THE SCHOLARSHIP

The Lay Scholarship is named for Herman Warden Lay, the Furman alumnus best known for developing America’s favorite potato chip, LAY'S^® Potato Chips as well as acting as the Chairman of the Board for Frito-Lay, Inc.  Mr. Lay later directed the merger with Pepsi-Cola, Inc. and Frito-Lay, Inc. that formed PepsiCo and actually served as PepsiCo’s first chairman of the board before retiring in 1980. The Herman W. Lay Scholarship was first awarded at Furman University to freshmen in 1994.

The Lay Scholarship, Furman’s highest academic award, recognizes high school seniors who have displayed exceptional academic achievement and distinctive personal accomplishment. Last year, over 400 students applied for four Lay Scholarships. Renewable annually, the Lay Scholarships provide full tuition, fees, weighted average room costs, and board at Furman and are valued at over $180,000 for four years.

Each year Furman awards four Herman W. Lay Scholarships (tuition, fees, weighted average room costs, and board) and ten James B. Duke Scholarships (full tuition), both of which are determined based on the students' academic profile (including high school grades, courses, test scores, essays and extracurricular activities), the Merit Scholarships Application, a recommendation from a Community Leader, and a Scholarship Interview, which is by invitation only.  

The postmark deadline for the Merit Scholarship Application for Early Decision candidates is November 15, 2009; for Regular Decision candidates, January 15, 2010.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

The Lay Scholarship Committee identifies finalists for the Herman Warden Lay Scholarships and extends invitations to interview for the scholarships. Interviews are held in December for Early Decision candidates and in late March for Regular Decision candidates.  Candidates will be notified by mail if they are selected to compete.

The committee works with two applications: the application for admission to Furman and the Merit Scholarships Application. As committee members review these two applications, they consider the following factors:

• Academic record:  In past years, finalists have taken the most challenging curriculum available to them, including honors and AP classes, IB or other advanced curriculum choices. A’s dominate the transcripts of finalists. Standardized test scores of finalists are typically above 32 on the ACT or above 1400 on the SAT I.
• Extracurricular involvement:  Finalists typically are involved in many activities outside the classroom. They hold significant leadership positions in their school or community and display exceptional creativity, commitment and enthusiasm in all they do. Often, they have been involved in activities on the county, state or national level.
• Personal achievement:  In all they do, finalists seek challenges and make the most of opportunities presented to them.

Submit the Merit Scholarships Application.