Scholarship Information
We understand that paying for college is not easy. There are many scholarships available to students for some extra financial aid. Your best resource is to meet with your College & Career Information Coordinator. They will help guide you in your search for scholarships and answer any questions you may have. I have included a list of scholarship links and applications below for your convenience.
**REMEMBER - When searching, it is very important to read all scholarship requirements carefully to determine if you are eligible. You do not want to put time and effort into completing an application for a scholarship that you are not eligible to win.
Monitor and visit this page periodically as Mr. Nalda updates and adds scholarships regularly!
Also, keep in mind that some scholarship applications may require a letter of recommendation from a teacher or responsible adult. Pay attention to deadlines and give these people at least three weeks to complete this part of the application for you.
After the 'Quarterly Scholarships' below, you will see scholarships organized by month. When you click on a month, the number in bold is the scholarship's deadline date. Again, please read scholarship requirements carefully so you know what needs to be turned in and when all application materials are due. Plan ahead and be organized! We do not want you to miss any deadlines!!
MONTHLY Scholarships (Recurring; See Sites For Exact Deadline Dates) - Click Here
Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes - monthly $2,500 prize, and eventually our yearly $15,000 prize; high school senior; plan on attending college and be enrolled at least half-time; legal U.S. resident (including D.C. and U.S. Territories); 16 years of age or older; to be eligible for a chance to win the 'Citizens Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship' entrants must also be an: American Indian or Alaskan Native, African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino/a, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander, Women, member of the LGBTQ+ community, individual with disabilities, and/or a veteran; fill out an application; no essay.
Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation - $500-$5,000; take a quiz, show what you know, win scholarships. It's that easy!
Courage to Grow Scholarship - $500; Junior or Senior; min 2.5 GPA; 250 words or less why you should win $.
Quick Entry Course Hero Scholarship - $1,000; Senior; must be at least 16 years old to enter; create an account and submit a response of up to 1000 words on the monthly topic.
$2,000 No Essay Scholarship - $2,000; 9-12 grade; U.S. Cit. or legal res.; register for site; random winner drawn monthly; you can enter once each month for a chance to win.
Pulse of Perseverance Scholarship - $1,000; 9-12 grade; read the book, "Pulse of Perseverance: Three Black Doctors on Their Journey to Success" and submit a 250-word essay and 60 second video; see link for essay and video guidelines.
QUARTERLY Scholarships (Recurring; See Sites For Exact Deadline Dates) - Click Here
Because College is Expensive Scholarship - 1-$500 award; 11 & 12 grade; legal U.S. residents or International students with valid visas; fill out an application; winner selected by random drawing, then contacted directly and announced on hosting web page.
OppU Achievers Scholarship - 1-$2,500 award per deadline; senior; U.S. Citizen or resident; min. 3.0 GPA (unweighted); submit an essay of 500 words or fewer on why you’re an achiever; see link for full essay prompt.
Winners for the OppU Achievers Scholarship are selected four times a year, with submission deadlines on September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30.
Easterday Poetry Award - awards ranging from $100 - $500; all U.S. high school students are eligible to enter this contest; poems must be 20 lines or less (title and spaces between stanzas do not count), unpublished, the sole work of the entrant, and not be entered in any other concurrent contest; see link for full rules and guidelines; only ONE poem per poet may be entered during any 90 day span.
Winners are selected four times a year, with submission deadlines on September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30.
April 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
24 - Washington, DC Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance (DCHBCUAA) Scholarship - five (5) scholarship awards at $2,000 each; senior; attend/plan to attend an HBCU; reside in/be a permanent resident of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; have exemplary leadership in school and/or community; two references; upload a 2-3 minute video clip (see link for prompt).
25 - Seneca Valley High School Boosters Scholarship (deadline is 12pm on 4/25!) - five (5) $1,000.00 scholarships; qualifying senior student athletes or club members who have demonstrated superior academic performance and athleticism or club participation in their senior year; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted) at the end of their first semester during senior year; must pursue post high school education; SVHS Booster Eligibility Criteria Page; transcript; 250-500 word essay; submit application to Mr. Nalda in the College & Career Center.
