What You Need to Know Now About Financial Aid
By Sandra Moore
Although there is still snow on the ground, it won’t be long before Oct. 1 is here. That’s when the forms are due to qualify for college financial aid for students who are now high school juniors.
Here’s who should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile:
- Any citizens or permanent residents who believe they might qualify.
- Anyone who thinks he or she may require financial aid at any point during college. Many schools will not consider financial aid applications from a student who has been enrolled as a full-payment freshman who did not submit a FAFSA as a high school senior.
- Anyone who expects to have two or more children in college at the same time, which significantly lowers the threshold for need-based aid.
- Anyone applying for merit aid at the handful of institutions that require either the FAFSA or CSS Profile for consideration.
Here’s who should apply for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP):
- Any residents applying to at least one college or university (public or private) in New York State who believe they might qualify. You can apply for TAP when submitting your FAFSA application, or see hesc.ny.gov.
Here’s what you need to know about these forms and the deadlines:
- All institutions require submission of the FAFSA for need-based financial aid, including student loans and work-study. The form can be accessed online at fafsa.ed.gov. Once it’s completed, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows how much you qualify for. This can be shared with colleges when they prepare your financial aid package.
- Nearly 400 colleges, universities and scholarship programs also require submission of the CSS Profile. It will be available Oct. 1 at cssprofile.collegeboard.org for the 2020-21 school year. The fee is $25 plus $16 for each school or program you want to see it, although there are fee waivers for low-income families.
- The deadline to submit financial aid forms varies from college to college. You’ll need to check each school’s website or with its financial aid office. Missing deadlines may impact your eligibility for assistance.
- A growing number of colleges have a Nov. 1 or Nov. 15 financial-aid deadline for “early decision” and “early action” applicants. But it’s best to submit applications as soon as possible after Oct. 1.
- Remember that the vast majority of scholarships come from the colleges in the form of deeply discounted tuition, which is why it’s essential — especially for families who are unlikely to qualify for need-based federal and/or state aid — to research schools’ policies and practices before a student falls in love. Discounted tuition is big these days because many colleges are scrambling to meet enrollment goals.
To get a sense of how your financial situation will look to college financial aid offices, use the online net price calculators provided by schools and don’t hesitate to contact college aid officers directly with questions.
Sandra Moore, a former college admissions director, is the founder of Next Step College Counseling in Hyde Park. She can be reached at [email protected].
Awards for Highlands Residents
By Chip Rowe
The list below includes scholarships available to high school seniors or college students in the Highlands and/or Putnam and Dutchess counties. It does not include awards specific to individual schools. To search for scholarships offered by state and national organizations, see directories such as fastweb.com, collegeboard.org and scholarships.com.
Each listing includes who qualifies to apply, the amount of the award and the application deadline. For scholarships coded CFHV, apply at cfhvny.org. For those marked SGO, pick up an application form in your school guidance office or click on the “Apply” link to download the form in PDF format.
Highlands
Acacio “Roger” Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship
Putnam or Dutchess seniors or undergraduate college students pursuing a career in the building/construction industry such as architecture, engineering, construction management, electrical construction technology, plumbing and heating, welding or fabrication. | $2,000+ annually | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
AIAWHV Foundation
Putnam or Dutchess college students studying architecture. | $5,000 | April 26 | Apply
Daughters of the United States Army
Senior who is the child or dependent of an active, retired or deceased U.S. military service member whose family resides within a 35-mile radius of West Point. | $2,000 | April 5 | SGO
Elena Eckert Memorial Scholarship
Putnam or Dutchess seniors who are children or grandchildren of a current or former member of the Armed Forces, a police officer or a corrections officer. | $1,500+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Firemen’s Association of the State of New York
FASNY reimburses tuition for active volunteer firefighters attending a New York community college or taking online courses through Empire State College. | $1,250 | ongoing | SGO | Apply
Hudson Valley Guns and Hoses
Paid or volunteer firefighters or law enforcement officers (or their immediate relatives) in Putnam or Dutchess who plan to major in criminal justice, fire science, public administration or related fields. | $1,000+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Mid-Hudson Ivy Foundation
Seniors from the Mid-Hudson Valley. Sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha. | $500 to $1,500 | March 30 | SGO | Apply
Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Society
Seniors who plan to pursue a career in mental health, such as psychiatry, psychology, psychiatric nursing or social work. | $125 to $500 | May | SGO
Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation
Putnam and Dutchess seniors whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. | $2,000 to $5,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal
Haldane or Beacon seniors who are (1) enrolled in special education, (2) have demonstrated resourcefulness and ingenuity to overcome a puzzling creative obstacle, or (3) plan to attend a New York college and who has record of involvement and work for a cause or organization that promotes social justice, equal opportunity, relief of human suffering or similar aspirations. | $3,000 to $5,000 | April 8 | SGO | Apply
Professional Nurses Association of Dutchess/Putnam
Putnam or Dutchess senior or college student pursuing a career in nursing. | $500 to $1,000 | May 12 | SGO | Apply
St. Luke’s Cornwall Health System
Seniors who have completed at least 50 hours of volunteer service at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, who are the sons or daughters of St. Luke’s employees or who plan to enter the medical field and have at least an 1100 SAT or 24 ACT score. | $1,000 to $1,500 | April 19 | SGO | Apply
Tony Schembri Memorial Scholarship
Seniors from the Mid-Hudson Valley. Sponsored by the Newburgh-based chapter of the veterans’ organization Rolling Thunder 3. | $500 | April 1 | SGO | Apply
How to Start Your Own Scholarship
Community foundation guides donorsBy Chip Rowe
Want your own scholarship fund? The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHVNY) has helped individuals and groups establish nearly 60 that award grants to students in Dutchess, Putnam and/or Ulster counties.
