Highlights, Scholarships and Grants

Dorsey School of Beauty Institutional Scholarships & Grants

Institutional Scholarships

Dorsey School of Beauty offers some scholarship opportunities to students. One of the main goals of the Financial Aid Department, which oversees a majority of these scholarship awards, is to identify eligible students and assist them in funding their education. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship

The Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship is awarded based on the following criteria:
Dorsey School of Beauty, in cooperation with the Ohio-Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OMACCS), is offering the Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship to ten (10) new students that have recently graduated from a high school in Michigan or Ohio. Students must first apply for Federal Student Aid using the FAFSA on the Web application. The primary objective of this scholarship is to provide students with the education and training necessary to obtain a job in a Michigan business or industry, and encourage students to learn more about leadership in their communities and in Michigan. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $2,500. Finances for the scholarships are borne by Dorsey School of Beauty and no state or federal funds are involved.

Who is eligible for the Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship?

• This scholarship is available annually to any current high school senior graduating from any Michigan or Ohio high school by June.
• The applicant only needs a “C” average or better to apply. Students do not have to demonstrate financial need.
• Each applicant must be nominated by a local civic or community leader or by a current member of the Michigan Legislature.
• Any recipient of a scholarship must be able to meet Dorsey School of Beauty’s entrance requirements.
• The scholarship recipient must start classes either the summer or the fall term following their high school graduation.

The Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship amount awarded will be allocated over the length of the program. Scholarships are not transferable from one program to another and funds may be used for tuition, fees and other institutional charges only. A scholarship committee will select the winner for the scholarship. The recipient must meet the requirements of the institution offering the scholarship. Scholarships recipients will be notified in May and recipient information will be posted on the OMACCS website at www.omaccs.org.

To apply for the Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship applicants will go to the OMACCS scholarship website: www.omaccs.org/scholarships and follow the steps below:

1. Select Dorsey School of Beauty from the participating schools listed, and then select the program of their choice.
2. Complete the information on the Scholarship Application and obtain the appropriate signatures.
3. Submit two current letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, employers, or others, with your application.
4. A copy of your high school transcript (grades) and attendance records for the past 4 semesters and verification of your grade point average (GPA) signed by the school guidance counselor or principal, must accompany each application.
5. Submit a written statement of approximately 250 words describing why you want a career in the field you have listed on this application and how you would be successful in this field. This can be typed or handwritten, but must be on the standard 8 ½” X 11” paper. Your name, address, phone number and high school name should be printed in the upper left-hand corner.
6. Complete the Nomination Form. Choose a civic leader from your community or from the Michigan General Assembly to nominate you for this scholarship. Examples could be: local elected officials, community project leaders, business leaders but no family members, teachers, priests or pastors. Send a note or call your chosen leader to introduce yourself and what you are doing. If they agree, send them a short note with the Nomination Form by email, fax, or U.S. Mail.

NOTE: This form should be returned to you or your counselor from your nominator and then submitted with your application. Scholarship submission deadlines are posted on the OMACCS website. Applications are to be submitted to: Ohio-Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools at the following address:

2109 Stella Court, Suite 125, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614.487.8180
Fax: 614.487.8190

This institutional scholarship is intended to help some students reduce or eliminate the need to utilize a private loan, including the Dorsey Institutional Loan. To remain eligible to receive the disbursement, students must be in an active school status. Disbursements of the Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship will be posted to a student’s account at the end of each completed term. This scholarship can only be used to cover direct cost incurred by the student (e.g. tuition, fees, textbooks, etc.). It cannot be used to cover other educationally related expenses that a student may have (e.g. travel, room & board, etc.). If eligible Karen Cortis – LEADS Scholarship recipients receive other forms of financial aid funds that cover all or a portion of the direct intuitional costs of the program, the recipient will not be eligible to receive the full amount of the scholarship.

Vickie Harness Courage Scholarship

Awarded quarterly to one student at each Dorsey campus who demonstrates great courage and determination to overcome obstacles and continue their education with a positive spirit and outlook. This scholarship honors Vickie Harness, who served as Dorsey’s Information Technology Director for 12 years before succumbing to cancer in 2020. Vickie continued to work to support Dorsey students and staff until the day she passed, and always did so with a positive, forward-focused attitude, refusing to let her challenges impact her commitment to others. This scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate similar courage similar in pursuing their goals.

Eligibility requirements:

• Student must be enrolled
• Must have financial need
• Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Student must be nominated by a Dorsey staff or faculty member

Award amount: $500

Fund availability:

• One scholarship will be awarded at each campus the first month of the each quarter.
• The Scholarship is awarded at the campus (institutional aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met.

