Scholarships
Below are scholarships that usually come through the guidance office. They are sorted by the month we typically receive them. The scholarships that are currently available are bolded. In addition to the provided links, paper copies are available in the guidance office.
Other national scholarships can be found online at www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com, and through students’ personal Naviance accounts.
There are also other scholarship/awards that are typically given out by local family members or organizations. The criteria for each scholarship was determined by the individual(s) that created the scholarship. Some require a vote by staff members, some require a list of names to be provide to the family and they choose, others go through our scholarship committee comprised of the follow seven individuals.
Selection Committee Members: Mrs. Tracy Palmer, Mrs. Adria Bukovsky, Mrs. Suzanne Culver, Mrs. Amanda Kane, Mrs. Marie Kenyon and Mr. Jeff Parow
SEPTEMBER
The Gates Scholarship - this scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential. See attached for eligibility requirements, etc. Gates Scholarship
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship – Since 1047 the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier scholarship program. Each year, nearly 27,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” Deadline: October 31, 2024 See attached flier for details: Voice of Democracy
Elks National Foundation Scholarship Programs - The 2024 application opened on August 1, 2023. Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.
Eligibility:
Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks.
High school graduates are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
Deadline: November 13, 2023 Elks Scholarship
OCTOBER
Coolidge Scholarship – for high school juniors – is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that can be used at any accredited college or university in the US. A complete description of the scholarship’s criteria, along with the online application and much more information is available at coolidgescholars.org. Submission deadline: Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
The Hagen Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients with the opportunity to graduate college debt-free. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters. The attached brochure more fully explains eligibility, responsibilities, and benefits. The Hagan Scholarship Brochure
GPO Federal Credit Union 2024 Scholarship Program - eligibility requirements and application attached. Deadline: January 5, 2024. GPO Application & Guidelines GPO Poster w/QR code
NOVEMBER
Columbus Citizens Foundation Scholarship Programs. See attached filer for details. Columbus Citizens... Columbus Citizens Flyer
DECEMBER
Clark Foundation Scholarship – Any Mount Markham senior can apply for this scholarship. Selection is made solely by the Clark Foundation Scholarship Office Staff, and it typically based on students’ high school grade point average. All completed courses by the first semester of the senior year are counted into the Clark Average except the following group courses: Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Select Choir, and Physical Education.
Northwestern Mutual (Utica) Scholarship - $500/year per scholarship recipient, paid directly to the college. Application deadline: April 1, 2025. See attached for application/details... Northwestern Mutual Scholarship orthwestern Mutual Link
2023 Seed Scholars Program in Partnership w/Yale Women in Economics - for high school juniors.
JANUARY
The CNY Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for high school seniors in the Central New York region. Applicants must be enrolled in an environmentally related degree program. For further details and application, see attached packet. Application deadline: March 3, 2025 Air & Waste Application Criteria & Award Details
Horatio Alger Scholarship – criteria: high school junior, demonstrated critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income) and US Citizen. The scholarships are given to deserving students each year and range in award value from $10,000 - $25,000 with more than 600 scholarships available. Apply online at horatioalger.org/scholarships by March 1st. Horatio Alger Scholarships
The Connor Arthur Lynskey Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties offers several scholarship awards available to local students in Herkimer and Oneida counties each year. The scholarship application for 2025 is now open for students to apply for consideration for these awards. Interested students can review eligibility and apply online by visiting: https://foundationhoc.org/give/funds/connor-arthur-lynskey-memorial-scholarship-fund. The application is open now through Monday, March 31, 2025.
SME Education Foundation Scholarships - a scholarship opportunity for students who are pursuing a degree in manufacturing and related technical fields. Scholarship Details:
Application Period: November 1 – February 1
Application Link: https://scholarships.smeef.org/applications/
Decision Notification: Mid-June
Eligibility: High school seniors, as well as college freshmen and sophomores, pursuing degrees in manufacturing, engineering, or technical fields that support manufacturing.
Award: For Associate Degree programs the award is $2,500 per year up to 2-years ($5,000 max)
Application Process:
Complete the General Application
Answer all questions in order, as new questions may appear based on your responses.
If MVCC is considered a Student Member of SME, students may be eligible for member-only scholarships. (Membership numbers are required for this consideration.)
Submit a list of completed STEM courses:
High school seniors must include all STEM courses completed in high school.
College students must include all collegiate-level STEM courses and relevant high school STEM courses.
Provide short-answer responses (150 words or less) to these questions:
What are your educational and career objectives as they relate to manufacturing?
What motivates you to pursue a career in manufacturing?
How would receiving this scholarship enable you to achieve your goals?
Submit a transcript (official or unofficial).
Need-Based Scholarship Consideration
Renewable scholarships are available for Pell-eligible high school seniors.
To be considered, students must complete the FAFSA and provide a copy of the 2025-26 FAFSA Submission Summary to verify Pell eligibility.
