$25,000 Horatio Alger Scholarship for Rising HS Seniors Due 3/15
Background: As one of the nation’s largest need-based college scholarship programs, the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs specifically assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. While many other scholarship programs are directed primarily to recognizing academic achievement or leadership potential, the Horatio Alger Association seeks students who have exhibited determination, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as have critical financial need.
How It Works: Horatio Alger offers three kinds of scholarships for rising high school seniors who will be pursuing an undergraduate bachelor’s degree: national, state, and targeted (which are specific to one college or region). Students only need to complete one application and mark which scholarships they are applying for.
Awards: Under the national scholarship category, Horatio Alger will award 106 recipients with $25,000 each. Students awarded under the state scholarship category will receive $10,000 each. Awards for the targeted scholarship category vary; learn more here.
Eligibility:
• be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
• exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
• demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)
• be involved in extra-curricular and community service activities
• display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
• be a United States citizen
How to Apply: Students can apply here by the March 15th deadline. You do not need to complete the application in one sitting; you can save and come back to it later. Be prepared to:
• ask your high school counselor to complete the Academic Information Session on your behalf.
• ask an adult over 21 years old who is familiar with you to sign off on the Support Form (which basically confirms that what you wrote in your essay about the adversity you’ve faced is true).
• ask your family to assist in uploading documents that will prove your financial need (details in the application).
