Frequently Asked Questions
What scholarships are available to me?
You can sort through our available scholarships either by high school or by category. Each scholarship has its own criteria. Scholarships are available for high school seniors, college students, non-traditional students, and graduate level students.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Every scholarship listing has a “click here for application” button. Download the application and fill it
out. Each individual application contains instructions on how to submit the completed application.
Make sure you read the application carefully, fill it out completely, and meet the March 1st application
deadline.
What are the deadlines for applying?
High School Students: Submit your application(s) by March 1st to your guidance office.
College, Non-Traditional & Graduate Students: Submit your application by March 1st via mail or email.
These scholarships are only awarded once a year, so missing a deadline can mean missing out until
the next cycle. Applications submitted past the deadline are usually not considered.
How and when are scholarships awarded?
Scholarship recipients are chosen through a review process that can include your high school scholarship committee, a Foundation scholarship committee, and the scholarship’s donor and family if they choose to be involved in the process.
High School Students: scholarships are awarded through your school, usually at a special awards ceremony. Award nights will be held at each school sometime during the months of May or June, prior to graduation.
College, Non-Traditional and Graduate students who are awarded a scholarship will receive a letter with notification and instructions.
Does my scholarship check go right to my college?
With few exceptions, your scholarship check will go right to your college. This is a requirement for any matching funds to be awarded to you if you are eligible for the PHEAA/PATH program. The Foundation will tell you what to expect when we inform you that you’ve been awarded the scholarship.
Where do I send a thank you letter for my scholarship?
Donors appreciate hearing how their generosity is making a difference. Thank you letters may be sent to our Foundation office and we will forward it to the donors who have funded your scholarship.
Elk County Community Foundation
32 So. St. Marys Street, PO Box 934
St. Marys, PA 15857
Did you know your scholarship could be doubled through the PHEAA-PATH program?
Through the PATH (Partnerships for Access to Higher Education) Program, qualifying students who have already been awarded a scholarship or grant by one of their PHEAA PATH Partners may be eligible for additional grant money. The Elk County Community Foundation has been a PATH partner since nearly the beginning of their Scholarship Program. Nearly one half of our dollars have been matched and granted to deserving scholarship recipients each year. What this means is that your scholarship award will potentially double because the Foundation is an approved partner with PHEAA.
