Underrepresented communities include those applicants who have experienced
- Growing up in a single parent household
- Being the first generation in his or her family to attend college
- Having educational and/or socioeconomic disadvantage or disability
- Residing in a rural or inner-city area
- Attending a high school with a high proportion of students eligible for free or reduced lunch benefits
- Having grown up on a home where English is not the first language
- Being a member of a racial or ethnic minority group that is underrepresented in the country music industry
- Having experienced living or working in diverse environments
- Demonstrating experience with and a commitment to serving or working with historically underserved or underprivileged populations
- Exhibiting outstanding leadership abilities and high potential to benefit from the fellowship program