The Chopra-Bakshi Scholarship at Woodstock School

Donors: Dr. Gita Chopra Bakshi and Dr. Ajay Bakshi (practicing physicians in Bethesda, Maryland)

Geographic Scope: Uttarakhand, India (specifically targeting students from Mussoorie and surrounding rural mountain communities)

Purpose: To provide young people from underprivileged communities, particularly young girls in and around Mussoorie, with a life-changing education

Award: Full or partial scholarship to attend Woodstock School (an international boarding school in Mussoorie)

Eligibility:

• Resident of the state of Uttarakhand
• No family connection to Timberline, Woodstock School, or the donors

Selection Criteria:

• Primary Focus: Financial need, with particular attention to students from rural villages in the Mussoorie area who would be unlikely to receive financial aid through other programs
• Disadvantaged family situation, particularly students from families where one or both parents are permanently absent or deceased
• Potential to benefit from a Woodstock education given its idiosyncrasies in an Indian context
• Apparent potential to succeed academically at Woodstock School
• Secondary Preference: Given to candidates who are girls and/or who have received the Scholarship in the past and are in a position to continue their education at Woodstock

Award Continuation: Once a student is admitted to Woodstock and receives the Chopra-Bakshi Scholarship, the Scholarship will likely continue throughout the student's time at Woodstock

Selection Process:

• Standing scholarship committee at Woodstock makes recommendations about recipients
• Final decisions are made by the Timberline Board

Funding Structure:

• Bakshis have committed to fund the Scholarship at a level sufficient for one award per year
• Additional donations to the Chopra-Bakshi Fund are welcomed to provide additional scholarships or build a long-term endowment

Application Documents:

• Full Scholarship Agreement available upon request