Kay Finnie Scholarship Fund

Application Information

Thanks to generous donors to the Kay Finnie Scholarship Fund, we are so excited to offer partial travel scholarships to Springfield area citizens of all ages who would like to join us on upcoming trips to our sister cities of Isesaki, Japan or Tlaquepaque, Mexico.

Students traveling on the Youth Ambassador Trip to Japan should fill out a separate scholarship application yet to be published.

Deadlines

The priority application deadline for the 2023 Isesaki trip is August 1, 2023. Applications received after the priority deadline may still be considered. Please click here to learn more about the trips.

Eligibility

Applicants must be paid members of SSCA living within the greater Springfield, Mo. area.

Applicants should have a passport valid for at least 6 months after trip departure or be in the process of obtaining one. If you have not started the process, plan for about two weeks to gather the necessary documents for the application and four to six weeks for processing.

Process

Applications are reviewed by a committee and selected based on financial need, ability to fund remaining fees, and ability to be a positive ambassador of Springfield.

Priority is given to applications which demonstrate engagement with SSCA and its mission of “Peace through People.” Amounts distributed are based on availability of funds.

Applicants may be invited to participate in an in-person interview. Interviews are scheduled based on applicant availability.

Recipient Requirements

Financial aid recipients are required to submit written reports and relevant media (photographs, videos, etc.) to SSCA within two weeks of trip completion. This content may be used to promote the scholarship program and future trips. Recipients may also be expected to present oral reports.

Instructions

Download the application or complete the form below. Narratives may be attached if additional space is needed, but each narrative should not exceed 500 words. Typed submissions are preferred.

Applicants are notified of results within six weeks of the priority application deadline.

Questions

For more information, please contact us.

Application

We recommend that you type your responses in a separate document before entering them in the form below.

Name

First Last

Employer/School

Profession/Area of Study

Address

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Phone

Birth Date (optional)

Ethnicity (optional)

Gender (optional)

Household Income

Please explain your household income and demonstrate your financial need and ability to fund remaining costs (include employer support if applicable):

In what ways will you be a positive ambassador of Springfield and SSCA’s mission of “Peace through People” while traveling with SSCA?

In what ways will you spread SSCA’s mission of “Peace through People” in Springfield?

Please list and explain your past and present involvement with SSCA and/or demonstrate your commitment to become involved with SSCA:

Please check all that apply:

I am a current paid member of Springfield Sister Cities Association.

I understand that scholarship award recipients are required to produce a written report and relevant media (photographs, videos, etc.) within two weeks of trip completion.

I have a passport valid for at least 6 months after trip departure.

I am in the process of obtaining a valid passport.

You may submit up to three reference letters. Please request that your references be e-mailed directly to Lisa Bakerink, lbakerink@springfieldmo.gov.