The National Order of the Arrow Conference is excited to announce the launch the Trailblazer scholarship program. The Trailblazer scholarship has been established to support youth contingent delegates and staff members in the Order of the Arrow who are planning to attend the 2024 National Order of the Arrow Conference at the University of Colorado Boulder. The scholarship has been established to increase access to NOAC for members of the Order of the Arrow who might otherwise not be able to attend NOAC 2024.
Supporting the Trailblazer Scholarship Program
The Trailblazer Scholarship is your opportunity to make a difference – support a youth OA member who, due to financial constraints, may not otherwise be able to attend NOAC. By contributing to the program, you can enable youth members to apply for scholarships that cover up to the full conference fee. We are offering a special Trailblazer merchandise package as a token of appreciation for supporters of the program. Every package purchase made directly supports youth OA members in need. And the best part? You can purchase a package even if you are not attending NOAC 2024. The Trailblazer memorabilia package sells for $200 per package.
The memorabilia package includes the following special items:
- Trailblazer Neckerchief
- Trailblazer Chenille
- Trailblazer Patch (linked to the Conference Patch Set)
- Trailblazer Coin
- Trailblazer Pin
But we're not stopping there. Every individual supporter of the Trailblazer Scholarship who purchases at least one memorabilia package AND registers to attend NOAC will be invited to an exclusive sponsor reception at the conference.
Don't wait to claim your set - the memorabilia package will be shipped directly to you in the spring of 2024. Ready to make an even bigger impact? Click the link below to purchase your memorabilia package or to make a supplemental gift to the scholarship program. All gifts and orders must be received by February 29, 2024.
Memorabilia Package: https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/NCFD/appeal/7106
Direct Donation: https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/NCFD/appeal/7095
Application Criteria and Eligibility
Applications for the Trailblazer Scholarship can be found here. Applications will open on November 1, 2023 and the last day to submit a scholarship application will be January 31, 2024.
Eligibility requirements for the Trailblazer Scholarship Program include:
- Be registered for NOAC within NOAERS as a youth delegate with a contingent or as a youth staff member by January 31, 2024
- Submit a Trailblazer Scholarship application, which will be routed to your council’s OA Event Approver for approval (if a lodge contingent delegate) by January 31, 2024. No supplemental approval is required for staff members.
- Be under the age of 21 through the last day of the conference, August 3, 2024.
The Scholarship Committee will determine scholarship amounts for each applicant. Lodges, sections, or regions do not have a role in reviewing and approving Trailblazer Scholarship applications but may be contacted by the committee to validate requests.
Questions in the Trailblazer Scholarship application will include financial information such as the size of the household, parent or guardian name(s), total annual household income before taxes, and the requested scholarship amount. There will be additional free-form response questions, such as:
- Why are you interested in attending NOAC?
- What are you doing to raise funds to attend NOAC?
- If you do not receive the scholarship amount you requested, how might that impact your ability to attend NOAC?" (This is for better flow/punctuation).
Applicants and their respective contingent leaders will be notified of their scholarship status and a potential award by Friday, March 15, 2024. Trailblazer Scholarship awards will be applied directly to the individual registration account within the NOAERS. Funds will not be mailed.