The nonprofit, which has offices in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, processes applications for donors and administers the awards. Most scholarships offered are created in memory of family members, although some are tributes to schools, such as an award for Poughkeepsie High School graduates established by the Class of 1958.
Sally Cross
“Some people feel strongly that a school helped launch them in life,” explains Sally Cross, vice president of philanthropy for CFHVNY.
It takes a minimum donation of $50,000 to create a scholarship, which is enough to provide a perpetual annual grant of $1,000 to $2,000. “We want to make sure the award is enough to make a meaningful difference,” she said of the minimum.
CFHVNY chooses the winner or winners of each award, which is required by tax law, although the donor can be a member of the selection committee, she said.
When creating a scholarship, it’s best to keep the criteria as broad as possible, Cross said. Offering an award only to graduates of a certain school is fine, but finding suitable applicants for a grant for “left-handed violin players who are on the basketball team and went to a certain grade school” will be a challenge, she said, by way of example. Even scholarships provided to pursue specific majors can be tricky, because students often change their minds.
For more information, contact Cross at [email protected] or 845-452-3077.
Philipstown
Alice Reilley Schatzle Memorial Scholarship
Haldane senior who plans to major in education, library sciences or another field that serves others. | Varies. | March 29 | SGO
Cold Spring Lions Club
Philipstown seniors on basis of need, academic record and potential to succeed. | Varies. | May 3 | SGO
Cold Spring Police Benevolent Association
Haldane senior on the basis of community service and potential for success in an undergraduate program. | Varies. | April 12 | SGO
Daughters of the American Revolution
Putnam seniors who “exhibit extraordinary citizenship and integrity and service to his or her community while maintaining high academic standards.” | $500 | April 26 | SGO
Glaser Orthodontics
Haldane seniors who plan to pursue a career in a health field. | $500 | March 31 | SGO
Joan Connelly Memorial Scholarship
Putnam seniors who plan to pursue a career related to mental health or in human services such as social work, psychology, nursing, education, counseling, community mental health, or child and family studies. Sponsored by the Mental Health Association in Putnam County. | $500 | March 29 | SGO
Lori Isler Teacher Scholarship
Haldane senior who plans to pursue a teaching career and is involved in community service. | $1,000 | April 5 | SGO
Master Gardeners
Putnam County seniors who plan to pursue a degree in plant science, horticulture, floriculture, architectural landscape design, forestry, botany or other environmental-related program. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension. | $500 | April 30 | SGO
NewYork Presbyterian-Hudson Valley Hospital Auxiliary
Philipstown senior who plans to enter a health-related field. | $1,000 | April 8 | SGO | Apply
Philip Baumgarten Memorial Scholarship
Philipstown senior who volunteers for a local nonprofit and/or has worked for a local business. Sponsored by the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce. | $1,000 | April 12 | SGO
Putnam County Children’s Committee
Putnam seniors who exhibit a “commitment to service to the community, and strength of purpose in achieving an educational goal, ability and maturity.” | $500 | April 14 | SGO
Beacon
Andy Vito/Harold Tompkins/Ron Vece Scholarship
Funded by the Hudson Valley Umpires Association, this scholarship is for seniors in Dutchess County who played high school baseball. | $750 to $1,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
ATHENA Adult Scholarship
Dutchess females who has been out of high school or college for five years and are pursuing degrees at a New York or online school. | $1,000 to $2,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Beacon Elks Lodge 1493
The Elks offer the Rush Greenough Scholarship to a BHS senior with “extraordinary community service” and the Doc Roberts Scholarship to a BHS senior who plans to pursue an engineering or technology-related degree. | Varies. | May 20 | SGO
Beacon Schools PTOs
The Parent-Teacher Organizations at J.V. Forrestal, Glenham, Sargent and South Avenue elementary schools offer scholarships to Beacon seniors who attended each of them. The Beacon High School PTO also offers scholarships. | $300 to $1,500 | May 25 | SGO
Bettie Brown Scholarship
BHS senior who has demonstrated academic achievement and community service. Sponsored by the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. | $500 | April 15 | SGO | Apply
Bianca Knight Memorial Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who are involved in Christian ministry or community outreach. | $1,000 | May 6 | SGO | Apply
Camerata Chorale Scholarship
Dutchess senior pursuing a career in music. | SGO
Charles S. North Scholarship for Music and Art
Dutchess seniors who plan to major in music performance, music/art education or visual arts (ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, video, filmmaking and architecture). | $1,500+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Dustin James Fallen Police Officer Memorial Fund
BHS seniors who plan to pursue a career in law enforcement, emergency services or the military. | $500 | April 15 | SGO | Apply
Dutchess County Agricultural Society
Dutchess seniors and college students who plan to pursue a degree in agriculture, horticulture or human ecology or a career related to agriculture or horticulture. | $2,000 annually | May 10 | SGO | Apply
