Norfolk Southern is launching a new program to provide college scholarship awards to the children of railroad employees. The Thoroughbred Scholars program provides $2,500 per year, renewable up to four years for $10,000, for full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two- or four-year institution.
In addition, Norfolk Southern will award three special scholarships of $10,000 per year, renewable up to four years for $40,000, for students who meet all the criteria for a Thoroughbred Scholars award and have distinguished themselves in the following ways: NS HBCU Scholar, NS STEM Scholar, and NS Community Scholar. The NS HBCU Scholar will be awarded to an outstanding student who intends to pursue their education at a Historically Black College or University. The NS STEM Scholar will be awarded to an outstanding student who intends to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The NS Community Scholar will be awarded to a student who has distinguished themselves through community leadership and volunteer work.
Reflecting the makeup of our workforce, 80 of the 100 scholarships will be awarded to the children of our craft employees. To ensure the scholarship awards are directed where they can have the most impact, only children of management employees at pay band levels B5 or lower are eligible. Please review the following sections; Awards, Eligibility, Required Materials, & FAQs for specific program details.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of Norfolk Southern and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team. Awards for this scholarship are granted to eligible recipients without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin.
$2,500 per year, renewable up to four years for $10,000. Provided there are qualified applicants, recipients will be selected as follows:
Three special scholarships of $10,000 per year, renewable up to four years for $40,000.
Norfolk Southern Scholars Awards will be granted without regard to employee job classification.
Applicants are not eligible to receive both awards in the same academic year.
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of educational and career goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances and an online recommendation.
Financial need is not considered.
Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Norfolk Southern Corporation play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
All applicants will be notified in July.
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Norfolk Southern Corporation. Payment is made in early August.
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
Student’s parent must be at pay band level 5 or below at the time of the application to be eligible.
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than June 6, 2022 3:00 pm Central Time.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
Yes. Awards are renewable up to four years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, based on satisfactory academic performance, full-time enrollment, and continued parental employment at Norfolk Southern.
Yes. The student can renew the scholarship award if their parent retires according to applicable Norfolk Southern guidelines and the student meets all other requirements for renewal.
Yes, if the student meets all other requirements for renewal.
Yes, if the student meets all other requirements for renewal.
If a recipient of the $10,000 per year HBCU Scholar award transfers to a school that is not an HBCU, they are still eligible for the $2,500 Thoroughbred Scholars award if the student meets all other requirements for renewal.
If a recipient of the $10,000 per year STEM Scholar award changes to a non-STEM major, they are still eligible for the $2,500 Thoroughbred Scholars award if the student meets all other requirements for renewal.
No. Applicants are not eligible to receive more than one award in the same academic year.
All applicants will receive a notification directly from Scholarship America in July of the year they have applied.
No. Awards are for undergraduate study only.
All other questions: Please direct any additional questions to norfolksouthern@scholarshipamerica.com
