2026 Southern Federation Foundation Scholarship Program
Congratulations on reaching this important milestone. We’re pleased that you’re considering applying for a Southern Federation Foundation Scholarship, a program that reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting students as they begin their undergraduate education.
This page outlines eligibility requirements and explains how scholarship awards are determined and distributed. We encourage you to review this information carefully as you prepare your application.
If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, please contact the Scholarship Committee at sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com.
Program Overview
The Southern Federation Foundation Scholarship Program supports graduating high school seniors pursuing undergraduate education at accredited institutions in the United States. Scholarships are intended to help offset remaining educational expenses and are paid directly to the student’s school.
All application materials must be submitted by April 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM CDT.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be considered:
- Applicants must be graduating high school seniors with an 80 or above cumulative grade point average. There is no minimum GPA requirement for a Gift for Knowledge Award. The application for both awards is the same.
- Applicants must enroll in a U.S. accredited community college, college, or university. Accreditation is determined by the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. The Southern Federation Foundation cannot award scholarships to programs outside the United States and reserves the right to withdraw an award to a program deemed ineligible by the Foundation’s tax advisors.
- Scholarships awarded by the Southern Federation Foundation are intended solely for undergraduate degree programs and may not be deferred, held, or applied toward graduate, professional, or other advanced studies.
- The applicant, parent, or legal guardian must be a member of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs (SFSLAC), either through an affiliated club or as a direct member. Membership must be in good standing for each of the following SFSLAC fiscal years:
- July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
- July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
- July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
- SFSLAC membership eligibility is verified by fiscal year and, when applicable, requires attestation by an affiliated Club President. Applications for which eligibility cannot be verified may be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee in consultation with the SFSLAC Secretary and may be deemed ineligible.
- Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.
Award Details & Limitations
For the purposes of this application, full cost of attendance is defined as tuition, housing, meals, fees, and books that are billed by, or can be paid directly to, the accredited college or university.
The Southern Federation Foundation Scholarship is intended to help offset an applicant’s remaining out-of-pocket cost of attendance. Scholarship awards cannot exceed that amount.
If an applicant’s financial aid package fully covers the cost of attendance, or if the remaining out-of-pocket cost is less than the potential scholarship amount, the Scholarship Committee may adjust, reduce, or decline an award.
All scholarship funds:- Are intended for undergraduate educational expenses only
- Are paid directly to the educational institution
- Will not be paid to any individual, family member, trust, or third party
If an applicant’s financial aid changes after submission or after awards are announced, the Scholarship Committee reserves the right to re-evaluate, adjust, or cancel the award. The committee will work with the student, parents, and school to determine an appropriate award amount for the first year only.
Scholarship Award Distribution
Scholarship awards are sent to the educational institution listed on the application and are distributed evenly between the first and second semesters of the student’s first year.
Requests to distribute scholarship awards over multiple academic years will be considered only for awards of $8,000 or more and must be submitted within 10 days of the award announcement via email to sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Scholarship program rules.
If a student defers enrollment, they must notify the Scholarship Committee within 30 days and provide an explanation. Deferral requests may be approved for no more than one academic year. If approved, the recipient must provide updated school mailing information by July 1 of the following year, or the scholarship will not be awarded.
Application Instructions
This tab explains how to apply, what materials are required, and how the application process works. Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your application.
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted online by April 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM CDT. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact the Scholarship Committee at sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com.
Required Application Materials
A complete application includes all of the following seven items:
- Completed scholarship application
- One required letter of recommendation from a SFSLAC member
- One required recommendation form completed by a school official
- High school transcript
- Club President membership verification (if applicable)
- Senior photo
- Video introduction
If your affiliated Club President, SFSLAC recommender, or school recommender experiences issues with the online submission process, please have them email the Scholarship Committee at sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com, and assistance will be provided.
SFSLAC Membership Verification Process
Applicants must indicate their primary SFSLAC eligibility for each required fiscal year as part of the application.
If eligibility is through an affiliated club, the Club President must complete a year-by-year attestation verifying eligibility. You will be able to submit your application once the Club President attestation is completed. The Affiliated Club President must verify that, for each required year, the family paid local club dues on time and that the affiliated club was current on all required SFSLAC dues and roster submissions to the Federation Secretary.
If eligibility is through a direct individual or family membership, dues must have been paid on time in accordance with SFSLAC rules for each required fiscal year. Eligibility for direct memberships will be verified by the Scholarship Committee using official SFSLAC records.
If eligibility cannot be verified for one or more required years, the application will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee in consultation with the SFSLAC Secretary and may be deemed ineligible.
Video Introduction Requirement
As part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a video introduction for our donors.
Applicants must review and follow all video guidelines. The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to determine whether a video submission meets program standards and may request a revised submission if necessary.
Detailed instructions, examples, and upload information are provided within the application.
Process
1. Register
Click on the "Register" link and complete and submit the registration form.
2. Login
Log in to the Scholarship Portal with your email and password. These credentials are separate from any SFSLAC member login.
3. Create
Create your online application.
4. Save
During the Call for Applications period, your application can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a 
appear in the category tab when the application is saved. At any time, you can download and print your application by clicking on the 
icon in the Application Summary section.
5. Submit
On completion, save your Application as FINAL. Download and print a copy of your application for your records by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Note: If an update is required prior to the Call for Applications period, you can make the update and resave as FINAL.
If you require assistance or additional information, please contact sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com.
Contact Us
SFF Scholarshipc/o Bretagne Abirached
2501 Loyola Ln
Austin, TX 78723
Email: sfslac.scholarship@gmail.com
