American Savings Foundation offers a number of Frequently Asked Questions to aid you in your research regarding available college scholarships for Connecticut students. Please review this information before contacting the Foundation.
Most years, the foundation expects to award over 100 new scholarships to first-time applicants. Nearly 300 scholars will receive a renewal of their awards.
Most scholarship awards range from $1,000 - $4,000 for the academic year.
Applications are reviewed by a volunteer scholarship selection committee, using a “blind review” process. This means the committee will not see the names of applicants. Scholarships are awarded primarily based on financial need, with consideration given to academic performance, community involvement, and other indications of a strong desire to achieve goals through education.
Several factors are considered, including the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from FAFSA, the income and assets of the applicant and their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and any changes that have occurred since the tax year used to complete the FAFSA. Students do not need to be PELL eligible to have financial need, but they must demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
This award is a grant, not a loan. Recipients do not need to repay grant awards.
Yes. Our goal is to help Robert T. Kenney Scholars earn their degrees. Current scholars may reapply each year while they are in college, and most of our scholars receive support for all four years.
Several factors are considered, including the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from FAFSA, the income and assets of the applicant and their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and any changes that have occurred since the tax year used to complete the FAFSA. Students do not need to be PELL eligible to have financial need, but they must demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
You can apply to the Robert T. Kenney Scholarship Program at the American Savings Foundation if:
We only accept applications from students residing in our service area and cannot make exceptions. Our 64 Connecticut town service area represents the towns served by the original American Savings Bank.
The Foundation will use your home address as it appears on your FAFSA in determining eligibility to apply.
All first-time applicants should use the New Scholarship Application. Only students who have previously received a Robert T. Kenney Scholarship are eligible to use the Renewal Application.
New Applications are due by midnight on March 31.
Students who applied for a new Robert T. Kenney Scholarship will be notified at the end of May. All students who submit a completed application are sent a letter notifying them of the award decision.
Yes, as long as you continue to meet our eligibility requirements, you are welcome to apply again during our next new application period.
You can attach the documents in your Online application. We will also accept them by mail with the Attachments Submission Form. All attachments must be received or postmarked by the deadline.
Required Attachments for a New Application:
To save your Student Aid Report (SAR) as a PDF:
1. Log into FAFSA at Studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and password.
2. Scroll over your name in the upper right corner to drop down the site menu. Click on My Documents. Once the documents page is opened, click on the Student Aid Report (SAR) on FAFSA Application page link.
3. You will be redirected to the FAFSA page. Click the I am a student and want to access the FAFSA form and then select Continue.
4. This will bring you to your FAFSA overview page. You will see a tab for each year you have completed a FAFSA. Click the tab corresponding to the academic year we are asking for. When you scroll down you will see a box with the header View Student Aid Report (SAR). Click the View SAR button next to it.
5. Your Student Aid Report will open. Make sure the year indicated is the correct year request. Click on the Print SAR button in the top right corner. Then select the option to Save as PDF - this will allow you to save your SAR as a PDF on your computer. The file should be 10 pages.
Student's applying for a 5th Year of Undergraduate support need to to complete the 5th Year Undergraduate Renewal Application which opens April 2 and is due June 15.
All other undergraduate renewal students will apply through the Renewal Applications opens June 1 and is due September 30. Only students who have previously received a Robert T. Kenney Scholarship are allowed to use the Renewal Application.
Students who applied for a 5th Year Undergraduate Renewal Scholarship will be notified by the end of July.
All other students completing the Undergraduate Renewal Application will be notified on a rolling basis. All students who submit a completed application will receive letter notifying them of the award decision.
You can attach the documents in your Online application. We will also accept them by fax or mail with the Attachments Submission Form. All attachments must be received or postmarked by the deadline.
To save your Student Aid Report (SAR) as a PDF:
1. Log into FAFSA at Studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and password.
2. Scroll over your name in the upper right corner to drop down the site menu. Click on My Documents. Once the documents page is opened, click on the Student Aid Report (SAR) on FAFSA Application page link.
3. You will be redirected to the FAFSA page. Click the I am a student and want to access the FAFSA form and then select Continue.
4. This will bring you to your FAFSA overview page. You will see a tab for each year you have completed a FAFSA. Click the tab corresponding to the academic year we are asking for. When you scroll down you will see a box with the header View Student Aid Report (SAR). Click the View SAR button next to it.
5. Your Student Aid Report will open. Make sure the year indicated is the correct year request. Click on the Print SAR button in the top right corner. Then select the option to Save as PDF - this will allow you to save your SAR as a PDF on your computer. The file should be 10 pages.
The first page of the ONLINE APPLICATION is the Login Page. The first time you visit, you must Create a New Account. This will allow you to create a username and password. Once you have registered as a user and started an application, you will be able to save your work and return to the Scholarship Portal at later time. Please remember to save your user ID and password to use later.
Once you have logged in using your ID and password, you will reach the Applicant Dashboard. On the top menu bar you will see an Apply button. Click here to view the available scholarship applications.
To begin an application, click the blue Apply button next to the scholarship application you wish to apply for.
You can save your work by hitting the save icon at the bottom of the application page and come back to complete the application later. When you come back, you will find your saved application listed on your Applicant Dashboard. Select your application and hit the blue “Edit” button on the right hand side.
You can copy most of the Financial Information from your Student Aid Report. However, if your Student Aid Report shows “Transferred from the IRS,” you will need to enter the original figures from your tax returns. If you cannot locate your tax returns, please enter in your best estimates on the application.
Your application has not been submitted until you hit the blue SUBMIT APPLICATION button and you receive an email confirmation from Heather Hokunson. Your application is not complete until we have received the online application and all required attachments.
Yes, the recommender or guidance office are able to submit the requested information through the Scholarship Portal even after an application has been submitted. It is still your responsibilty to make sure they submit the information by the deadline.
If you are having an issue with the online application or have forgotten your password please contact:
Heather Hokunson
Program Officer - Scholarships
hhokunson@asfdn.org
You can also reset your password on the login page by clicking the Forgot your Password? link on the bottom of the page.
All payments are sent to your college or university. To receive the fall semester award, you must send us your signed Scholarship Agreement and all documents listed on Appendix A (page 3). For the spring semester, we need a copy of your fall grades and spring schedule.
These documents will be submitted through your online scholarship portal.
Scholarships are paid in two equal installments for the fall and spring semesters. All checks are sent directly to the college or university you are attending. We cannot send any checks directly to the student.
Once we receive and process your documents, you will receive an email confirmation that the payment is being sent to your college or university.
Bring a copy of your award letter to the school and ask them to credit a pending scholarship payment on your account. If your school needs further documentation, contact Heather Hokunson. You must give Heather your financial aid contact’s name and email address so she can follow up.
Notify Heather Hokunson as soon as possible. When you complete your Spring Payment Follow Up Form through the Scholarship Portal, you will be prompted to notify us of any change.
Updated information including your financial aid award from the new school will be required, along with your fall grades and spring schedule.
American Savings Foundation strives to be accessible to anyone seeking information about college scholarships for Connecticut students. If you did not find the answers you were looking for in our FAQs, please get in touch today.