26 - Senator Nancy J. King Senatorial Scholarship - $2,000 awards; senior; must be a resident of District 39 (check http://www.mdelect.net to verify that you live in District 39); must be planning to attend a Maryland college or university or an approved private career school to be eligible; must have completed and filed the FAFSA, or if applicable, the Maryland Higher Education Commission One-App*; first page of your FAFSA Submission Summary or One App confirmation email; MHEC ID Number (from MDCAPS); submit your application and supporting documentation to Mr. Nalda in SVHS College/Career Center.
*PLEASE NOTE: The application indicates a March 1 deadline to have submitted your FAFSA or MHEC One App. Due to delays and issues with this year's FAFSA, students who have had their forms submitted and processed by the submission deadline of April 26 are still eligible to apply if they meet all other requirements. Reach out to Mr. Nalda in the SVHS College & Career Center if you have any questions.
26 - Police Officer Noah Leotta Act Responsibly Scholarship - senior; committed to pursuing a career that serves a community and the public; extracurricular activities; community service; transcript; two letters of recommendation.
28 - D`ymond Shantyl Dantzler (DSD) Legacy Scholarship - senior; female; from a single-parent household; resident of the State of Maryland; min 3.0 GPA; at least one hundred hours of Community Service; accepted into a two- or four-year accredited institution in the U.S. as a full-time student; transcript; two letters of recommendation; resume; intro video; essay; click to see full rules and guidelines.
30 - High Bridge Foundation Scholarship - two (2) $4,000 Impact Awards, five (5) $2,000 Scholarship Awards and seven (7) $1,000 Book Awards; senior; for students who are facing and overcoming personal & family hardship conditions (including financial); min 3.0 GPA (those under may apply if they demonstrate academic progress given hardship conditions); attend a trade school, community college, four-year college and/or university full time in the fall; community service; leadership.
30 - Delegate Lily Qi Scholarship - senior; must be a resident of District 15- Montgomery County (check http://www.mdelect.net to verify that you live in District 15); see application for all scholarship requirements.
30 - Laytonsville Lions Club Scholarship 2024 Program - one or more scholarships of $2,000, payable in two yearly installments of $1,000, the program also provides for reimbursement to the student for $500 for books and supplies; senior; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); demonstrated service to the community (school, faith based, community at large); financial need; three letters of recommendation; recipients of the scholarships are recognized at the club’s Scholarship Night Dinner Meeting in June of each year.
30 - The Pink Rocki Advocacy Foundation (PRAF) Scholarship - three awards of up to $5,000; senior; legal resident of Maryland, VA, or DC; min 3.0 unweighted GPA ; enter full-time into an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college or university in the fall; essay of 500-1,000 (see link for prompt); copy of transcript; letter of recommendation.
30 - The Michael Watson Music Scholarship - one award of $1,000; senior; legal resident of Maryland, VA, or DC; min 3.0 unweighted GPA ; enter full-time into an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college or university in the fall; essay of 500-1,000 (see link for prompt); copy of transcript; letter of recommendation.
30 - Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF) - senior; plan to enter a 2-year college, 4-year college/university, or vocational/trade school; US Citizen or Permanent Resident; minimum 2.0 GPA; compelling desire to pursue higher education in spite of personal or socio-economic setbacks; demonstrated financial need (on average, adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less); extra curricular activities; essay.
30 - AFFIRM Annual Scholarship - award dollar amount of scholarships based on financial contributions received by the organization; senior; must attend an accredited college or university in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia; must major in computer sciences, information sciences, or any STEM-related field; essay; copy of transcript; extra-curricular activities; community service.
May 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
01 - Live it Up’s Quarterly Women in Healthcare Scholarship - $500 award; senior; current U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; women pursuing a degree in the healthcare field (public health, medicine, healthcare administration, nursing, etc.); short essay.
03 - JD Sowers Scholarship Award (SVHS PTSA) - $800 award from the SVHS PTSA; SVHS senior; unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher throughout each year of high school; fulfilled all Student Service Learning (SSL) hours; personal statement; transcript; two letters of recommendation; see application link for list of questions and prompts.
03 - Arts In Motion: Fine Arts Scholarship - $5,000 will awarded in two tranches (installments), awardees must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher to receive the second installment; senior; min 3.5 GPA; must enroll in a program, starting in the 2024/2025 school year, leading to a Fine Arts degree in one of the following fields: voice, performance, music, dance, drama, and or visual arts; official high school transcript; acceptance letter from the prospective institution; portfolio or video showing abilities in their field; list of experiences; narrative of 500 words or less; awardees must be available to give a presentation in person on Sunday, June 23 to the Leisure World community in Silver Spring, Maryland in order to receive their scholarship.
