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Available Scholarships
Mechanicville Teachers Association (MTA) Future Educators Award
$250 one-time payment. Why do you want to be an educator? Write an essay that shares why you are going into the field of education. Some points to consider for your essay are:
- Innovative ideas you would use in the classroom
- How you would reach out to students’ different learning styles and abilities
Paul Luther Memorial Scholarship
- An award given to a student who is a relative of a member of the Mechanicville Police or fire Departments. The application requires a 250 word essay on “Why Volunteering is Important to a small City/Community.” The runner up will receive the George F. Kennedy Award.
Hillcrest Fire Department Award
An award given to a student who resides in the Hillcrest Fire Department District. An essay on volunteering in the community is required. Students should describe their community involvement and what it has meant to them.
Character Counts Award
Awards given to students who demonstrate outstanding character traits during high school including respect, responsibility, integrity, honesty and kindness. An essay is required. Please see Mrs. LaFleche for an application.
Cindi Zagorski Scholarships for Future Educators
An award given to a student planning to attend college with an education major. An essay on “Why I plan To Teach” is required. Please see guidance for an application form.
Dr. Frank Greenhall Education Memorial Scholarship
An award will be given to a student planning to major in education. The requirements for this scholarship are to complete an essay on the following question: “As an educator, what do you plan to do to impact the life of a child?” Submit your essay to the Guidance office.
Mechanicville Retired Professional Educators
An award will be given to a student planning to major in education. A resume of activities, awards, and community service must be submitted to the Guidance office.
*All essays are due in the Guidance Office.*
Scholarship and Award Resources
- Fastweb: Search for scholarships, find money for college, get financial aid
- FinAid!: Scholarship, grants, loans, military aid info
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Federally funded financial assistance for education
- Adventures in Education: College planning resources, financial aid information, guidance
- College Scholarship Search: Finding scholarships and finding money for college
All information about available scholarships is now located in Naviance. Please log on to your Family Connections account in Naviance for the most up to date information about scholarships you may be eligible for. You can access your Naviance account here.
FAFSA
The first step is to complete the FAFSA application, which is key to college financial aid. Please click here to begin your FAFSA application.
FAFSA experts are also available to answer questions. For help:
- Call toll free at 1-800-808-1790 between noon and 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays
- Email FAFSAhelp@HESC.ny.gov anytime
- Click here to chat live with a FAFSA expert
Students should also complete the New York State TAP application. Please click here to begin your New York State TAP application.
State Tools to Help Students Calculate College Costs
Potential college students can now compare differences, calculate net costs and estimate total costs of college education with an online tool.
The Financial Aid Award Letter Comparison Tool, available at HESC.ny.gov, is free and safe to use, with no personal data collected or saved. Click here to learn more about the comparison tool.
The Excelsior Scholarship
Today, college is what high school was – it should always be an option even if you can’t afford it.
With the passage of the FY 2018 State Budget, New York is now home to the nation’s first accessible college program – The Excelsior Scholarship.
Under this groundbreaking program, more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York State. The new program begins in the fall of 2017 and will be phased in over three years.
In order to apply, students must:
- Be residents of New York State
- Attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year degree program
- Take 30 credits per calendar year (including January and Summer sessions)
- Plan to live and work in New York following graduation for the length of time they participate in the scholarship program
- In New York State, every child will have the opportunity that education provides.