Scholarship Overview
An endowed scholarship established by Sheryl T. Watson '65 and John R. Watson, Jr. in appreciation of the education Sheryl received during her undergraduate years at Madison College and of the many benefits derived from the emphasis placed upon education by their parents. The Tadlock-Watson Endowed Scholarship, is to provide financial assistance for students with disabilities. The Watsons understand from personal experience that these students face challenges unknown to most college students. They want to relieve disabled students of some of the stress that is inherent in their college experience, most significantly that stemming from the lack of financial means. This scholarship will provide financial assistance for students with learning disabilities. Through this endowed scholarship, funds are provided annually to one or more undergraduate students who have a documented disability and who in their first year as recipients of this scholarship demonstrate a need for financial assistance, as determined by the University's Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
The appointment of a student as a Tadlock-Watson Scholar shall follow the University's guidelines for the awarding of scholarships; provided, however, that the following criteria shall be part of the decision-making process. Specifically: The scholarship will be administered by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, in coordination with the University's Office of Disability Services; Preference will be given to students with documented disabilities, with priority given to students with documented learning disabilities. The scholarship shall be awarded initially on the basis of financial need, as determined by the University's Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, however, financial need will not be a factor in the renewal of this scholarship for subsequent years. Preference will be given to students who are entering freshman. If there are no qualified entering freshmen, the scholarship may be awarded to students who are currently enrolled or to entering transfer students. The scholarship will be renewed for as long as the student takes to complete a course of study sufficient to receive an undergraduate degree, so long as the student remains in good standing with the University and completes such studies within six years of entering the University. That is, for a freshman completing a first year of study at the University, this means that the scholarship may be renewed for up to five additional years, provided, however, that an exception to this limitation may be applicable for situations in which a student attending the University on a plan approved by the University's Office of Disability Services may require more than six years to complete degree requirements – and, in such cases, the six-year maximum term for this scholarship shall be waived. The Donors intend that this scholarship shall assist students named as Tadlock-Watson Scholars by displacing other forms of non-grant aid – to the extent that the available scholarship funds allow – beginning first with work-study aid, then student loans, and other such aid.
Please note that while it may be the case that Tadlock-Watson Scholars who have completed their first year of study do not need to demonstrate financial need because such need may not be a factor in the renewal of this scholarship (as noted above), it is noted here that the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships – as a matter of practice – would not authorize a student to receive scholarship assistance in excess of the annual cost of attendance at Madison. Therefore, in any such year – in which the needs of the primary Tadlock-Watson Scholar(s) may be met in full and there are available scholarship funds remaining, it may be that such remaining scholarship funds would be awarded to additional eligible students – perhaps for just that one year – until all scholarship funds available for disbursement in the particular year are expended.
Annual award amount
Need Based
Yes
Eligibility Criteria
Freshmen
GPA
Award Announcement
