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Community Foundation Now Accepting 2026-27
Scholarship Applications from Tri-County Students
Published: December 07, 2025
at 01:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from Northern New York Community
Foundation
Community Foundation Now Accepting 2026-27 Scholarship
Applications from Tri-County Students
Extensive Opportunities for Jefferson, Lewis, and St.
Lawrence County Students
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York
Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students
who plan to enroll in any accredited post-secondary educational program in
the fall of 2026.
An online
application streamlines the process for most scholarships. Students may
access the scholarship portal, create a user account, and begin an online
application by clicking on a button found on the home page at nnycf.org.
The universal application process asks questions that will determine the
scholarships for which students are eligible. There is no application fee
to apply for Community Foundation scholarships.
With few
exceptions, all Community Foundation scholarship applications are due Sunday,
March 15, 2026. Scholarships with different deadlines — some after
March 15 — are noted on the same web page. Applications cannot be accepted
after the published deadline.
High school
seniors from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who plan to enroll
as full-time undergraduates next fall may apply for a one-year, Community
Foundation Freshman Scholarship. Students pursuing technical, trade or
vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application.
Students are reminded to thoroughly read all application instructions,
complete all sections and submit the application by the deadline.
In partnership
with donors and tri-county school districts, the Community Foundation
awarded more than $1.5 million to 743 students earlier this year, most of
whom were members of the Class of 2025. The average award was nearly $2,500
per student. In many cases, eligible students were awarded more than one
scholarship to pursue their educational goals.
Scholarships
range from $500 to $10,000 and some awards are renewable each year.
Opportunities are available for high school seniors, college students,
graduate students, career and technical students, adult learners returning
to school, and students of all abilities.
Since 1980, the
Community Foundation has provided more than $28.7 million in scholarship
awards to students who live in the tri-county region. The Community
Foundation annually administers nearly 500 restricted scholarships
established by individual donors, families, businesses, and organizations,
as well as scholarship funds on behalf of 32 school districts throughout
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
“Because of the
generosity of our donors, we have more opportunities than ever to assist
all types of students in their educational pursuits. While we have many
academic based scholarships, several use other criteria, so everyone should
apply,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive
director. “Education is one of our largest annual investments in the region
and we hope we will see a record number of applicants this year so we can
make an even greater difference in lives of tri-county residents.”
Students may now
apply online using the same 2026-2027 Scholarship Application for several
opportunities
that previously
required unique applications, including: George C.
Boldt Scholarship; North Country Goes Green Irish Festival Scholarships;
North Pleasant Street (Watertown) Scholarship; Northpole
Fire Company Inc. Scholarship; North Side Legacy Fund Scholarship; Shaw
Harbor Foundation Scholarship; and all Thousand Islands Foundation
scholarships.
The Retired
Educators of New York North Central Zone Scholarship requires students to
complete an application packet that can be downloaded and printed from the
Community Foundation’s website at nnycf.org/scholarships/applications.
The deadline to apply for that scholarship is Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Completed packets must be returned or postmarked by the deadline to the
address specified in the application.
Additional
programs, opportunities
The Community
Foundation also administers the following scholarship funds and programs
for which students may apply using the same online 2026-2027 Scholarship
Application:
Next Step Education Program — Awarded to
applicants who live in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties who have
had a break in their education and are not pursuing higher education
immediately followingcompletion of high school.
Eligible applicants may be enrolled full- or part-time in college or a
technical, trade, or vocational school. They can also be enrolled in
coursework leading to enhanced skills for career advancement or
micro-credentials and certifications. Applications for this program are
accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year with award decisions made
within 30 days of applying.
Evergreen STEM Scholarship — (High school
Class of 2027) Awards ten, $3,000 scholarships annually to St. Lawrence
County high school juniors who plan to pursue studies in STEM-related
fields — science, technology, engineering, and math. Applications for this
scholarship program are due by Sunday, June 1,
2026.
Herring College Memorial Scholarship — Awarded to
students in engineering, sciences, mathematics, and related fields, as well
as the Visiting Nurses Association Scholarship for students pursuing
continuing education in nursing or health-related fields. Applications for
this scholarship program are due by Sunday,
March 15, 2026.
Rotary Purple Heart Scholarship — Available to
residents of Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence County who were awarded a
Purple Heart by the U.S. armed forces or are a dependent — spouse, child or
grandchild — of a U.S. military member or veteran who was awarded the
Purple Heart. Purple Heart Scholarship applications are reviewed throughout
the year until all available funds for the academic year are awarded.
Applications for this scholarship program are accepted on a rolling basis
throughout the year.
10th Mountain Division (Light)
Scholarship — Awarded to active or former 10th Mountain Division
(Light Infantry) members or family members — spouse or child — of an active
or former 10th Mountain Division soldier. The applicant or their military
sponsor must also be a member of the National Association of the 10th
Mountain Division. Scholarship applicants may live anywhere and be in any
year of full-time undergraduate study. Applications for this scholarship
program are due by Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
George C. Boldt Scholarship — Awarded to three
Jefferson County residents for full-time undergraduate study. Students who
will be attending technical, trade or vocational schools are eligible to
apply. Applications are accepted from high school seniors or nontraditional
students who have had a break in their studies. Applications for this
scholarship program are due Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Russell I. Wilcox Thousand Islands Bridge
Authority Scholarship — Awarded to two students for undergraduate
study. Applicants must be current full-time Thousand Islands Bridge
Authority employees, retirees, or their children or grandchildren of the
same. Applications for this scholarship program are due by
Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Contact Tara
Hess, scholarship and program associate, tara@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110,
with questions about Community Foundation scholarships. Visit nnycf.org to
learn more and to access applications.
About the
Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the
Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and
enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson,
Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through
partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual
donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an
endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment
to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for
generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community
philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community
Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors,
professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring
people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy
Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative
solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live,
work, and play.
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