To be eligible for the William L. Clay Scholarships, applicants must: be a high school senior; reside within the 1st Congressional District of Missouri and must maintain residency within the 1st Congressional District while the scholarship award is being received; be eligible for the federal Pell grant; plan to enroll in a college or university on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 credit hours); provide three letters of recommendation from a counselor, advisor, teacher, principal or others familiar with the character and academic ability of the applicant; and be available for a personal interview with the Scholarship Review Committee. Dollar amounts for this scholarship will vary. Applications run from December until the due date.
WLCSRF’s goal is to help eliminate the need for student loans by providing scholarships that bridge the gap between the cost of college and other financial aid students receive. WLCSRF award amounts vary. An advocate of improving the education of underserved students, William L. “Bill” Clay Sr. passed significant federal legislation to reduce class sizes, increase the number of college grants for disadvantaged students, and boost federal funding for historically black colleges. Bill retired in 2001 having passed more than 100 pieces of legislation and as the third most senior member of the House of Representatives. This scholarship is named in his honor.