Scholarship Judging

For many students, a Foundation scholarship provides the momentum that propels them forward and on to graduation. As a supporter of scholarships for students enrolled at an Alamo College or Institute, you already understand and appreciate how scholarships make a difference for our students. There is no doubt that the student stories will move you, reminding you of the merit and need of our students.

Volunteer scholarship reviewers participate in an on-line, double-blind judging event. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the scholarship award process. 

On average, we host over 300 judges that will spend up to 4 hours over the course of the week, reviewing scholarship applications that will become awards to over 2600 students. Below are several resources that will assist you in the judging process, and help keep overall scoring objective and non-discriminatory.

Judges will have access to an on-line platform during the scholarship application review period.

These guidelines serve as general information to support your review of each scholarship application, reflecting our advocacy of maximum student support and equality in review. 

You will be evaluating ONE personal statements/short essay answer.  There is one score for essay content, and a separate score for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

For content, we ask reviewers to verify that the student answered the question and then rate responses based on thoroughness and thoughtfulness. 

After the essays are scored, students then go through a process where they are matched to potential scholarship opportunities based on the criteria of each opportunity.

Click here to review the 2025-2026 Reviewer Orientation/Instructions

Click here to review the Scholarship Application Essay Rubric

Click here to read and review the Alamo Colleges Foundation Confidentiality, Document Security and Conflict of Interest Policy.

Please contact the Scholarship Team at dst-scholarship@alamo.edu. They will be able to redistribute your list of applications to other reviewers.

It is recommended to check your list of applicants throughout the reviewing period. Additional applications can be distributed to reviewers daily.

Please make sure you are logging in under the 'Reference and Reviewers' tab. Here is a direct link: https://alamo.academicworks.com/users/sign_in#references_and_reviewers

If you need additional assistance, please email us at dst-scholarship@alamo.edu.