03 - Samuel O. Kwarteng Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 award; senior; attend a two or four-year college or university; academic achievement; financial need; contribution to school and community; official or unofficial copy of school transcript; proof of financial need; copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary with the Student Aid Index (SAI) circled; 300-500 word essay; see application for prompt.
06 - Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association Scholarship (deadline is 5pm on 5/6!) - two (2) $1,000 awards; senior; Vietnamese American; residing in Maryland; will be enrolled as a first-year student at a university, college, or vocational school in the Fall of 2024; scholarship recipients will be required to participate in at least one MVMA community activity or outreach event in the upcoming academic year; copy of Financial Aid form (FAFSA); copy of financial aid award letter from college/vocational school; copy of SAT scores if available; personal essay (2 pages maximum); official high school transcript; acceptance letter from college/vocational school (if any); 2 letters of recommendation (from teachers/counselors, community leaders, employers).
10 - National Association of University Women College Alumnae Club Scholarship - two $1000.00 awards; African American/Black female; senior; resident of Montgomery County, MD; accepted at an accredited 4-year or accredited 2-year academic institution of higher education; minimum 2.5 GPA; good leadership skills as evidenced by a strong community service record; participated in extracurricular activities; copy of ACT or SAT scores unless waived; official transcript; copy of your college/university acceptance letter; copy of your decision letter/note indicating your college/university choice; personal essay; two reference letters.
15 - The Lillie Scott Grooms Fund For Excellence in the Sciences, Black Physicians and Healthcare Network (BPHN) Scholarship - awards of up to $2,000; Black high school seniors and residents of Montgomery County who have been accepted to a college, university, or vocational school; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or a certification in a healthcare related field; seniors who will be the first in their family to pursue a degree or certification in a healthcare related field are strongly encouraged to apply; proof of residency; transcript; one letter of recommendation.
17 - Rural Women’s Republican Club (RWRC) Scholarship - $3,500 award; senior; attend Poolesville, Damascus, Clarksburg, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley High, or Northwest High School; interested in pursuing a vocational, trade school, or certification program, including a certification from a community college during the 2024-2025 academic year; student will need to complete an essay question as part of the application process; see linked application for all details and instructions.
20 - Morton A. Gibson Memorial Scholarship - $875 to $2,500; senior; Jewish resident of the metropolitan Washington area; U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship; accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program on a full-time basis; completed significant volunteer services within the local Jewish community (in addition to high school graduation service requirements); scholarships are awarded based on financial need.
20 - Max and Emmy Dreyfuss Jewish Undergraduate Scholarship - $1,500 – $4,000; senior; first-generation college student; U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship; accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program on a full-time basis; scholarships are awarded based on financial need; NOTE: Cannot be used for community college or study abroad programs.
20 - JSSA Educational Scholarship - $2,000 – $6,000; senior; first-generation college student; U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship; accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program, vocational school, or community college; scholarships are awarded based on financial need; NOTE: Recipients are eligible for 1-2 years of funding.
20 - Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority Inc Marie E. Johnson Award* - $1,000 award; senior; African American; female; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); show interest in an undergraduate degree in law, criminal justice, legal studies, or education; two letters of recommendation; official mid-year transcript; proof of at least 60 hours of community or volunteer service; essay of no less than 500 words (addressing the applicant’s career goals); recent photo; documentation reflecting acceptance as a student for fall enrollment at an institution of higher learning.
*Please note: all documentation must be postmarked no later than May 20, 2024. Applications received after May 31, 2024, will not be considered.
20 - Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority Inc Rosa B. Tillery Award* - $1,000 award; senior; African American; female; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); show interest in an undergraduate degree in the social sciences (i.e., social work, psychology, anthropology, etc.); two letters of recommendation; official mid-year transcript; proof of at least 60 hours of community or volunteer service; essay of no less than 500 words (addressing the applicant’s career goals); recent photo; documentation reflecting acceptance as a student for fall enrollment at an institution of higher learning.
*Please note: all documentation must be postmarked no later than May 20, 2024. Applications received after May 31, 2024, will not be considered.
