Extensive 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 educational programs in the fall of 2024.
An online application streamlines the process for most scholarships. Students may access the portal, create a user account, and begin an online application by clicking on “2024-2025 Scholarship Application” found at the top of nnycf.org/scholarships/scholarship-overview. With few exceptions, all Community Foundation scholarship applications are due Friday, March 15, 2024, through the online portal. Scholarships with different deadlines — some after March 15 — are noted on the same web page. Applications cannot be accepted after the published deadline.
High school seniors from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who plan to enroll as full-time undergraduates next fall may apply for a one-year, Community Foundation Freshman Scholarship. Students pursuing technical, trade or vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application. There are also opportunities for those who may be pursuing studies after a break in their education. Students are reminded to thoroughly read all application instructions and include a complete application, an essay, appraisal forms, references, and transcripts.
Since 1980, the Community Foundation has provided more than $24 million in scholarship awards to students who live in the tri-county region. The Community Foundation annually administers nearly 500 restricted scholarships established by individual donors, families, businesses, and organizations, as well as scholarship funds on behalf of 32 school districts throughout Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
“More than ever, our donors are providing a very diverse range of scholarship opportunities for students. It is important to know that in addition to college scholarships, there are resources available for trade, technical and vocational paths as well as for those who may have had a break in their education,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We encourage all students to consider applying so that we can best align donor interests in the best way possible and our online portal helps direct students to the opportunities that match.”
Students may now apply online using the same 2024-2025 Scholarship Application for several scholarships that previously required unique applications, including: 10th Mountain Division (Light) Scholarship; George C. Boldt Scholarship; Rotary Purple Heart 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; Shaw Harbor Foundation Scholarship; and all Thousand Islands Foundation scholarships.
The Retired Educators of New York North Central Zone Scholarship 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 Friday, March 15, 2024. 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 2024-2025 Scholarship Application:
Nontraditional Student Scholarship — Awarded to applicants who live in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties who have had a break in their education and are not seeking education directly from high school. Eligible applicants may be enrolled full- or part-time in college or a technical, trade, or vocational school. Applications for this program are due by Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Evergreen STEM Scholarship — (High school class of 2025) 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). Applications for this scholarship program are due by Saturday, June 1, 2024.
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. Applications for this scholarship program are due by Friday, March 15, 2024.
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. Applications for this scholarship program are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.
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. Applications for this scholarship program are due by Monday, April 15, 2024.
George C. Boldt Scholarship — Awarded to three 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. Applications for this scholarship program are due by Monday, April 1, 2024.
Russell I. Wilcox Thousand Islands Bridge Authority Scholarship — Awarded to two students for undergraduate study. Applicants must be current full-time Thousand Islands Bridge Authority employees, retirees, or the children or grandchildren of the same. Applications for this scholarship program are due by Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Contact Mary Perrine, coordinator of partnerships, 315-782-7110, or maryp@nnycf.org, with questions about Foundation scholarships. Visit nnycf.org 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.