Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program

• Funds to pay for tuition and fees each semester.** (Scholarship is renewable for up to six semesters at Donnelly and up to six semesters at UMKC.)
• A personal coach to help you learn the ropes and stay motivated.
• The opportunity to continue your education and renew your scholarship at UMKC when you complete your Associate in Arts degree (General) with an emphasis in Liberal Arts from Donnelly College.
• Encouragement to keep working toward your dream.

 **Recipients may not qualify for any other Donnelly College Scholarships

For years the H&R Block Foundation and Donnelly College have worked together to provide full tuition and fees for local students with a determination to succeed, regardless of their finances, test scores, or life circumstances.

This award is available to ALL students entering a standard undergraduate program, not just those planning to enter the Bloch School.

Students are selected to receive this prestigious scholarship based on review of the following criteria:

• Have financial need and be Pell grant eligible, and not be considered for traditional scholarships due to past academic performance or life circumstances.
• Be a graduating high school senior, have a GED, or be a current Donnelly student with no more than 30 credit hours earned and a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Plan to attend Donnelly College. Student must be pursuing an associate degree at Donnelly and have intent to complete their bachelor’s degree at UMKC.
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and reside in the Kansas City Metro Area. This includes Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties in Missouri and Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas.

All application steps must be completed by March 5, 2022 to be considered for the Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program.

1. Complete Donnelly’s Free Application for Admission. 
2. Complete the Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program Application.
3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2022-23 and list Donnelly’s school code – 001914. Include a copy of your Student Aid Report with your application.
4. Include a letter of recommendation from one of the following: a principal, teacher, professor, counselor, coach, mentor, staff member, or an administrator at your current or most recent school. The letter of recommendation should be provided by someone who is well acquainted with your academic work and character.
5. Include a one-page essay addressing the following: How will the Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program help you in completing your educational and career goals? Specify your long-term goals and relate how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. Additionally, please describe circumstances around a life-changing barrier or challenge you have experienced and how you overcame this circumstance.
6. Submit Official Transcripts – High school or GED transcripts and all transcripts for all college coursework and institutions attended (including dual-credit) must be sent to Donnelly.

All documentation can be uploaded and attached to the applicant’s Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program Application or emailed directly to Alex Johnson at ajohnson@donnelly.edu.

Note: If you receive an error opening the scholarship application, please check the pop-up blocker to enable access. 

It's the American dream. Two men start a company on a $5,000 loan and a prayer and turn it into one of the most successful companies in the world. It becomes a tax service that serves more than 24 million customers at more than 13,000 retail outlets and whose own tax return shows billions in income.

It is an amazing success story. Yet the H in H&R Block, Henry Bloch, was not a scholar.

Kansas City roots

Henry W. Bloch was born in 1922 and attended Southwest High School. He was an average student at best, struggling to make the grades. His college career spanned the University of Kansas City and the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1944.

After distinguished WWII service, he and his brother Leon founded a bookkeeping company, the United Business Company. After several disappointing months, Leon left the business and another brother, Richard, joined the company.

On the brink of cancelling one of the side services they offered clients, tax preparation, they were persuaded to try running an ad. The day it ran, Henry received a fateful message from his brother, "Hank, get back as quick as you can. We've got an office full of people!"

The rest is history

In 1955, the two brothers founded H&R Block. In just a few weeks. they grossed more than $20,000. The next year, they made more than $65,000.

In 1957, they began franchising the business. In 1962, the company made $800,000 and became a public company. Today it is a multi-billion dollar company.

A scholarship with a twist

In honor of his retirement from the Corporation, The H&R Block Foundation created a scholarship in Henry W. Bloch's honor that does NOT require a high GPA, high ACT score, or a high rank in school. Since 2000, this scholarship has provided funds for tuition and fees for students like Henry W. Bloch who have the drive and determination to succeed, regardless of their grades.