Dutchess County Counseling Association
Dutchess seniors who have at least a 90 average. | $1,000 | April 26 | SGO | Apply
Dutchess County Dairy Committee
Dutchess seniors who plan to pursue a career in agriculture such as agronomy, animal science, communications and environmental courses. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County. | $2,000 first year, $1,000 after | May 20 | SGO
Dutchess County Music Educators Association
Dutchess seniors who plan to major in music or the arts. | $500 | May 3 | SGO | Apply
Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee
Dutchess seniors and college students of Irish descent. | $1,000 | April 30 | SGO | Apply
Eileen Hickey Nursing Scholarship
Dutchess seniors or college students pursuing a career in nursing at a New York school. | $1,500+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Frank Thomas Groff Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who are members of the Roman Catholic Church. | $1,000 annually | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
George A. and Catherine V. Quill Scholarship
BHS seniors “who must apply themselves to prosper or those who are able to demonstrate financial need.” | $1,000 to $1,500 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
H. Normington Schofield Scholarship
BHS seniors who plan to major in environmental studies or education. | $1,000+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Honorable Anthony L. Pagones Memorial Scholarship
Dutchess senior, preferably a Beacon resident, who intends to study law, political science/government or criminal justice. | $1,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Hudson Valley Financial Professionals
Dutchess seniors who plan to pursue a career in the financial services industry such as banking, finance, insurance or investment banking. | $500 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Jennifer Coudrey Memorial Scholarship
Dutchess female senior who plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. | $1,000+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Joseph H. and Mildred C. McManus Scholarship
Dutchess seniors or recent graduates “who must apply themselves to prosper or who demonstrate financial need.” | $1,500 annually | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Joseph H. Gellert/Dutchess County Bar Association
Dutchess student enrolled in law school. | $1,000 | May 1 | CFHV | Apply
Joseph S. Guarneri Sr. Memorial Scholarship
BHS senior “who has overcome or is overcoming personal, financial, family or emotional difficulties.” | $650+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Juan Lafuente Leadership Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who demonstrate academic achievement (especially in math and science); leadership contributions to school and community; and character. Students must attend a New York college. | $1,000 to $1,500 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Landon R. Gray Memorial Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who are male and African-American and plan to pursue a degree in education, human services, technology or media. | $1,000 | May 6 | SGO | Apply
Leslie C. and Irene G. Roe Athletic Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who have demonstrated outstanding athletic skills and will attend a New York community college or SUNY/CUNY school. | $1,500 annually | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Marjorie A. Rifenburg Scholarship
BHS seniors of African-American descent. | Up to $4,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Mary McKenzie Memorial Scholarship
BHS seniors of African-American descent. | $500 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Maynard and Ferne Brownell Family Scholarship
BHS senior with financial need and athletic and/or community service. | $750 annually | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Michael P. Murphy Public Service Graduate Scholarship
Dutchess graduate students planning a career in government. | $1,000+ | May 1 | CFHV | Apply
New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs
Senior who has been involved with the Dutchess County Fair, with preference to those who plan to study a field related to agriculture, fair management or the outdoor amusement business. | $1,000 | April 12 | SGO | Apply
Norman and Rita Nussbickel Memorial Scholarship
BHS seniors “who have demonstrated excellent academic and athletic achievement and have a meaningful record of community service.” | $2,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
R&M Promotions Latino High School Scholarship
Dutchess seniors of Hispanic origin. | Varies. | April 19 | SGO | Apply
Robert K. and Clara Lou Gould Memorial Scholarship
BHS seniors with “extensive community service experience.” | $2,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Sons & Daughters of Italy
BHS seniors of Italian heritage or related to a member. | Varies. | May 10 | SGO | Apply
Stephanie D. Brown & Barbara M. Murphy Memorial Scholarship
Dutchess seniors who intend to major in education and become elementary, middle school or high school teachers. | $1,000 to $2,000 | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
Steven and Linda Lant Family Scholarship
Dutchess seniors or college students pursuing a major in business or finance at a New York school. | $2,500+ | April 1 | CFHV | Apply
TEG Joyce A. Betros Scholarship
Dutchess senior who is a TEG Federal Credit Union member (or whose parent or guardian is) who has demonstrated academy achievement and commitment to community. | $1,000 | April 1 | SGO | Apply
