1 of 15

C/O 2027 PEF Scholarship Workshop

2 of 15

General Information

General PEF Application- pairs you with individual scholarships, use personal email address
Every scholarship has different eligibility criteria
Platform will tell you which scholarships you’re eligible for
Your goal – demonstrate YOU are worth the investment

Each scholarship opportunity offered by The PEF has its own guidelines. Before applying, be certain that you meet all the necessary qualifications.

Our scholarship platform will only show you which scholarships you’re eligible for! If you think you’re eligible for a scholarship but it’s not showing up, please contact scholarships@thepef.org.

Applying for our scholarships is your opportunity to share about yourself – your strengths, goals, character, interests, and passion. �Scholarship applications should be a product of your best work.�Spending the time to create a complete application takes time, attention to detail, and careful preparation. �Remember, you are applying for and requesting a donor to invest in YOUR future…..your goal is to use the scholarship application as evidence that YOU are worth the investment!

3 of 15

Application Components

Letter(s) of Recommendation
Transcript
Resume
Financial Statement
Essay(s)

4 of 15

Letters of Recommendation

Ask early and nicely
Ask people who know you well
Prepare a “brag sheet” - highlight details from your:

Resume
Transcript
Specific stories/examples to include

Keep them informed

Remind them of due dates, as needed
Let them know when you earn a scholarship

The first component is the Letter of Recommendation.

�I would suggest two letters with:

�One from a core teacher who can address your academic achievements and character traits such as perseverance, motivation, curiosity, integrity, and provide narration to support their opinion.

�and

�One from someone who knows you outside of the classroom (a club advisor, a coach, a pastor) who can address your leadership, teamwork, collaboration, confidence, and creativity.

�Oftentimes, the best letters of recommendation are those that are personalized. So request letters from people that know you well and know your work. These CANNOT be from your family - we already know your parents/guardians, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. think you are great!

�Give them information about the scholarship criteria and provide bullet points of what you want to be included in your letter - we recommend creating a “brag sheet” highlighting achievements from your resume, transcript, and outside activities, and include specific stories or examples you would like them to mention

�Keep your recommenders informed of the status of your scholarship due dates and deadlines

�If awarded a scholarship, notify them and thank them for their support – no one is obligated to write a letter of recommendation. If they agree to do so, they are doing it because they believe in you and your potential

�They will want to know if you’ve been awarded a scholarship!

5 of 15

Transcripts

Know the process to obtain one - available on Infinite Campus
Only unofficial needed
Review before submitting

The second component is your transcript.

�If you don’t already know the process of how to obtain a copy of your transcript, talk to the counselors at your school.

�It’s important to know the difference between an official transcript and an unofficial transcript.

�An official transcript contains an official school seal, tamper proof marks, and is enclosed in a sealed envelope.

�An unofficial transcript contains the same information and will look the same and is easily accessible from the records tab in your infinite campus account.

�For Public Education Foundation scholarships, you can upload your unofficial transcript directly from Infinite Campus.

Be sure to review your transcript before submitting to make sure all of the high schools you’ve attended are included and that you are not missing any information.

6 of 15

Test Scores

Some scholarships may require or request SAT/ACT scores
Screenshots of online portals are acceptable as long as they include your name
Your LVHS counselor can send you your score report

7 of 15

Resume

Use standard font like Times New Roman or Arial
Keep it to one page
Professional email address (do not use CCSD email)
List most recent items first
Include events/achievements that show how/why you are unique
Include community service, activities, and work experience

The third component is your resume.

�Having a good resume can help you show off your creative flair and professional skills. It is another tool that can help set you apart from the group.

�Our recommendations for your resume include:

�Keeping it to one page.

�Include sections that cover a specific objective, contact Information, and highlights to your key accomplishments, skills, and qualifications.

�If applicable include sections that display your work experience, community service or volunteering experience, extracurricular activities or other school or community involvement. Most scholarships have criteria around these areas, so give reviewers all the information you may need!

Think outside of the box - we know students may have family situations or financial needs that keep them from participating in activities or outside employment. If you care for a younger sibling or elder adult, work a job to provide for your family, or support your family in other ways, you can include these as work experience to show you are responsible and dedicated.

�Reflect on yourself in a positive, professional manner.

�Create a professional non CCSD email address - the email address on your application is the email we will use to let you know if we need any additional information or if you have been awarded a scholarship, so you need an email address you will have access to after graduation!

�The amount of effort that you invest in your resume is indicative of your work ethic and your desire to be awarded a scholarship.

8 of 15

Financial Information

“Letter” – written by you about your college financial situation
“Statement” – official documents proving income

The fourth component is a financial letter or statement.

