or professional associate indicating why you are deserving of the scholarship. Each letter must be typed and on letterhead and must include full contact information (full name, address, position or title, phone number, mailing address and email address).
Current Moorings Park partners may request that a Moorings Park supervisor completes a Letter of Recommendation on his or her behalf.
A short essay (typed, 300 words or less) describing candidate’s future plans and how they hope to positively impact the lives of senior citizens.
A copy of current free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarship Terms and Coverage
Scholarship winner will receive up to $5,000 per calendar year for four years, for a maximum of $20,000 toward the cost of tuition, books, and fees. Scholarship funds will be paid per semester as tuition is due, for a maximum of $2,500 per semester or $5,000 per year. Tuition and expenses will be paid directly to the school or directly reimbursed upon proof of a paid receipt. The scholarship allows for flexibility in the disbursement timeline. For example, if all $5,000 is not needed in the first year of the scholarship period, unused funds may be requested at a later date.
Participants who do not use the full allowance of $5,000 per calendar year for the initial four years may choose to receive the remainder of the funds allowed during a fifth year of employment. For example, if the total tuition costs for years 1-4 total $18,000, participants may request $2,000 in scholarship assistance for a fifth year in the program.
The school must be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges or another accrediting body deemed equivalent.
Scholarship Recipient Eligibility
Should scholarship winner fail to maintain eligibility to work at Moorings Park, scholarship will be discontinued immediately.
In order to maintain eligibility for the scholarship, participant must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater. Participants are responsible for providing transcripts at the end of each semester. Payment for the following semester will be held until verification of grades is received.
Work an average of at least 20 hours per week at Moorings Park.
Participant must maintain at least 6 credit hours per semester. Failure to maintain the minimum GPA of 2.5 for one semester will result in academic probation which will be communicated in writing to participant by Moorings Park. Assuming the GPA increases above 2.5 in the next semester, the participant will maintain eligibility for this program. However, if the GPA falls below 2.5 in any future semester, scholarship eligibility ends immediately. Moorings Park maintains the right to withhold tuition payment until verification of GPA is confirmed.
Failure to maintain eligibility for scholarship does not impact employment eligibility. However, participant must maintain eligibility for employment in order to be eligible for scholarship.
Partners who give two weeks’ notice prior to leaving their position will not be obligated to repay scholarship funds. However, partners who are terminated or who quit without notice will have scholarship funds deducted from their final paycheck and Moorings Park will take action to recover all funds paid on behalf of the student in the 90 days prior to the last day of work.
Scholarship funds paid will be included in partner income as taxable wages. The amount will be grossed up to include taxes payable so that participants will receive the full amount of $5,000 per calendar year.
Moorings Park provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.