PASTOR’S GUIDELINES FOR RECRUITING STUDENTS

There may be leaders in your church who
qualify for the Ascending Lights program.

NOTE: There is no student age limit. We welcome students who have had past academic difficulty.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND:

1. We seek candidates with strong records of self-initiated Christian service and who serve as leaders in their churches. Regularly volunteering to sing in the choir, taking up the collection on Sundays, or participating in other specific ministries do not necessarily indicate that people are serving as leaders. We are looking for candidates who freely choose to serve, and are not participating because anyone else is pushing them.
    

2. We seek candidates who have completed a high school degree.
    

3. We seek candidates who have at least two years of community college studies ahead of them and be able to complete their studies by the end of the Summer Semester of 2025.
    

4. We are looking for candidates who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents (Green Card), or in possession of a valid DACA Form I797.

5. Candidates must meet individual and family income qualifications. Income ceilings can be found below and in the Participant Handbook.

   The applicant must meet one of the financial need criteria below:

   • Independent and receiving TANF, SSI, or General Relief; or

   • Dependent with parents receiving TANF, SSI, or General Relief; or

   • Have a gross annual family income in one of the following ranges:

   Single person living independently: $42,800
   2 Person family: $49,000
   3 Person family: $55,200
   4 Person family: $61,400
   5 Person Family:$68,700

   • Exceptions to these criteria are possible on a case-by-case basis

6. Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID or have a physician’s written excuse.
    

7. Ascending Lights is not able to accept full-time church employees or relatives of pastors or of full-time church employees.
    

8. Churches of people who participate in Ascending Lights also designate one of their members to serve as the Ascending Lights Church Liaison. Church Liaisons meet with the Ascending Lights student(s) from their church at least once each month during each semester. They are open to respond to questions from students about the doctrines and history of their church, their relationship to God, and other questions of faith. Church Liaisons review each student’s class attendance and academic progress, goals, punctuality, preparation, communication effectiveness, and participation at church, work, and home to determine where each student might need additional support. Church Liaisons will recieve, at the end of the fall and spring semesters, written Student Semester Reviews. Church Liaisons know and understand Ascending Lights program goals and policies. They are able to support and refer each of their students to appropriate sources of assistance in their congregation, parish, denomination, and church.
    

9. All scholarships are pre-funded by private donations. There are no monetary costs to students or their churches.

Please refer to the Participant Handbook for other qualification criteria and general information on our program.
 

HOW TO RECOMMEND A STUDENT FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

If you believe that you have a candidate who fits these guidelines
please complete our Scholarship Application.

Or contact us with any further questions.