C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship
Offered by Florida State Elks Association · Free to apply
This scholarship supports graduating Florida high school seniors who maintain an unweighted GPA between 2.30 and 3.59 and demonstrate financial need. Awards range from $3,000 to $20,000 and can be used for college, vocational training, or a first responders academy. Selection focuses heavily on financial need, academics, employment, leadership, and an essay.
Other deadlines near this one
How hard is the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Florida residents
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 2.3 GPA
- More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Florida
- Open to high school seniors
- GPA of 2.3 or higher (unweighted)
- Open to U.S. citizens
- Must have an unweighted GPA no higher than 3.59 (students with an unweighted GPA above 3.59 may not apply).
- Seniors graduating early at semester in December must apply during the application year before graduating.
- Recipients must enroll in a 4-year undergraduate program, junior college, accredited vocational/technical program, or enter a First Responders' Academy.
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
- Essay required.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is January 15, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 15 each year. Applications typically open in August.
- Applications open
- August 2026
- Applications close
- January 15, 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship
How much is the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship worth?
The C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship awards $3,000 to $20,000.
When is the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is January 15, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 15 each year. Applications typically open in August.
When do C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship applications open?
Applications typically open in August, and close January 15, 2027.
Who is eligible for the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Florida; Open to high school seniors; GPA of 2.3 or higher (unweighted); Open to U.S. citizens.
Does the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: open only to Florida residents and an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants. Plan on about 3 hrs of work.
Is the C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
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Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.