Cash Scholarships

1.

Cash scholarships will be expended for tuition and related expenses (room and board) and other educational expenses (books, etc.) as approved by the Miss Buffalo Board of Directors.

2.

To obtain the cash scholarship, the Contestant must submit a cover letter to the Miss Buffalo Executive Director requesting the cash scholarship along with original statements or invoices from a college or school showing payment is owed for approved educational expenses. Requests for payment for other educational expenses (e.g., private instructors) must be pre-approved by the Miss Buffalo Board of Directors and the New York State Board of Directors.

3.

Cash scholarships may be used for current educational expenses other than tuition as approved by the Miss Buffalo Board of Directors. Contestants may submit receipts and/or invoices for payment directly from the provider of the educational service along with a cover letter to the Miss Buffalo Executive Director requesting payment. All invoices and receipts must be originals. Contestants may not request payment or reimbursement for expenses that are or have been covered through any other financial aid source (other than student loans which meet the provisions of paragraph #4 below).

4.

Cash scholarships may be used for outstanding student loan obligations provided the loan is not in default, and provided the student has satisfactorily completed the course work for which the loan was obtained. Contestants must submit documentation from the school or lender which shows that the Contestant is either the primary or secondary payor of the loan obligation. Notice of payments due should be sent to the Miss Buffalo Board of Directors for payment along with a cover letter to the Miss Buffalo Executive Director requesting payment.

5.

The titleholder, Miss Buffalo, is eligible to receive one half of the cash scholarship won at the local level thirty (30) days after her crowning and after she submits her request in writing as set forth above. The titleholder will then receive the second half of the cash scholarship won at the local level after she satisfactorily completes her year of service with the Miss Buffalo Scholarship Program and crowns her successor.

6.

Contestants must use the cash scholarships won at the local level prior to applying for their state scholarship. Contestants must submit a letter from the Miss Buffalo Executive Director which verifies the above.

Extensions of Time to Use Cash Scholarships

7.

Cash scholarships may be used for future educational expenses. Contestants must begin use of their scholarships within one (1) year of the date of the award. The date of the award is the date of the Miss Buffalo competition. If a Contestant has no activity in her cash scholarship account during this one-year period, the funds remaining in her account will be forfeited.

7. (a)

A Contestant who begins use of her cash scholarship within the time designated above will then be required to show continuous activity in her cash scholarship endeavors up to a limit of two (2) years following the date of the award. If there is a one (1) year period in which there is no activity in an account, the balance of that account will be forfeited.

7. (b)

An exception to the time limits described above may be made if the Contestant, prior to the expiration date, makes a written appeal to the Miss Buffalo Board of Directors citing compelling reasons why the time period should be extended. The Board of Directors will review the request and determine whether or not an extended time period is warranted. Only one appeal per contestant will be allowed. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding.

Buffalo State College Scholarships

8.

The Buffalo State College Scholarships refer to the Miss Buffalo, Buffalo State College Scholarships, which are awards funded through a Buffalo State College Foundation account.

9.

Buffalo State College Scholarships may be used for Buffalo State College undergraduate or graduate courses and for a Bachelor's Degree and/or a Master's Degree from Buffalo State College.

10.

The titleholder, Miss Buffalo, will receive a maximum award of $20,000 over a maximum of four (4) consecutive academic years and may use the award for tuition, campus housing, and fees. The actual award the titleholder receives cannot exceed the total bill after application of TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program), PELL, or other aid as determined by student's eligibility.

11.

The four (4) runners-up to Miss Buffalo will each receive a maximum award no greater than the current amount of annual (fall and spring semesters) tuition for a fulltime undergraduate student at the time the award is used. The award each runner-up receives may be used for tuition only and cannot exceed the total bill after application of TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program), PELL and other grants as determined by the student's eligibility.

12.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Buffalo State College Scholarship an entering freshman must have a 1200 or higher SAT score or 27 or higher ACT score and current Buffalo State College students or transfer students must have a 3.00 or higher grade point average. As a recipient of a Buffalo State College Scholarship, to continue to be eligible for the Scholarship, the Contestant must remain in full time status at Buffalo State College and maintain a 3.00 or higher grade point average.

13.

A Contestant awarded a Buffalo State College Scholarship must submit a claim for the Scholarship by the first fall semester following the competition in which the award was granted. No extensions will be granted.

14.

To access the Buffalo State College Scholarship, the Contestant must submit a cover letter to the Miss Buffalo Executive Director requesting access to the scholarship. The Miss Buffalo Board will then arrange for the Contestant to contact the appropriate party in the Buffalo State College Office of Finance and Management to redeem the scholarship.

15.

The Buffalo State College Scholarships have no cash value and cannot be redeemed or exchanged for a cash scholarship, cash, or any other award.

Erie Community College Scholarships

16.

The Erie College Scholarships refer to the Miss Buffalo, Erie Community College Scholarships, which are awards funded through an Erie Community College Foundation account.

17.

Erie Community College Scholarships may be used for Erie Community College undergraduate courses.

18.

The titleholder, Miss Buffalo, will receive a maximum award of $1,350 over a maximum of two (2) consecutive academic years and may use the award for tuition and fees. The actual award the titleholder receives cannot exceed the total bill after application of TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program), PELL, or other aid as determined by student's eligibility.

19.

The first (1st) and second (2nd) runners- up to Miss Buffalo will each receive a maximum award of $675 over one (1) academic year. The actual award each runner-up receives may be used for tuition only and cannot exceed the total bill after application of TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program), PELL and other aid as determined by student's eligibility.

20.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Erie Community College Scholarship, a student must apply and be accepted to Erie Community College and enroll full time for the 2004 Fall semester. As a recipient of an Erie Community College Scholarship, to continue to be eligible for the Scholarship, the Contestant must remain in full time status at Erie Community College and maintain a 3.00 or higher grade point average.

21.

A Contestant awarded an Erie Community College Scholarship must submit a claim for the Scholarship by the first fall semester following the competition in which the award was granted. No extensions will be granted. The awards will be applied to the students' accounts following the last day of add/withdrawal.

22.

To access the Erie Community College Scholarship, the Contestant must submit a cover letter to the Miss Buffalo Executive Director requesting access to the scholarship. The Miss Buffalo Board will then arrange for the Contestant to contact the appropriate party at Erie Community College to redeem the scholarship.

23.

The Erie Community College Scholarships have no cash value and cannot be redeemed or exchanged for a cash scholarship, cash, or any other award.

Succession of Awards

24.

If any titleholder is disqualified or released from her title as Miss Buffalo, a runner-up shall succeed the titleholder and will be sent to the New York State Competition. The runner-up who succeeds the titleholder will succeed only the title and will not succeed to any of the scholarships and awards as winner of the Miss Buffalo Competition. The scholarships forfeited by the titleholders will remain in the scholarship account for future awards.

Awards in Lieu of Cash Scholarship

25.

There will be NO cash equivalent award in lieu of any of the scholarship awards.