Can a scholarship be rescinded for a "misunderstanding"?

[apw88]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

My son was given a $1000.00 scholarship upon graduating high school. The scholarship was a memorial scholarship given by a family for a graduating senior attending a particular university. The scholarship was presented to him at an awards ceremony and he was told the family would send the check to the university. Now his guidance counselor says there has been a misunderstanding and he will not be receiving the scholarship. Can this be allowed to happen? He was counting on that money since May, now it's 2 weeks til school starts.

 

[Zigner]

What was the "misunderstanding?"

 

[CSO286]

What's the nature of the misunderstanding?

 

[apw88]

Apparently the misunderstanding was this family agreed to a scholarship for ONE graduating senior attending this particular university. As the story goes, a student that graduated 2 years ago and attends this university is currently receiving the funds yearly. The family doesn't want to give to another student at the same time the other is receiving the funds even though my son was presented with the scholarship in certificate form from this family. I know the money was a "gift" they don't have to give, but is this incompetency on behalf of the school/guidance counselor grounds for a lawsuit?

 

[ecmst12]

I think that would be a terrible thing to do to this family that has generously given this gift to remember a loved one by, who can't afford to sponsor two students at the same time. This is a family just like you, who probably lost a child like your son. You really want to sue them? I have no idea the merits of such a case, you might even be able to win, but you'd be taking on some pretty bad karma in the process.

 

[apw88]

Suing the family was never on my radar. (By the way they are a very wealthy family leaving a memorial for their very wealthy parents.) My anger is aimed at the school guidance counselor who presented the scholarship and then took it back saying there was a misunderstanding. There was no misunderstanding. He just made a mistake, at my son's expense. Is there anything that can be done?

 

[ecmst12]

Did he make a mistake or was he given incorrect information? Nothing was done maliciously either way. Mistakes happen. Do you want to sue the guidance counselor who was just doing his job? The school district that has little to spare? Not to mention it will probably cost you more in legal fees than you'd hope to gain. And it DEFINITELY won't happen in the next 2 weeks.

 

[apw88]

He def made a mistake. In April he told me he would make the family aware my son would be attending the university. He told me the amount of the scholarship is based on the money market so at the time the value would be $1000. So either he never notified the family when he said he did or something else went awry. You're right about the legal fees outweighing the value of the scholarship. I just think this is a terrible thing to do to a kid.

 

[Humusluvr]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

My son was given a $1000.00 scholarship upon graduating high school. The scholarship was a memorial scholarship given by a family for a graduating senior attending a particular university. The scholarship was presented to him at an awards ceremony and he was told the family would send the check to the university. Now his guidance counselor says there has been a misunderstanding and he will not be receiving the scholarship. Can this be allowed to happen? He was counting on that money since May, now it's 2 weeks til school starts.

Why didn't you put what the "misunderstanding" was here? That certainly is an important part of the facts.

ETA - I didn't see the rest of the thread, only the initial post. Sorry for repeating.

 

[Just Blue]

He def made a mistake. In April he told me he would make the family aware my son would be attending the university. He told me the amount of the scholarship is based on the money market so at the time the value would be $1000. So either he never notified the family when he said he did or something else went awry. You're right about the legal fees outweighing the value of the scholarship. I just think this is a terrible thing to do to a kid.

It is a life lesson...ie...sh$$ happens. It will be fairly easy for Jr. to earn the 1K to compensate for the loss. About $85.00 a month.

 

[Humusluvr]

He def made a mistake. In April he told me he would make the family aware my son would be attending the university. He told me the amount of the scholarship is based on the money market so at the time the value would be $1000. So either he never notified the family when he said he did or something else went awry. You're right about the legal fees outweighing the value of the scholarship. I just think this is a terrible thing to do to a kid.

So, maybe a better approach would be to go to the counselor, tell him you are sorry about the mistake, you were totally counting on it, and ask him to help son find another scholarship for the same amount. Maybe counselor will feel bad and try extra hard to help. I mean, if you approach it nicely, instead of "Hey jerk, I want my money" you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Did son ever actually receive a check/money? From what it sounds like, he was told he would be receiving a gift, then the gift never materialized. Generally, promising to give a gift in the future is not a contractual obligation one can sue over if the gift is not delivered - there is no consideration.

 

[xylene]

The scholarship fund is badly mismanaged if this was allowed to occur.

They are the ones who should be making good.

We are talking about this costing them an extra 2 grand at most.

I would suggest you write to them and inform them of how low yanking the funds is.

They are such a lousy fund if they are not prepared for contingencies caused by their incompetence.