Applicants must be high school seniors or college freshmen or sophomores who are under the age of 20. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida or Texas. High school applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and college applicants must have a minimum 2.75 GPA.