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 week of May 17 - May 29, 2024. 

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 2 personal statements/short essay answers.  There is one score for each essays' content. There is a separate combined score for spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

For content, we ask reviewers to verify that the student answered the questions 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 view the 2024-2025 Scholarship Reviewer Orientation

*Please be aware that this presentation contains audio that will commence upon entering Slideshow mode. You can also view the presentation without the Slideshow mode, and simply click on the microphone on each slide to listen to the audio.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 Scoring Rubric

- We will send your log in credentials the morning of May 17 and you will have through May 29 to review applications. 

- When you initially log in you will select the ‘Reviewer’ tab to access the portal.  Students access the same portal to apply, so be sure you are entering as a Reviewer and not an Applicant.

- If you experience any issues with logging in, we can assist by email at dst-scholarship@alamo.edu or by phone at 210-485-0140.

- Your objective will be to provide a score from 1-3 on each essay content and a separate combined score of 1-3 for spelling and grammar.

- Student essays will be scored on thoroughness and content.

- Spelling and grammar are assessed separately.

- After essays are scored, the information is sent to the Alamo Colleges Foundation Scholarship Team as well as College Scholarship Coordinators at each campus to continue the review process and rank students by scholarship opportunity based on the specific criteria of each of the hundreds of scholarships available.

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.