Welcome to the Rewards for Success page.  Rewards for Success is a program that is designed to reward students for student responsibility, academic achievement, and parental involvement by giving out annual scholarships.  Scholarships are awarded in amounts of $250, $500, and $1000.  The following documents will help you figure out how to apply, how much money you already have in your START account, and how you can access that money once you’ve begun your higher education journey.

 

 How Do I Apply?

Eighth and Ninth graders who attend participating schools are eligible to apply for a Rewards for Success scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year.  Start looking for applications around December of 2010.  Once awards are announced, funds are deposited in a START Savings account through the Louisiana Office of Student Assistance, LOSFA.

How Do I Find Out How Much Money I Have in My START Account?

In order to find out the balance of your account you must contact LOSFA at 1-800-259-5626 extension 1012 or LA GEAR UP at 225-219-0690 extension 208.  You must provide the representative with either your full name or your START account number.  It is probably a good idea to write your START account number down and hold on to it if you do not have it the first time that you call.

Remember:  when speaking to the representative, refer to your RFS money as your START account.

How Do I Access My RFS Money for College?

Rewards for Success funds are federal funds granted to the State of Louisiana under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program.  They are invested in the Louisiana Student Tuition And Revenue Trust (Start Savings Program), a Section 529 college savings plan.  They are subject to the following rules and regulations:

• RFS Scholarship funds may not be used to attend proprietary (for-profit) institutions.
• RFS Scholarship funds may only be used to pay Qualified Higher Education Expenses*   at an Eligible Institution*
• A separate disbursement form must be completed for each Educational Term for which the student is enrolled.
• Funds may only be disbursed directly to the student’s Eligible Insitution.

*Additional information about these terms is available at http://www.startsaving.la.gov/savings/index-fl.jsp.

Step One:

Download the Request for Disbursement form.  The form is formatted as  PDF file. You will need Adobe Reader in order to download the file.  To get  a free copy of Adobe Reader click here.

Step Two:

Complete all items on the form.

Questions:  Call LA GEAR UP at 225-219-0690, ext. 208 or the START Savings Program at 1-800-259-5626, ext. 1012.

Step Three:

Mail the form to:
Louisiana Board of Regents
c/o LA GEAR UP - RFS
P.O. Box 3677
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677

Or fax the form to:  225-219-0688

LA GEAR UP staff will process the form and forward it to the START Savings Program to start the disbursement process.

Click here to go to the START program rules site.

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