Diverse Opportunities for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County Students
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from students in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who plan to enroll in post-secondary programs this fall.
A new online application streamlines the process for most scholarships. Students may access the application portal, create a user account, and begin an online application by clicking on “2021-2022 Scholarship Application” found at the top of nnycf.org/scholarships/scholarship-overview. With few exceptions, all Community Foundation scholarship applications are due Thursday, April 1, through the online portal. Scholarships with different deadlines — some before and some after April 1 — are noted on the same web page. The earliest deadline is Monday, March 15.
High school seniors from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties who will enroll as full-time undergraduates this fall may apply for a one-year, freshman scholarship. Students pursuing technical, trade or vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application. Students should thoroughly read all application instructions and must include a complete, signed application, an essay, appraisal forms, references, and transcripts.
Since 1980, the Community Foundation has provided more than $19 million in scholarship awards to students who live in the tri-county region. The Community Foundation annually administers nearly 400 restricted scholarships established by individual donors as well as scholarship funds on behalf of 32 school districts throughout Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
“Donors working with the Community Foundation have provided an increasingly wide range and diverse offering of support for students pursuing educational opportunities across the tri-county region. Several new scholarships are being awarded for the first time this year. Anyone who is in need of help in advancing their education should apply,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Over our history, investments in our region in the form of scholarships have been core to our mission and we want to be able to put those funds to work in the best way possible. We can only do that with a solid pool of applicants who meet the various criteria that align with the interests of donors.”
Students can now apply online using the same 2021-2022 Scholarship Application for several scholarships that previously required unique applications, including: 10th Mountain Division (Light) Scholarship; George C. Boldt Scholarship; Vici and Steve Diehl Foundation Graduate Scholarships; Frances Anderson Luck Foundation Scholarship; North Country Goes Green Irish Festival Scholarship; North Pleasant Street (Watertown) Scholarship; Northpole Fire Company Inc. Scholarship; North
Side Legacy Fund Scholarship; Rotary Purple Heart Scholarship; Michelle D. Salisbury Scholarship; Shaw Harbor Foundation Scholarship; and all Thousand Islands Foundation scholarships.
The Retired Educators of New York North Central Zone is the only scholarship that requires students to complete an application packet that can be downloaded and printed from the Community Foundation’s website at nnycf.org/scholarships/applications. The deadline to apply for that scholarship is Tuesday, March 16. Completed packets must be returned or postmarked by the deadline to the address specified in the application.
Additional programs, opportunities
The Community Foundation also administers the following scholarship funds and programs for which students may apply using the same online 2021-2022 Scholarship Application:
Nontraditional Student Scholarship — Awarded to applicants who live in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties. Eligible applicants may be enrolled full- or part-time in college or a technical, trade or vocational school. Completed applications for this program are due by Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
Evergreen STEM Scholarship — Awards ten, $3,000 scholarships annually to St. Lawrence County high school juniors who plan to pursue studies in STEM-related fields — science, technology, engineering, and math.
Jefferson-Can Community Scholars Program — In partnership with the Jefferson Community College alumnus Stephen H. Can and the Jefferson Community College Foundation. This merit-based award is offered to Jefferson and Lewis County high school seniors in the top 15 percent their class who plan to attend Jefferson Community College.
Herring College Memorial Scholarship — Awarded to students in engineering, sciences, mathematics, and related fields, as well as the Visiting Nurses Association Scholarship for students pursuing continued education in nursing or health-related fields.
Rotary Purple Heart Scholarship — Available to residents of Jefferson, Lewis or St. Lawrence County who were awarded a Purple Heart by the U.S. armed forces or are a dependent — spouse or child — of a U.S. military member or veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart. Purple Heart Scholarship applications are reviewed throughout the year until all available funds for the academic year are awarded.
10th Mountain Division (Light) Scholarship — Awarded to active or former 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) members or family members — spouse or child — of an active or former 10th Mountain Division soldier. The applicant or their military sponsor must also be a member of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division. Scholarship applicants may live anywhere and be in any year of full-time undergraduate study.
George C. Boldt Scholarship — Available to Jefferson County residents for full-time undergraduate study. Graduate study is not funded. Students who will be attending technical, trade or vocational schools are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted from high school seniors or nontraditional students who have had a break in their studies. This scholarship is a one-year award.
Contact Mary Perrine, coordinator of partnerships, 315-782-7110, or maryp@nnycf.org, with questions about Community Foundation scholarships. Visit nnycf.org, or to learn more about scholarships and to access applications.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.