Evaluation, selection and notification:

• Nominations will be reviewed and awarded by the Managing Director of the campus
• Scholarship recipients will be notified by the Managing Director

Dorsey Cosmetology Instructor Program Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements:

• The scholarship applicant must have proof of a current cosmetology license.
• The applicant must provide a resume and document at least two years’ experience in the field of Cosmetology.
• The applicant must submit a typed, double‐spaced essay in an easy‐to‐follow format. The content of the essay must provide
  comprehensive responses to provided questions that supports the major points of the questions. The essay should be a minimum of 500 words long. The content of the essay will be assessed, and the results are used as a condition of eligibility for the cosmetology instructor scholarship program.
• The applicant must interview with the campus scholarship committee.
• Two professional references must be submitted on the day of the scheduled interview on the reference form provided.  Reference criteria for review are as follows:
  • One reference must be a current client related reference.
  • One professional reference from employer, teacher, or peer.
• Any recipient of a scholarship must be able to meet Dorsey School of Beauty entrance requirements.

The Dorsey Cosmetology Instructor Program Scholarship amount awarded will be allocated over the length of the program.  Scholarships are not transferable from one program to another, and funds may be used for tuition, fees, and other institutional charges only. A scholarship committee will select the winner(s) for the scholarship. Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain exceptional attendance, a passing grade point average, and strictly abide by the student code of conduct. If scholarship recipients do not maintain noted guidelines, the scholarship can be revoked.

Funds for this scholarship are limited, and the availability and timing of funds are at the sole discretion of Dorsey School of Beauty.

Military Award Scholarship

Dorsey School of Beauty will offer two (2) annual scholarships per campus to any active duty member or honorably discharged veteran of any United States military service branch for attendance at that campus. The value of this scholarship is $1,000, and awards will be made by the Dorsey School of Beauty’s Scholarship Committee. The purpose of the Military Award Scholarship is to help those with military service receive a career education and make the transition from military to civilian life. A maximum of one (1) scholarship may be awarded to any single applicant.

Institutional Grants

Institutional grants are intended to help reduce or eliminate the need to utilize a private loan, including the Dorsey Institutional Loan. To remain eligible to receive the disbursement, students must be in an active school status. Disbursements of the Veterans Grant will be posted to a student’s account at the end of each completed term. This grant can only be used to cover direct cost incurred by the student (e.g. tuition, fees, textbooks, etc.). It cannot be used to cover other educationally related expenses that a student may have (e.g. travel, room & board, etc.). If eligible institutional grant recipients receive other forms of financial aid funds that cover all or a portion of the direct institutional costs of the program, the recipient will not be eligible to receive the full amount of the grant.

Ruth Dorsey Grant

The Ruth Dorsey Grant is awarded based on the following criteria:

Students must first apply for Federal Student Aid funds using the FAFSA on the Web application. Students that are not eligible to receive Pell Grant may be eligible to receive the Ruth Dorsey Grant. If a student becomes Pell Grant eligible for any term/payment period after the Ruth Dorsey Grant has been awarded, the student will no longer be eligible for the full amount of the grant.

The grant is awarded at the campus (Institutional Aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met. It is awarded by term/payment period up to the maximum program eligibility amount, based on the total number of clock hours in the student’s program of study as follows:

If student becomes eligible for a Pell Grant for the same term/payment period that they received the Ruth Dorsey Grant, any portion of the Ruth Dorsey Grant not needed to cover institutional charges will be returned to the program.

Veterans Grant

Veterans Grant is awarded based on the following criteria:
Students that are veterans or spouse of a veteran must first apply for Federal Student Aid funds using the FAFSA on the Web application. The Veterans Grant will be awarded to any active duty member or honorably discharged veteran of any United States military service branch, and their spouse. This grant awards up to $1,000. The purpose of the grant is to help those with military service and their spouse, receive a career education and make the transition from military to civilian life. A maximum of one (1) grant may be awarded to any single applicant.

The Veterans Grant is awarded at the campus (Institutional Aid) from a limited allocation of funds and will be awarded to eligible students until the allocation for the calendar year has been met. Applicants must provide documentation to their financial aid office that confirms they are Veterans or spouse of a veteran. The grant is awarded by term up to the $1,000 maximum for each student. The amount disbursed each term will be determined by the amount needed to cover the institutional charges for the term, up to the full eligibility amount.

Maximum Award Amount
$1,000

If eligible Veterans Grant recipients receive other forms of financial aid funds that cover all the direct institutional costs for the program, the recipient will not be eligible to receive the full amount of the grant.