A nonprofit recently announced the kick-off of its scholarship program, for which it will award up to 215 grants to students attending public universities and private colleges and universities.

The Golden LEAF Foundation announced its 2015-2016 Golden LEAF Scholarship Program, made possible through a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, according to a Golden LEAF press release. The organization will awarded up to 215 grants, each valued at $12,000 — $3,000 per year for up to four years.

According to the release, to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be: enrolled in a North Carolina public or private high school or a North Carolina community college during the 2014-2015 academic year; be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes; reside in one of 79 qualifying counties; enroll at a qualifying UNC institution or a North Carolina private nonprofit college or university as a full-time, degree-seeking student in the fall of 2015; demonstrate financial need — students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the scholarship; present a satisfactory record of academic achievement and community service — extracurricular activities and information provided in a brief essay submitted by the applicant may be considered in determining recipients; and submit an application. However, community college transfer students are eligible for $3,000 per year for up to three years, according to the Golden LEAF Foundation website. The deadline for the scholarship is March 1, 2015, according to the release.

Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden LEAF Foundation, said since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $32 million to help more than 13,700 students from rural North Carolina attend the state’s colleges and universities. Since establishing its scholarship program, it has provided 4,100 scholarships to help North Carolinians attend participating UNC System universities and North Carolina’s private, nonprofit institutions.

Gerlach said recipients are selected based on multiple factors, including grade point average, financial need, length of residence in the county and the ability to communicate a commitment to returning to a rural county that is economically distressed. The scholarship program also offers fifth-year leadership development for its scholarships — the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program. Recipients have the option of attending the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro on breaks and during their summers off, and the Foundation will also pay for internships to help students in rural communities along the lines of what field they want to go into, Gerlach said.

“We’re trying to find young people, who have a deep connection with rural communities, have an interest in coming back and who are capable of being future leaders in their communities,” Gerlach said. “The complementing of having the financial aid is important, but also providing leadership development is a commitment in helping young people who have inclinations to return to rural North Carolina to do so.”

In recent years, several Beaufort County students have been awarded Golden LEAF Scholarships. Rebecca Pinkham, a native of Pinetown, was awarded the scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year as a transfer student from Beaufort County Community College to Appalachian State University. Among the 2013-2014 Beaufort County recipients are: Dylan Cutler, of Washington, who enrolled at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Thomas Hall, of Washington, who enrolled at N.C. State University; Chelsea Moore, of Chocowinity, who enrolled at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte; and Debra Patti, of Washington, who enrolled at Campbell University.

For more information about this program, or about the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for students attending community colleges, visit CFNC.org/goldenleaf or call College Foundation of North Carolina, toll-free at 866-866-CFNC. For information on how to plan, apply, and pay for college, visit CFNC.org