Ashland High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund

Ashland High Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund Your Questions Answered

Why was the AHSAA Annual Scholarship Fund created?

The AHS Annual Scholarship Fund was created to assist high-achieving students with financial need continue their educational goals.  The Annual Scholarship fund ensures a stable, long-term source of funding while the Alumni Association grows and adds more members and more donors.  Eventually, we hope to be able to expand both the number and size of scholarships awarded each year. 

Our immediate financial goal is to increase the number of annual scholarships by $500 per year until reaching $3,500 per recipient by 2028.  Given the escalating cost of post-secondary education, these annual increases will provide a meaningful scholarship to deserving students.

What are the Scholarship Fund Accounts?

The Scholarship Fund consists of two sub-accounts:

1. Annual Scholarship Fund

2. Endowment Fund

The Alumni Association raised $50,000 in 2025 and allocated scholarship funds for 2026, 2027 and 2028.  This allows the Alumni Association to have certainty about scholarship amounts for the next three years, while also building a larger alumni association and working toward funding an endowment with enough earnings to largely fund annual scholarships.  However, the amount needed to provide scholarships just from earnings on an endowment is large and years away.  

As a result, AHSAA is focused on building a broad base of alumni and donors from all classes.  United in supporting the next generation of Grizzlies through annual scholarship donations, along with donations to the endowment, we can provide scholarships today and build an endowment over the years. 

Each donor selects which fund to contribute to, the Annual Scholarship Fund or the Endowment Fund.  Both are important in reaching our goals.  In the short-term, however, our emphasis is on building the Annual Scholarship Fund to secure financing for scholarships now.

How are the Scholarship Fund Accounts Managed?

Harfst and Associates, Inc., an Ashland investment firm, was hired to manage the Scholarship Fund investments and to advise the Board on their fiduciary responsibilities in the management of the Fund’s monies.

What are the Scholarship Application Criteria?

•  AHS graduating seniors (or recipients of a GED earned through AHS, if test scores are equivalent to a 3.0 GPA)

• 3.0 minimum GPA

• Financial need per FAFSA or ORSAA determination

• Other considerations include extracurricular activities, demonstration of commendable personal attributes (e.g., resilience in overcoming significant obstacles), and first-generation college students

Scholarships must be used at public or private non-profit post-secondary institutions in Oregon or elsewhere - universities, colleges, trade and vocational schools.

Who decides which students receive scholarships?

A group of volunteers from the Alumni Association evaluate student applications based on the established criteria.  They coordinate with AHS administrative staff regarding other scholarships and financial assistance students have received.  And, they reach agreement on which students should receive scholarships.

Is Your Scholarship Donation Tax Deductible?

Yes. The Ashland High School Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization, EIN #81-1650848, and donations are tax deductible.

Does the AHSAA have any employees? No.  All Board and Scholarship Advisory Committee members serve as volunteers.  All donations are fully used to fund program activities.

Additional Questions? Please email:  info@ashlandhighalumni.com