We raise money here, and put it toward college.
Money from people who live in West Chester, for a student who has been accepted somewhere they can't quite afford. Here's who can apply, what it covers, and how we choose.
$10,000
the year-one fund, every dollar of it.
Running the foundation is paid for by the founders, so nothing comes out of this. The share that goes to this year's student is confirmed before the application opens.
Who qualifies
01
You go to a WCASD high school
You're graduating from a West Chester Area School District high school.
02
A 3.25 GPA or above
Measured on your school's standard scale.
03
You have financial need
How this is assessed is confirmed before the application opens.
04
You have an offer in hand
Accepted somewhere, or holding offers. No requirement about where you go or what kind of program it is.
What the award covers
It's yours to put toward the real cost of going: tuition, books, a laptop, the travel to get there. Anything that supports your time at the school you chose.
We'll confirm how the money reaches you, whether that's paid to your school or to you directly, before the application opens. See the plan for the year.
It follows you wherever you go.
In state or out of state. Public or private. A four-year school, a two-year school, or a trade program. If it's the right place for you, the award goes with you.
We don't require you to stay in Pennsylvania, and we don't require you to come back. That's the whole point.
How we choose, and when
Two groups read applications together: the West Chester Area School District's scholarship committee and The Open Road Foundation's founders. Neither picks alone.
The application includes an essay, read alongside your grades, your financial information and your offer. We will tell you what it asks the moment the dates are set.
We're looking for students who work hard and who want something specific, and who would be held back from it by money alone.
Fundraising opens in September. The first award is made in April. We'll email you the application dates the moment they're set.
Questions
Who can apply?
Any student graduating from a West Chester Area School District high school with a 3.25 GPA or above, financial need, and an offer or acceptance in hand. The application also includes an essay.
How much is the award, and what can I spend it on?
One award, once, to one student. We are raising $10,000 this year and every dollar of it goes into the fund. The share that reaches this year's student is confirmed before the application opens, so we are not putting a number on it yet.
Can I use it at an out-of-state school?
Yes. In state, out of state, public, private, four-year, two-year, or a trade program. The award goes where you go.
When can I apply?
The application isn't open yet and the dates aren't set. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment they are.
Who decides?
The district's scholarship committee and The Open Road Foundation's founders, reading together.
No application yet, and no deadline to miss.
Leave your name and we'll write to you the day it opens.