�All of our scholarships at the Public Education Foundation require a financial letter

�The financial letter needed for many scholarship applications often includes:

�A letter from you about why you need scholarship funds for college

�Include information about your family’s financial circumstances - be as specific as you are comfortable being (salary information, debts, other siblings in college, etc.)

�Are you the first in your family to attend college?

�Have there been changes in the family income…or unexpected expenses?

�Discuss how you currently plan to pay for college and explain the difficulties you are having.

�Share how you would benefit from the scholarship and how it would assist you in reaching your post-secondary goals.

�Few, but some, of our scholarship opportunities require an official financial statement. This would possibly include:

�An official document, such as a pay stub, W-2, or 1099 tax form, indicating your parents current income.

As you research different scholarship opportunities, pay close attention to the financial information that is required.

9 of 15

Writing the Perfect Essay

Your essay may be the determining factor
Show time and effort spent
Reveal something about yourself
Share personal experiences
Be sure to fully address/answer the topic/question
Use detailed examples
Show passion and enthusiasm; be memorable
Save essays to use again, modify if needed to meet requirements

The fifth component is the essay

All of our donors and scholarship review committees are individuals and businesses in our community that want to give back to the community. Your essay should touch on the purpose of the individual scholarship opportunity.

�Be persuasive in showing the committee you deserve the award. Highlight your key strengths, qualities, accomplishments, and achievements. Share examples of how you are a problem solver and how you overcame obstacles.

�Make connections with your audience, but also between your area of study, your career goals and interests, personal philosophies and how it all connects with the purpose of the scholarship.

�Be sure you understand the essay topic and answer the question to the best of your ability. Generally, many of our scholarship essay prompts are designed to:

�Get to know you and how you will introduce yourself

Get to know your path and how committed you are to your post secondary goals

OR

Get to know you creatively and how you utilize your knowledge and education to solve problems and find solutions

�Lastly, be sure to take the time to review and edit your essay.

�Ask yourself:

�Are there any spelling and/or grammatical errors?

Is it concise and clear?

Is it honest?

Is it memorable?

It is always a good idea to have at least one other person whose writing abilities you respect edit your draft

10 of 15

AI and Scholarships

Personalized essays get higher review scores
Reviewers will reduce scores for essays �that appear to be AI-generated
PEF may use AI detection software to �detect if AI was primarily used to write �your essay

We know Artificial Intelligence is widely used - but personalized scholarship essays almost always receive the highest scores in the application review process. Application reviewers want to read your story and point of view.

While you can use AI tools to compose an initial draft of your essays, our reviewers will reduce scores for essays that appear to be primarily or solely composed utilizing AI. Some of the “telltale signs” of AI generation include:

Overuse of buzzwords or phrases such as “rich tapestry,” “indelible mark,” etc.

Repetitive wording and sentence structures

Lack of emotion

No inclusion of personal stories, anecdotes, or perspectives to illustrate your personal thoughts on the essay topic

We may use AI detection software to confirm the primary or sole use of AI in scholarship application essays. Essays written primarily or solely by AI tools, which do not provide personalized information and insights, will receive lower scores than those that reflect your thinking and perspective.

We have worked with donors to develop essay questions that encourage you to provide your own perspectives and personal experiences. Use this opportunity to stand out!

11 of 15

Scholarship Qualifications

Review criteria
Apply for as many as you qualify
Read thoroughly
Meet expectations
Looking for well-rounded applicants

your story/perspective, extracurricular activities, hobbies, community involvement, volunteer hours, after-school job(s), sports, and more

12 of 15

Coach Ford Wildcat Way Scholarship

Applicants must:

Be a graduating senior at Las Vegas High School. Plan to attend an accredited two-year college, four-year college/university, or trade/vocational school following graduation.

Resumes should include:

• Volunteer and community service

• Extracurricular activities

• Leadership experiences

• Awards, accomplishments, or other achievements

Verification of college enrollment (class schedule) will be required before a check is mailed to the college. Student must be enrolled as a Full Time Student.

13 of 15

Applications Open �October 1 – February 2

Select scholarships up to $100,000 close January 20!

thepef.org

Contact Information

702-799-1042

scholarships@thepef.org

14 of 15

15 of 15

Links

PEF Application -

https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/PublicEducationFoundationGeneral2026-2027

PEF Tutorials & Sample Documents -

https://thepef.org/apply-for-scholarships/

LVHS Scholarship Website -

https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/lvhscounseling/scholarships

Official Transcript Request (Registrar) -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfidU6JXRD-5hVUKz2vzzkPW8IAZppRgjWJvHspdqmvE7yK8w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Submit all college acceptance letters & scholarship awards to the LVHS Counseling Department, we use this information for Senior Awards Night recognitions -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1YzY5UUkerbQMddbDoNwgRK9H65r974MCtCU6OaUfoQfYzA/viewform