Benchmark Community Bank has announced the opening of the application period for its “$mart$tart” Community Commitment Scholarships.

“Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to area high school seniors who have demonstrated their commitment to community service through past and present activities in and out of school,” bank officials said in a press release.

Launched in 2015, the $mart$tart Community Commitment Scholarship program awards high school seniors who meet the following criteria: is a resident one of the counties served by Benchmark’s full-service branches (Brunswick, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway or Prince Edward) or has a banking relationship with Benchmark; will be graduating from high school during Spring 2017; and will be starting college or technical school in Fall 2017.

“Each applicant must submit an essay describing the impact of community involvement on their lives now and for the future,” officials said in the release.

Students interested in applying for a $mart$tart Community Commitment Scholarship are encouraged to visit www.bcbonline.com/smartstart/scholarship where detailed information about program dates, rules, judging and submission guidelines is available.