What is the Deb Tomaro Real Estate Scholarship?

This is a unique opportunity designed to recognize local students who contribute to their community through non-profit volunteering. This scholarship is based on applicants completing one of our four Community Impact Projects as well as answering a series of questions about their experience. There are no academic or financial requirements to be eligible for this program.

What is the deadline?

Deadline is June 1st for the following academic calendar year. Late applications will not be accepted. Decisions will be made within six to eight weeks.

Who is eligible?

Any student who has or will graduate from a high school in Monroe, Owen or Greene county and is attending or planning on attending a certificate program or 2 or 4 year program at an Indiana school. Graduate students may be considered if they graduated from a high school in one of the eligible counties or have resided in one of the eligible counties for more than 5 years. All applicants must complete one of the four Community Impact Projects and complete an application.

How much are scholarships and who receives awards?

The scholarships are between $500 and $3,000, depending on the Community Impact Project the scholar selects to complete. The project makes a student eligible for specific scholarship levels but completion of a project does not guarantee scholarship. The application will be reviewed by the scholarship committee and winners chosen from applicants. Amounts of awards and number of awards for each project category are at the discretion of the scholarship committee.

What can the funds be used for?

Award funds will be sent directly to the student’s school and may be used for tuition, fees, campus room/board costs, study abroad programs.

If you have any questions about the program, student eligibility, or the application, please contact:
Deb Tomaro at

Community Impact Projects

Scholarship applicants must complete one of the four Community Impact Projects. The guidelines for the projects are as follows:

Impact Project- SHARE

Use Social Media to make a positive difference

Potential Award Amount: $500

Project Overview: Create a campaign using social media to support a local non-profit. It can be bringing attention to a cause, supporting a fundraising event or helping the non-profit achieve a goal or need. (Hint – talk to the non-profit about what their greatest needs are.)

Award guidelines include:

  • Creativity
  • Clearly identifying need/goal of campaign
  • Consistency in managing the campaign/length of campaign
  • Impact

Once project is completed, APPLY HERE

Impact Project – PARTICIPATE

Make a difference at a non-profit through the donation of your time

Potential Award Amount: $1000

Project Overview: Perform at least 80 hours of service to a single non-profit over the course of 6 months or less.

Award guidelines include:

  • Consistency in commitment
  • Ability to speak about the nonprofit mission
  • Critical thinking about the non-profit’s role in the community and the impact volunteerism has on the community.

Once project is completed, APPLY HERE

Impact Project – INFLUENCE

Recruit others to donate time to a local non-profit

Potential Award Amount: $2000

Project Overview: Identify a local non-profit in need of volunteers and help coordinate at least 40 hours of volunteer time with those new to volunteering for the organization. This could be 4 people at 10 hours, or 10 people at 4 hours, or any combination, but should be at least 4 new volunteers. The 40 hours total does not include your own volunteer hours.

Award guidelines include:

  • Consistency in commitment
  • Ability to lead and positively influence others
  • Ability to speak about the non-profit mission
  • Critical thinking about the non-profit’s role in the community and the impact volunteerism has on the community.

Once project is completed, APPLY HERE

Impact Project – LEAD

Create and manage an event or initiative to fulfill a local non-profit need

Potential Award Amount: $3000

Project Overview: Design and implement a campaign or initiative that addresses a need of a non-profit. This may be a fundraiser or awareness event, or creation and implementation of an ongoing service that fills a need for a non-profit.

Award guidelines include:

  • Consistency in commitment
  • Ability to lead and positively influence others
  • Ability to speak about the non-profit mission
  • Critical thinking about the impact of the project on the non-profit
  • Critical thinking about the impact of the project on the Community

Once project is completed, APPLY HERE