21 - B.Davis Scholarship - $1,000 award; available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution; write an essay of less than 1000 words on leadership; see link for specific prompt.
24 - Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. Scholarship - eight $1,008.11 single-year scholarship awards; senior; intend to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or technical school beginning in fall; submit an essay (500 words max) describing the importance of Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. and how it could relate to a future career path; copy of transcript.
June 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
05 - The Herb Block Scholarship - up to 100 last dollar awards that cover tuition, school fees, books and transportation; attend Montgomery College; DACA, MD Dreamers, and Virginia Dreamers are eligible to apply; no GPA cut off; need to have a high school diploma or a GED to apply.
07 - Build A Better Future Scholarship - $1,000 award; available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution; submit an essay of between 500 and 1000 words your career and life goals; see link for specific prompt.
July 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
01 - Tools for Success Scholarship - awards ranging from $200-$500; students in grades four (4) through college (age 26); min 2.5 GPA; transcript and/or report card; reside in or stem from a single parent household in the following Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Charles, Baltimore, Montgomery, and Baltimore City; meet household income requirement (linked on application page).
Scholarship Search Sites - Click Here
Fastweb - I recommend all students register and create an account on this site!
goingmerry - I recommend all students register and create an account on this site!
Stand Out College Prep - Washington, D.C. and Maryland Scholarships
Open Education Database is a great, extensive resource featuring information about MD schools, scholarships, loans, and more! Check it out: oedb.org/maryland/.
Resources for Undocumented Students - Click Here
Immigrants Rising - list of undergraduate Scholarships that don't require proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal Permanent Residency
ADDITIONAL DATABASES
Check out these additional databases of scholarships and fellowships available for undocumented young people:
My Undocumented Life: mydocumentedlife.org
Scholarships A-Z: www.scholarshipsaz.org
Sillicon Valley Community Foundation: www.siliconvalleycf.org/scholarships
The College Expo: www.thecollegeexpo.org/resources/scholarships
More Resources (Many for Minority Students) - Click Here
Montgomery College Scholarships - Click Here
Montgomery Scholars
The Montgomery Scholars Program is a selective-admission two-year interdisciplinary honors program designed for high school graduates as the first step in completing a four-year degree.
Montgomery Scholars will launch their college studies at a fraction of the cost of most four-year schools. The College will award merit scholarships to each student admitted into the Scholars program. These Montgomery Scholars scholarships cover the cost of full-tuition and fees, for two years of study at Montgomery College (30 credits per year at the in-county resident tuition rate).
Interested students must also submit a general Montgomery College application by December 1 of their senior year in order to submit their Montgomery Scholars application by early to mid-January.
2022-23 Deadline: January 8, 2023
Board of Trustees (BOT) Scholarship
The Board of Trustees Academic Specialty Scholarship is for talented Montgomery County high school graduates who plan to enroll at any Montgomery College campus. This is a one-year scholarship that covers the full-time cost of tuition and fees at the county resident tuition rate, up to a maximum of 15 credits per semester.
Requirements: 3.0 or higher weighted grade point average; Letter of recommendation; Essay questions; admission to a degree program at Montgomery College.
2022-23 Priority Deadline: March 1, 2023
2022-23 Final Deadline: May 1, 2023
The Macklin Business Institute (MBI) Honors Program
Are you looking for a highly-selective and competitive business program that parallels that of the best business schools? MBI might be for you!
The Macklin Business Institute (MBI) Honors Program provides a collegiate experience that parallels that of the best business schools in the country, bringing together highly talented students with an interest in business. The two-year program is designed for incoming MC freshmen, while the one-year program is for second-year college students. Upon completion of the program, students will have had unique opportunities which will expand your transfer options.
Interested students must also submit a general Montgomery College application by December 1 of their senior year in order to submit their Macklin application by early to mid-January.
2022-23 Deadline: January 31, 2022
Montgomery College Foundation Scholarships
Montgomery College Foundation Scholarships – The Montgomery College Foundation offers more than 300 Foundation scholarship opportunities, generously provided by businesses, organizations, and individuals. Scholarships are available for students who are in good academic standing and have financial need. There are two deadlines: June 30 for the fall semester and December 31 for spring semester.
Admitted students can apply for all MC Foundation scholarships by completing one online application through AcademicWorks. This online tool automatically matches you up with relevant scholarships. Go to the online application and use your MyMC login to begin the process.