Submit References
Provide the names, email addresses, titles, and affiliations of at least two references who will write letters of recommendation.
References must be educators or professionals in STEM fields (e.g., instructors, employers, mentors, faculty advisors).
At least one reference must be from a current or recent (within one year) teacher or professor.
Letters from STEM teachers/professors are highly recommended and will receive higher evaluation scores.
References will receive an email with instructions to submit their letters. Please follow up to ensure they complete the submission.
The Otsego County Federation of Sportsmen is pleased to announce the 25th annual Jon Karker Scholarship in the amount of $350 to be awarded to an Otsego County High School Senior pursuing a career in Criminal Justice, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Fisheries or Wildlife. Deadline: May 4, 2025 See attached for complete details: Jon Karker Scholarship
The American Society of Military Comptrollers, CNY Leatherstocking Chapter, is sponsoring a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors who demonstrate exemplary leadership abilities, an interest in the financial management career field, and academic promise. The ASMC Scholarships are for students entering the fields of Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration or Economics. Application deadline: February 29, 2024. ASMC Scholarship Application
FEBRUARY
2025 NYFB Agricultural Youth Scholarship Application
This scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors that are planning to pursue a career related to agriculture.
New York high school seniors who are graduating and interested in pursuing a career related to agriculture can apply for New York Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Youth Scholarship. Eligible students can use the financial award for college or advanced training in the skilled trades.
Click here to apply: https://my.reviewr.com/site/2025_New_York_Farm_Bureau_Agricultural_Youth_Scholarship
Deadline for submitting applications is April 1, 2025.
Eligibility requirements:
2025 graduating high school seniors who will continue their education to prepare for a career connected to the agricultural industry. This includes advancing their education through college or pursuing advanced training in the skilled trades.
Must live or work on a farm or be involved with agriculture via any avenue
Family Farm Bureau membership or Student Farm Bureau membership is required. Students can join for free as student members by using this link: www.nyfb.org/membership .
Applicants under the age of 18 must also include the signature of a parent or legal guardian.
Process and Procedure:
Students are required to complete an application, which is on the Reviewr online platform.
Click here to apply: https://my.reviewr.com/site/2025_New_York_Farm_Bureau_Agricultural_Youth_Scholarship
After creating an account in Reviewr, the student will log in and begin the application. The student can stop, restart, and edit their application any time before the submission is due by logging into their Reviewr account.
The responses to the questions and essay sections have character count limits. Before applying, a summary page will be shown. This page can be printed to review the application answers.
Applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm on April 1, 2025.
A district-level competition will be held. If applications do not meet the criteria to be a district winner, no district award will be given. Each district winner will receive $250 plus a memento of their selection.
State winner selection will be made from district winners, based solely on the submitted applications. District winners and two state winners will be announced by the end of May. The first-place state winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship and the second-place state winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
For more information, email proed@nyfb.org
O'Connor Engineering Scholarship 2025 - this year's scholarship application requires you to answer two questions and requires you to submit your answers in separate video recordings. Deadline: May 1st. O'Connor Engineering Scholarship application
NYS Farm Bureau Scholarship. This scholarship is for New York high school seniors who are graduating and interested in pursuing a career related to agriculture. Eligible students can use the financial award for college or advanced training in the skilled trades. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1, 2025. The 2025 NYFB Agricultural Youth Scholarship Application link: https://nyfb.org/programs/promotion-education/scholarship. A requirement for the application process is to be a NYS Farm Bureau member. Students may be under the Family Farm Bureau membership or Student Farm Bureau membership. Students can join for free as student members by using this link: https://www.nyfb.org/membership.
Herkimer County Fair Association is offering a scholarship to any High School Senior that has exhibited or participated in any department at the Herkimer County Fair. The list of departments is easy to access at herkimercountyfair.org website. Click on the Departments tab to view all. Amount to be determined - minimum of $250 and up to $500 will be awarded. Application deadline: May 1st, 2025 Application
The New York Water Environment Association is a non-profit education organization of water professionals promoting sustainable water quality management through science, education and training. They offer over $50,000 in scholarships annually for students pursuing environmental degrees.
MARCH
2025 New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators Academic and Athletic Scholarships.
Scholarships are available to residents of New York who are current college students or high school seniors entering college. They also must reside in the district of a conference member. Sen. Griffo’s district includes all of Oneida and Madison counties and parts of Herkimer and Chenango counties.
Area students can apply for the scholarship by visiting the Conference’s website here.
Applicants should have a grade point average of 85 or higher; be active in community service and extracurricular activities and demonstrate financial need. In addition to these qualifications, students applying for an athletic scholarship must also be involved in an organized sport(s). Applicants need not be of Italian American heritage to apply.
Applications will be accepted until March 30. Scholarship recipients will be announced in April and the winners will be honored at a ceremony in Albany on Monday, May 19.
