Missouri Collectors Association Scholarship Opportunities
Purpose
Missouri Collectors Association (MCA) offers a scholarship program to provide individuals graduating high school or employed by or affiliated with the collection industry and their dependent children scholarships so they may further their education at post-secondary colleges, universities, community, or technical colleges.
The Awards
One winner of the Harold Leydens Student Scholarship and one winner of the Bill Bland Member Benefit Scholarship may be selected each year. Each recipient may be awarded up to $1,000.
The Scholarships in Honor
The two current MCA scholarships were created in 2008 and honor ACA members Harold Leydens and Bill Bland.
Harold Leydens started in the collection industry in the late 1960’s and opened the Berlin Wheeler office in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1970. Harold was very involved in both MCA and ACA over the years and served on numerous committee’s for both MCA and ACA and served as many of the MCA Chairs, including Past President. Harold was an ACA Honorary Membership Recipient in 2008.
William "Bill" Bland chose to pursue his career in collections in the late 1950's. He started his first agency from his home in Kansas City, MO. In addition to starting his own agency, he joined and was a very active and contributing member of the Missouri Collectors Association (MCA) and American Collectors Association (ACA). Among many positions in which Bill served, her performed twice as MCA president and also as ACA treasurer. Bill was always ready, willing, and able to lead and help his fellow members.
Eligibility
MCA Harold Leydens Student Scholarship
To be eligible for application for the Missouri Collectors Association Student Scholarship Program the applicant must:
• be a graduating high school Senior from any Missouri high school with a preference that the recipient have attended high school near one of our member affiliates by June of the year in which the application is submitted so that they may further their education at post-secondary colleges, universities, community, or technical colleges.
• the applicant must be a current resident of the state of Missouri and citizen of the United States.
• the applicant must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours at an accredited college, university, vocational-technical college or community college within 12 months following receipt of the award.
MCA Bill Bland Membership Scholarship
To be eligible for application for the Missouri Collectors Association Membership Scholarship Program the applicant must:
• be current employee of a company affiliated with the Missouri Collectors Association; or, be a dependent child of such so they may further their education at post-secondary colleges, universities, community, or technical colleges.
• the applicant must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours at an accredited college, university, vocational-technical college or community college within 12 months following receipt of the award.
Previous recipients of an MCA Scholarship are eligible to reapply; however, preference will be given to new applicants.
Selection
Scholarship recipients are selected by an independent committee appointed by MCA. Not all applicants will receive an award; however, all applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications. Recipients will be selected based on the following criteria:
• Essay - The essay topic will be the value of consumer credit to our nation’s economy. You may choose to write either a creative story or a persuasive essay, but the successful applicants will demonstrate the importance of consumer credit in today’s society. Essays may range from 700 – 1,500 words in length.
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (Academic performance of applicant during high school or during college, whichever is most recent). An original grades transcript must accompany your application.
MCA does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical disability, or age. Scholarships will be awarded based solely upon the selection committee’s evaluation of the materials submitted by the applicant. Essays will be judged on both style and content, and must be legible. The decisions of the MCA selection committee are final.
Scholarship recipients will be selected in June and applications must be postmarked by June 30, 2021. Awarded funds will be mailed to the college or university at which recipients are enrolled. If recipient is not enrolled at the time the award is to be made, the school will be instructed to return the award funds to the Missouri Collectors Association Scholarship Program.
Winners agree to provide a picture and/or video testimonial for promotional use by the Missouri Collectors Association. By submitting an MCA Scholarship application, you are authorizing MCA to use your image in any promotional or informational material produced by or on behalf of MCA.
This scholarship is nonrenewable and may be awarded on an annual basis. The MCA reserves the right to change, amend, postpone, or terminate this program without notice. The announcement of the student receiving this award will take place by August 15, of the Scholarship Year. The MCA reserves the right to use the applicants name, likeness, and essay. All personal information submitted by the applicant will not be distributed for any other use but to award the scholarship.
