Scholarship Blog

Welcome to the new PGA scholarship blog!  In an effort to reach more students and their families, many scholarships that come across our desk can now be located on this site.  Click on the individual links below to access scholarship applications. As always, please continue to visit the HS Counseling office regularly to check on available scholarship opportunities.

• PHEAA Scholarship Tips - posted 9/25/24
  

PA Society's Benjamin Franklin Scholars Award - posted 1/8

The Pennsylvania Society’s Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award invites Pennsylvania public school juniors to submit an original essay discussing the modern-day relevance of a Benjamin Franklin quote. The 2025 quote is: 

"Like an old Man, who, having buried all he lov’d in this World, begins to think of Heaven, I begun to think of and wish for Home; and as I drew nearer, I found the Attraction stronger and stronger, my Diligence and Speed increas’d with my Impatience, I drove on violently, and made such long Stretches that a very few Days brought me to my own House, and to the Arms of my good old Wife and Children, where I remain, at present well and happy."

Franklin, Benjamin "Letter to Catharine Ray, March 4, 1775." The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, http://franklinpapers.org/

The scholarship offers a first-place prize of $6,000, a second-place prize of $4,000, and a third-place prize of $2,000. For more information and/or to submit your essay CLICK HERE!

Please e-mail scholaraward@pasociety.com or call the Society office at 215-233-2650 with any questions. 

Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025

Attention Seniors!

A representative will be visiting from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation to help Seniors who plan to attend some type of school after high school on Wednesday, January 22nd at 9:23am!

In this session, you will be walked through the GoApply online application: helping to create user profiles, see which SACF scholarships you are eligible for, and answer questions.

Stop in the Counseling Office to sign up!

Horatio Alger Scholarships for Juniors! - posted 1/2

The eligibility criteria to be considered for Horatio Alger National & State Scholarships are as follows:

• Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in Pennsylvania
• Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States immediately after high school graduation (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
• Demonstrate financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
• Be a United States citizen

CLICK HERE for more details and/or to apply!

Deadline:  March 1, 2025

Society of Women Engineers - Lehigh Valley Professional Section - posted 11/5

Female Seniors: Want To Be An Engineer?

The Lehigh Valley Professional Section of Society of Women Engineers grants scholarships to graduating high school seniors who identify as female and will be entering an accredited engineering program.  Evaluation is based on academic achievement, extracurricular and leadership activities, an evaluation form and an original essay.  A one-time award of up to $4,000 will be granted to each of the successful applicants.

CLICK HERE for more information and/or to apply!

Deadline:  February 2, 2025 by 5:00pm

William & Debrah Pettigrew Scholarship -posted 10/31

Bill Pettigrew will provide a donation of $10,000 to be utilized for an annual $1,000 scholarship for a graduating high school student who wishes to attend college to become a teacher. Both Bill and his late wife Debrah, worked over 50 years in public education. Debrah was a speech and language instructor, and Bill was a long-time superintendent of schools and an original, and founding father  member of the PARSS board

The criteria for submissions are as follows:

• Student must have a cumulative high school 2.5 GPA or better
• Submission of a merit essay describing academic and  professional goals including why those goals were chosen and what has been done thus far to prepare for postsecondary education (300-900 words; 2-4 pages)
• Express a clear intent to pursue a career in teaching.
• Student must be accepted for enrollment to a four-year institution for teacher preparation

The chosen essay will be presented to the individual with a check and certificate during the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools Conference at the Wyndham Hotel in Boalsburg, Pa., May 1, 2025 at 6:00PM.
Submit essay and information to: Dr. Edward Albert ealbert@parss.org 

CLICK HERE for the Application!

Deadline: February 1, 2025

Schuylkill County Quilters Guild Scholarship 24-25 -posted 9/20

The Schuylkill County quilters Guild will be offering a $1,000 scholarship this school season! We have decided to offer 1 scholarship to a graduating senior in the Schuylkill County area.

Qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Has the student been in a Consumer Science class?
• Has the student been in 4H?
• Has the student helped with costuming in the school play?
• Has the student completed community service involving the use of textiles?
• Has the student worked with textiles in art class?
• Does the student quilt, sew, knit or crochet?

Requirements:

• Students will need to submit in writing why they feel they are qualified for this award. They can submit photos (if applicable).
  

Applicants Letters get mailed to:  Schuylkill County Quilters Guild, PO Box 85, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972

Any questions, contact Coleen Potts, chairperson: cjpotts62@gmail.com

Deadline: Letters must be postmarked no later than February 7, 2025

Schuylkill Area Community Foundation (SACF) Scholarships (Local) - posted 12/16

SACF Website

SACF is excited to share that they have moved ALL of the scholarship and graduation award applications to an online portal: GoApply
There will be no more paper applications for SACF! Students may create their account by creating a login and password at GoApply

When the applications open on December 15, the student (or person logging in) will see a list of available applications on the Opportunities tab (this is blank right now). 

Students are encouraged to view the available scholarships and awards by visiting our website: https://www.sacfoundation.com/students.htm

All Applications Deadline:  Must be submitted by 11:59pm on March 1, 2025

BigFuture Scholarships -posted 12/20

No essay, no minimum GPA or test score, or citizenship requirements. Just follow the steps for chances to win. The more steps you complete and the earlier you start, the more chances you have to win! 

Opportunity starts December of your Sophmore Year!
Deadline: End of February of your Senior Year!

PSECU Scholarship - posted 11/15

Our scholarship program helps graduating high school seniors reduce the financial burden of pursuing postsecondary education. Each year, we award six scholarships, worth up to $8,000 each (up to $2,000 per year, up to four years.) To be eligible, applicants must have their own PSECU account and complete the application by February 28, 2025.

Students interested in joining PSECU must be eligible for membership, and there are many ways to become a member. Please note that joint owners are not automatically PSECU members.

CLICK HERE if you are already a PSECU Member and would like to apply for the scholarship!

Deadline: February 28, 2025 by 11:59pm