Kendra Smith Scholarship Program
Do you lead by example? Are you passionate about service and a positive force for good? High school seniors with excellent character who plan to pursue a degree in healthcare are invited to apply for the Kendra Smith Scholarship, sponsored by The First Nation Group Foundation.
Kendra Smith Scholarship Program
Do you lead by example? Are you passionate about service and a positive force for good? High school seniors with excellent character who plan to pursue a degree in healthcare are invited to apply for the Kendra Smith Scholarship, sponsored by The First Nation Group Foundation.
Established in 2023, the Kendra Smith Scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding student(s) seeking higher education or careers in healthcare. The scholarship honors the late Kendra Tennille Rayner Smith, a dedicated First Nation Group employee who tirelessly served VA customers and team members. As a licensed Respiratory Therapist, she was committed to service and education, and her passion for learning and giving lives on through the Kendra Smith Scholarship.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants to the Kendra Smith Scholarship Program must:
- Be a high school senior
- Be a permanent resident of the following states:
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year
- Plan to pursue a degree in healthcare. This includes but not limited to:
- Medical
- Healthcare (Clinical or administrative)
- Public Health
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
Children of First Nation Group, LLC and The First Nation Group Foundation are ineligible.
Awards
The selected recipient will receive a $10,000 award. Up to one (1) award will be granted.
The award is renewable up to three years until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on a basis of satisfactory academic performance (maintain a cumulative grand point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale), and full-time enrollment.
Recipients will also be offered the opportunity for the following:
- Mentorship 101 program
- Extracurricular activities
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Awards are for qualified education-related expenses only (tuition, fees, books, and required supplies/equipment).
Notification
All applicants will be notified in April.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of The First Nation Group Foundation. Payment is made in early August.
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic performance
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- An online recommendation
- Essay*
Financial need will be considered, Recipients must demonstrate need.
Selection of finalists is made by Scholarship America. The First Nation Group Foundation will select recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
*Essay Topic
Share a personal story that supports one of the five (5) values (1,000 characters):
- Always Lead by Example: Smith Scholars exhibit leadership qualities, take initiative, and develop actionable skills to lead and motive others to thrive
- Uphold Integrity: Smith Scholars excel through honesty, dependability, and guided behavior that inspires others
- Focus on Service and Solutions: Smith Scholars are passionate about service to others and their community, with faith as their guiding principle
- Learn, Grow, and Give: As a force for good, Smith Scholars seek knowledge, support others, and grow through experiences that make a positive impact
- Fuel Humility, Happiness, and Positivity: Smith Scholars exude positivity and cultivate humility within their personal and professional life
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
- Copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040 used for the Financial Information section of the application. Please black out all social security numbers and bank account information.
NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than January 16, 2026 3:00 PM Central Time.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
