PNACAC Student Scholarship

recording on phone

The Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) annually awards one-time scholarships to students planning to attend a regionally accredited college or university. For 2024, ten $1000 scholarships will be awarded.

Questions? Review our list of Frequently Asked Questions before contacting our Scholarship & Awards Chair.

  • Application opens in late February
  • Application closes at midnight PDT March 29, 2024
  • Awardees are typically notified in late May
Application is closed for 2024
 Counselor Flyer
Eligibility Criteria How to Apply
Video Essay Rules What is Accreditation?
FAQs Past Winners

 

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

Accreditation ensures that an institution meets an acceptable level of quality, and that an institution is upholding its mission, goals, operations and achievements. Regionally accredited institutions typically include public two- and four-year colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities and private, non-profit colleges and universities.

  • Higher Learning Commission
  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  1. Currently enrolled student who is in their senior year of high school in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington and plans to attend a regionally accredited college or university in the coming Fall - OR - Currently enrolled student who is attending a two-year college in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington and plans to attend a regionally accredited four-year college or university in the coming Fall.
  2. Currently have a 3.00 cumulative, unweighted GPA or higher.
  3. Submit the video essay application no later than March 29 at midnight Pacific Time.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Record a video (no more than one minute in length) responding to one of the following prompts: “What would you like to be doing in 10 years, and how does college help you get there?” -OR- “How has your college/career counselor, school counselor or advisor helped you (and/or others) in finding the right college fit and what would you like to say to them?”
  2. Upload your video to YouTube. Publish it as unlisted. The instructions to do this can be found here.
  3. Submit the video essay application no later than March 29 at midnight Pacific Time.

VIDEO ESSAY RULES

  • Must be created by an individual student. No joint entries (video created by two or more students) will be considered.
  • Must be no more than one minute in length.
  • Must be submitted by the deadline.
  • Must be hosted on YouTube and published as unlisted. The instructions to publish as unlisted can be found here.
  • Videos will be judged on message, originality, and focus. Students do not need to be experienced videographers or editors and no fancy camera or special equipment is required. Just simply use your phone or borrow a friend’s!
  • Need some inspiration? Check out the videos of past winners!

PNACAC represents college admissions professionals in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. A regional affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), PNACAC is an education association of secondary school counselors, college and university admission officers and counselors and related individuals who work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education.