1. Be a senior and a candidate for graduation from Marion Harding High School of Marion County, Ohio.
2. Have attended Marion Harding High School throughhout his or her entire high school experience.
3. Be registered to attend an accredited college or university, which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of pupils or students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are regularly carried on for a course of study that will prepare them for a career.
4. Have ranked in the upper 25^th percentile of his or her high school senior class.  
5. Have timely prepared and filed the application and accompanying documents designated by the Marion Community Foundation for this scholarship.
6. Submit a letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher and a letter of recommendation from a member of the Marion County community who is not a relative of the applicant.

Criteria for selection among applicants who meet the minimum requirements:

1. Academic Achievement.  His or her class ranking, his or her grade point average, and the relative difficulty of his or her courses will show the applicant's prior academic achievement.
2. Academic Potential. The applicant’s academic potential will be demonstrated by his score on the ACT, SAT or other national standardized test commonly used to select students for the applicant’s planned course of study.
3. Financial Need. The applicant’s financial need will be considered and it will be measured by the cost of the education as compared to the applicant's financial resources. 
4. Community Service and School Citizenship. The applicant’s commitment to the Marion County community and his or her school will be demonstrated by the applicant’s service, citizenship, and involvement in extra-curricular activities.  
5. Special Skills. A brief essay, a possible interview, and the applicant's academic achievements will demonstrate the applicant's aptitude for and commitment to excellent communications.
6. No Prejudice. In making the selection, the committee shall not consider the applicant’s race, age, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity or disabilities.
7. No Relatives. This scholarship shall not be awarded to applicants who are close relatives of any of the following: Helen L. Alex, James L. Alex, a member of the Selection Committee, a member of the Board of Trustees of Marion Community Foundation, or an employee of the Marion Community Foundation. For purposes of this paragraph, a “close relative” is a spouse, child, stepchild, parent, grandchild, sibling, first cousin, niece, nephew, aunt, or uncle.

Special consideration will be given to applicants who have demonstrated excellence in the study of history or who will be pursuing a college major in history.

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