Scholarship Program

DEMCO offers academic scholarships to area students.
Drawing typically held in May of each year.

One-year academic scholarships to students attending a Louisiana public college or university will be awarded in a random drawing highlighting DEMCO's annual membership meeting to be held May 15, 2010.

According to Brent Bradley, Manager of Business and Member Services, a minimum of two scholarships will be awarded. "We will determine the number of scholarships awarded after the random drawing. How many students receive assistance will depend on who the winners are and if they receive assistance through Louisiana's TOPS program." he said.
The scholarships awarded by DEMCO provide full academic tuition to a Louisiana public college or university for both the fall and spring semesters of the academic year provided the students is not enrolled in the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) program. Students eligible for the TOPS award or other scholarship assistance receive a $600 cash award to be used by the student as needed.

Louisiana's TOPS is a comprehensive program of state scholarships and one of the most innovative and progressive student assistance programs in the nation. Students should check with their local school for further information concerning the TOPS program to determine their eligibility and the amount of assistance they may receive.

Last year over 200 applications for scholarship assistance were received by DEMCO. Four students, Caleb Nations of Prairieville, Megan Harrell of Baton Rouge, Adam Meyers of Greenwell Springs, and Whitney Lee of Denham Springs received assistance through the scholarship program last year.

DEMCO is allowed to use unclaimed deposits, refunds and other moneys owed to former members to provide funding for the scholarship program.  Complete eligibility requirements are listed below.

2010 Scholarship eligibility requirements

1. Applicant must be a DEMCO member, child or the legal ward of a DEMCO member who has been a member in good standing for at least twelve (12) consecutive months as of the application deadline, May 7, 2010. Only one scholarship will be awarded per family per academic year.

2. A student can receive the DEMCO scholarship one time. It is not renewable. The term of the scholarship will be for one continuous academic year beginning with the fall semester (or quarter). The scholarship does not include summer sessions.

3. The scholarship money can be used by an undergraduate student to attend, on a full-time basis, any Louisiana PUBLIC university. The scholarship will not be awarded to a student attending a private university or vocational/trade school of any kind.

4. A first-time college student applying for the DEMCO scholarship must: a) have graduated from high school with at least a B average (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale, or the equivalent); or, b) have graduated from high school and received a minimum ACT test score of 21. High school students who apply must be seniors.

5. An undergraduate college student seeking the scholarship must have achieved a minimum of 2.5 (on a 4.0 GPA scale) on all prior college work.

6. A scholarship application must be completed and returned to DEMCO.

7. The scholarship recipients will be chosen in a random drawing at the annual meeting of the DEMCO membership.

8. The scholarship recipients will be required to provide DEMCO with an official transcript verifying his/her eligibility within 10 days after the drawing.

9. The scholarship funds will be paid to the recipients at the beginning of each semester (or quarter) upon presentation of an official receipt for the payment of full-time undergraduate tuition (see No. 10 below). To receive the second semester (or quarter) payment, the student must provide evidence that he/she successfully completed at least 12 semester hours (or 9 quarter hours) and that he/she maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).

10 . The scholarship provides full tuition to students who DO NOT participate in Louisiana's TOPS program or receive other scholarship assistance. Students who participate in Louisiana's TOPS program, or receive other scholarship assistance, receive a limited scholarship award of $600 per semester.

11 . Members of the DEMCO Board of Directors, employees of DEMCO (including part-time employees, students, and temporary employees) and children of the Board of Directors and employees are not eligible for this scholarship.