Beside the basic application form and essay(s), most, if not all, schools and scholarship committees will require you to submit some sort of letter of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation (also called letters of endorsement or reference) may be from a teacher, a counselor, an advisor, an alumnus, an employer, a leader in your church, or a prominent member of your community. Colleges and committees request these letters so that they will have a point of view other than your own as to your greatest strengths and weaknesses.

In selecting someone to write a letter on your behalf, it is wise to ask someone who knows you well and likes you.

It does not make sense to ask your ninth grade teacher (the one you surprised by putting a frog in his desk) who does not like you very much, or the city councilwoman who you helped with her campaign (but who does not remember you at all). Select people with whom you have a long-standing acquaintance and who will compose a letter of recommendation giving specifics: non-academic interests, personal strengths, unusual qualities, work experience, and anecdotal examples of your integrity, humor, ability to adapt, interpersonal skills, interest in others, and openness to new experiences.

When asking someone to write a letter of recommendation, it is helpful to give them a written description of the scholarship

You can copy the information that the awards committee sends applicants. Be sure to mark the deadline clearly so they will know when to complete your letter. It is polite to ask for the reference between two and three weeks in advance, and even earlier if possible. You do not want them to be rushed in writing your letter - and if the first person you ask declines, you still have time to choose someone else. With all this time and information, they will be able to convey to the committee why you as an individual are best-suited to receive the scholarship.