Benaquisto Scholarship Thread/Questions

Hi!
I’m a high school National Merit Finalist from MO with Florida listed as my first choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Just a couple questions regarding the Benacquisto Scholarship. First off, has anyone already received it and if so, when were you notified? Second, if not, when has history decreed that potential applicants will be notified? Third, is it just an automatic process if I have UF listed as my first choice institution? Thanks!

@kondapanenir If you have UF listed as your first choice by the deadline then you will get the scholarship. When you are notified depends on when the admissions office receives your name on the list.

Does anyone know when this shows up? My child confirmed that when NMF sent data to schools on March 4, she had UF listed as top choice. She is also OOS. I’m hoping that her FA award will reflect this at some point before she has to deposit and accept at UF and turn down other schools – so by May 1. Is it possible this doesn’t happen until after May 1?

@gungablue Yes if UF is already her first choice you will see it before May 1st.

Anyone have experience with or knowledge of double majoring with the Benacquisto? State website says it lasts until the completion of a bachelor’s degree, so I am wondering if students are taken off the scholarship once a single degree is completed.

@bvbfc09 I am also interested in a definitive answer for my D19 who is interested in a double major. On other threads, I have seen others recommending that the student save their last class in the major for their last semester.

@MathMomGA that’s a good idea. I have a couple more questions for anyone with experience:

  1. Can students accept a corporate sponsored NM award and still be awarded the Benacquisto? I know that NM will only offer an award from one source, which makes me wonder if it is possible to accept a corporate sponsored award yet still receive the Benacquisto.

  2. Does Benacquisto cover the mandatory 9 summer credit hours?

@bvbfc09 I did ask this question of the UF people and was told that the Benacquisto will not cover the summer hours and they will be billed as OOS. However, it seems that you only need 6 hours if doing a program abroad and those programs (the one I looked at) was about $6000 which is not terrible if the rest of college is free!

@bvbfc09 I just emailed admissions yesterday about the corporate NM scholarship/Benacquisto. I’ll let you know when I hear back.

@Melissa96 Will UF Presidential award + Honors Research scholar award + Benacquisto Stack for Florida Instate students or max out with only the Benacquisto award.

Yes!!!

@SE1619 did you ever hear back from admissions? I’ve been emailing/calling them with the same question, but haven’t been able to reach the apparently very busy financial aid office.

@bvbfc09 , @SE1619 - You can confirm with UF but based on the links below, it seems pretty clear that NM Corporate sponsorship does qualify for Benacquisto.

https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/factsheets/FIS_FAQ.pdf (item no 1 in link)

https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/ (last section of page)

@bvbfc09 I didn’t get a response yet. I didn’t try emailing or calling again because I’m guessing they’re busy, plus what @cc665544 just posted–I had also found this info online and it seems pretty clear to me too that the corporate scholarship makes the student eligible for Benacquisto. I’d still love to hear straight from the school, so I will definitely report back if I do get a response.

@bvbfc09 I finally got a response and yes, the corporate scholarship replaces the college scholarship when it’s received and both qualify the student for the Benacquisto. When they receive word from NMSC that UF is listed at the first choice college, the process of awarding the Benacquisto begins.

Just found son got Benacquisto scholarship in final aid page. OOS.

10 semesters or until the major is completed. No summers included. It is possible for some scholarships to stack on top of the full COA Benacquisto. Take your final major class in semester 10 if trying for a double major or an additional minor. If you are a NMF you recieve Benacquisto if you follow the declaration rules, either by becoming a scholar or corporate or UF giving you the award. My son is currently OOS NMF Benacquisto at UF. I believe we found three for the first year.

I can confirm that the Benacquisto and Stamps Scholarships will stack.