The Lake & Valley Garden Club - once again, they would like to continue this tradition with a $500 or greater scholarship to a graduating senior who is planning on pursuing studies in horticulture, botany, landscape design or related fields. Application deadline: May 1st
Lake & Valley Garden Club Application
Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Award AND Richard D'Alessandro Family Scholarship Award. Two (2) Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame Awards in the amount of $500 each and one (1) scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is granted by the Richard D'Alessandro family. See attached application with eligibility and criteria. Deadline: May 12, 2025. Greater Utica Sports & D'Alessandro Scholarship
The Laura Bradley Female Athlete Scholarship. $400 will be granted. Application deadline: May 5, 2025 Laura Bradley Scholarship application
The Gregory J. Wilsey Scholarship for 2024 is open to high school students majoring in a trade, fire, EMS, engineering, nursing or education. They will be awarding up to four $500 scholarships. Special consideration will be given to students who are volunteer firefighters. Applicants must reside in Oneida or Herkimer County. Deadline: April 15, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Gregory J. Wilsey Scholarship
The Epilepsy Foundation is offering 3 college scholarships to high school seniors or students who will be enrolled at any post high school institution of higher learning. The 3 scholarships are $1,000 each: The Nick Birchak Strength of Character College Scholarship, Barbara Quackenbush College Scholarship and The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York Scholarship. The Stephen Piorkowski Scholarship is also available for $500. Scholarships will be awarded to students who are currently being treated for epilepsy and have plans to further education. Deadline: Friday, May 9, 2025. Students only need to submit one application to be considered for all 4 awards. Epilepsy Foundation Scholarship application
American Society of Civil Engineers Mohawk-Hudson Section is a scholarship opportunity for prospective Civil Engineering Majors. Applications with essay and transcript must be emailed by Friday, April 18, 2025 to: matthew.makuch@kci.com Civil Engineers Application
4PetSake Scholarship Award - $500. This scholarship award is for applicants who plan to attend college or any other vocational institution in which they may attain a high education in a profession or trade in animal welfare. Deadline: May 1, 2025 4PetSake Application
The Cooperstown Art Association Art Scholarship opportunity! Accepting applications for their $1,400 Art Scholarship, open to local graduating high school seniors. Submit your application online today! Deadline: Friday, June 7th ... see attached details Art Scholarship Opportunity
APRIL
The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition (NYAAC) has a scholarship opportunity available for your students. We will be awarding two $1,000 scholarships that meet the following criteria:
Open to New York residents enrolled in college in Fall 2025 OR non-NY residents attending a New York State university as a full-time student.
Majors include a range of disciplines, such as Livestock Management, Dairy Science, Agricultural Education, Agriculture Communications, Agricultural Business, or Animal Science.
Information and full application can be found here: https://nyanimalag.org/1000-scholarship-opportunity-for-agricultural-advocates/ Due date is April 30th.
Herkimer County Counselors' Association Scholarship 2024. In Loving Memory of Jessica Cooper. For students planning to pursue a career in counseling or human services (psychology, social work, etc.). Apply online: Application Due Monday, April 29th by midnight.
The Mohawk-Hudson Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is offering scholarship opportunity to qualifying graduating seniors seeking to continue their education with a goal of becoming a practicing civil engineer. They are offering two 4-year, $1,000 per year scholarships. Application deadline: Friday, April 12, 2024. See attached letter with application: Mohawk-Hudson Section American Society of Civil Engineers
Herkimer County Counselors' Association Scholarship - for seniors planning to pursue a career in counseling or human services (psychology, social work, etc.) Application
Mount Markham Central School District Foundation Arts In Education Scholarship. Due May 1st to the HS Guidance Office. MMCSD Arts In Ed application
M.O.M.M.S. Scholarship - essay deadline: May 1st to the HS Guidance Office - description attached: MOMMS Application
MMTA Education Scholarship for seniors entering the field of teaching - deadline: May 1st to the HS Guidance Office. Application attached:
Leatherstocking Region Federal Credit Union (LSRFCU) has a scholarship program for all graduating seniors that will be attending college or trade school in the Fall of 2023, as long as you are a LSRFCU member. For those that are members, go on to their website and follow the instructions on the form: lsrfcu.org/scholarship-program. The form takes about 30 minutes to complete and includes a short essay. Or, there is a paper copy in the guidance office. For those that would like to join (cost is $1 plus $5 deposit into the account) call Matt Marrotta at 607-547-5700 ext. 114 and he will explain how you can join.
The SAANYS Region 8 Scholarship is open to any high school senior graduating in June who have demonstrated good school and community citizenship, are planning to go onto higher education, and who otherwise satisfy criteria by the SAANYS Region 8 Scholarship committee. SAANYS Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
MAY
The Herkimer County Fair Association is offering a scholarship to any Senior that has exhibited or participated in any department at the Herkimer County Fair. Applications are available in the Guidance Office and on the school's website. Completed applications are due July 1st. Application
PB&J Scholarship
JUNE