Hope for the Future Scholarship

Hope Lutheran Church in the Villages is pleased to offer $1000 Scholarships for students graduating from Tri-County area high schools who meet our selection criteria. We offer first-year assistance to students who have achieved a satisfactory academic record, including their high school diploma, as well as acceptance to a college, university or trade school to prepare for a future career.

Our program is unique in that it also offers the opportunity for each recipient to be paired with a mentor to help them adjust to the next phase of their education with discussions about any concerns they may be facing, which could include educational, career, financial or general life issues. Our objective is to maximize the opportunities for student success.

Scholarship Application Criteria

• GPA of 2.5 or greater verified by your high school
• Plan to attend an accredited college, university or a trade school
• Must be a full-time student if in college or taking the prescribed course of study if in a technical school
• Must reside in the Florida counties of Lake, Marion or Sumter and must be graduating from one of the following:
- The Villages Charter High School
- Lake Weir High School
- Belleview High School
- Leesburg High School
- Wildwood High School

Application Components Required

• Completion of all sections of application on pages 1- 5
• One essay chosen from prompt options
• Two letters of recommendation
• Other factors for Review Committee to consider
• Signature and permission to release information
• On-Time submission

Digital forms can be submitted at hope4all.church/scholarship-form.

For applications to be considered, they must include all the required documents and be submitted by 12:00 PM (Noon) on February 25, 2026.

Applicant Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Middle Initial

Date Input

Address

Apartment, suite, etc.

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

Phone Number

Secondary Contact Information (if needed)

Birthdate

Phone Number

Education

High School

High School Address

From (Year)

To (Year)

Anticipated Date of Graduation

GPA

Counselor's Name (to verify GPA)

Other Scholarships & Financial Aid

Name of Aid Package 1

Amount Per Year

Number of Years

Name of Aid Package 2

Amount Per Year

Number of Years

Name of Aid Package 3

Amount Per Year

Number of Years

Student Activities

Please list all clubs, societies, activities you participated in as a student and include dates of involvement (From Year XXXX to Year XXXX):

Activities, Societies, and Clubs

Please list all non-school community and volunteer activities you participated in and include dates of involvement (From Year XXXX to Year XXXX):

Non-School Activities

Student Employment Activities

Please list all work / jobs you had while in high school and include dates of employment (From Year XXXX to Year XXXX):

Employment 1

Company Name

Phone Number

Address

Apartment, suite, etc.

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

Dates of Employment

Responsibilities

Supervisor

May we contact your supervisor for a reference?

Yes

Employment 2

Company Name

Phone Number

Address

Apartment, suite, etc.

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

Dates of Employment

Responsibilities

Supervisor

May we contact your supervisor for a reference?

Yes

Future Education

Where do you plan to expand your future education?

What course of study/training do you plan to pursue?

Name of Institution or School

Address

Apartment, suite, etc.

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

Have you been notified of acceptance?

Yes

Essay

Please choose one of the prompts below and write an essay (no more than 700 words) in response. These options for essays are designed to encourage reflection and self-discovery, enabling our reviewers to understand an applicant’s personal development, story, and motivations to pursue higher education opportunities upon high school graduation.

As it would be in other contexts, using AI to “fabricate, falsify, or plagiarize” one’s story is neither responsible nor ethical. Such use will stand in the way of our reviewers evaluating an applicant’s fit for the scholarship. Thus, no AI-generated essays will be accepted. Thank you.

OPTION 1: How do you see artificial intelligence shaping the future? Describe ways that AI is currently being used or could be used in various settings, and share how it has affected your own educational experience or daily life. What are the benefits and challenges you think AI provides? Reflect on both the positive and negative impacts AI might have on your life going forward.

OPTION 2: Describe a problem you have experienced in your life. How did you work through it to minimize, alleviate, or resolve the issue? Reflect on the steps you took, the challenges you faced, and the outcome of your efforts.

Type Essay Here

Other Factors

Please list any other factors, including financial concerns, we should consider in deciding on this scholarship offer to you:

Type Other Factors Here

Mentoring

Acceptance of this scholarship grants the option of having access to a mentor from Hope Lutheran Church who can be available when needed for assistance in decision making or just to discuss progress periodically. Mentors can be contacted by phone, email or in-person.

NEXT STEP: Submit Letters of Recommendation

All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. Letters can be emailed directly to kathy.wuellner@gmail.com.

Please include your NAME and the words SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANT in the subject of your email.

Recommendation letters may also be delivered in physical form to Hope Central Campus, 250 Avenida Los Angelos, The Villages, FL 32162. Please place both letters in an envelope and include your NAME and the words APPLICANT LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION on the front of the envelope.

Applicants with no letter of recommendation submitted will be disqualified from consideration.

I have read the above NEXT STEP directions and will submit my letters of recommendation via email or in person.

Disclaimer & Signature

I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. If this application leads to a scholarship, I understand that false or misleading information in my application or interview may result in my forfeiture of these funds.

Signature

Date Input

Permission to Release Information

I grant permission for my high school to supply the Hope for Future Scholarship Committee with a copy of my GPA.

Signature

Date Input

DUE DATE FOR ALL APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS:
FEBRUARY 25, 2026

All completed applications must be postmarked or submitted no later than 12:00 PM (Noon) on February 25, 2026.

If you have received a physical application from your school and/or counselor, you may mail physical applications to:
Hope Lutheran Church
250 Avenida Los Angelos
The Villages FL 32162

You may email additional information or questions to Kathy Wuellner at kathy.wuellner@gmail.com.

Application Checklist
• Completion of all sections of application on pages 1- 5
• One essay chosen from prompt options
• Two letters of recommendation emailed or delivered in person
• Other factors for Review Committee to consider
• Signature and permission to release information
• On-Time submission

For applications to be considered, they must include all the required documents and be submitted by 12:00 PM (Noon) on February 25, 2026.

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