Navigating Eastern Star Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide to Eligibility and Application

The Order of the Eastern Star offers various scholarships and awards to support individuals pursuing higher education. These opportunities are designed to assist students in achieving their academic goals, with a particular emphasis on those demonstrating good moral character, academic potential, and financial need. This article provides a detailed overview of the eligibility requirements, application processes, and other essential information for prospective applicants.

Educational Scholarships Offered by the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania

The Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania provides educational scholarships to eligible individuals seeking to further their education. These scholarships are funded through donations from chapters and individuals, as well as interest earned on an endowment fund. Unused funds from a given year are rolled into the endowment for the following year, ensuring the sustainability of the scholarship program. Additionally, there are eleven named scholarships established by individual chapters, which are awarded when sufficient interest has been earned and a qualified student has applied. The principal of any educational scholarship endowment cannot be used without the vote of the delegates at Grand Chapter; only the interest from these funds is used.

Eligibility Criteria for Educational Scholarships

To be eligible for an educational scholarship from the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Membership or Affiliation: Applicants must be members of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing, or their children, step-children, or grandchildren. Furthermore, one member of each of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls in Pennsylvania, the International Job’s Daughters in Pennsylvania, and the Order of the DeMolay is also eligible.
2. Enrollment Status: Applicants must be full-time students pursuing a professional or commercial educational program in an accredited school of higher learning. They must be enrolled in a 3- or 4-year program, or in an accredited nursing program leading to an RN degree, or in a full-time post-graduate program.
3. Academic Standing: Applicants must have completed at least one full year of study before applying for a scholarship (i.e., the application process can start no earlier than your sophomore year). Preference will be given to applicants in their junior and senior years. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better is required.
4. Work Experience (for specific cases): Applicants in a course of study of at least three (3) years duration or an accredited nursing program and who have earned at least nine (9) credits in said program, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better and are working a full-time job of 35 hours or more and have not received a previous Eastern Star scholarship are eligible to apply. This applicant will receive only one (1) scholarship.
5. Character and Need: Applicants must be of good moral character and demonstrate limited financial resources and a willingness towards self-help.
6. Award Limit: No applicant will be awarded more than two (2) scholarships.

Application Process for Educational Scholarships

The application process for educational scholarships involves several steps:

1. Letter of Request: The applicant needs to write a letter to the chapter NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1 of which the applicant, parent, step-parent or grandparent is a member.
2. Chapter Approval: The chapter will then vote on approving the applicant’s request.
3. Application Materials: The secretary of the chapter will send a letter, under the seal of the chapter, to the sectional committee member requesting application materials.
4. Downloading Forms: There are several links on this page for downloading the forms, click on one of those links and a window should come up for saving or opening. Depending upon an iPad or Tablet’s configurations, it may not be possible to do the download and open the files. If this occurs, use a laptop or desktop to download. If there are still difficulties, contact the webmaster.When given the option, click on the ARROW next to save and a dropdown will show up so you can do a “SAVE-AS”. Then you can tell it WHERE you want the file saved. Once saved, you can go to that file and UNZIP it. If using Windows 10, do NOT try to double click the PDF file to open it. Open the file using a recent version (10 or higher) of Acrobat. Form can be edited within Adobe or other PDF readers. There should be three files.When you open the Application pdf file, it will ask for the password that will be supplied.
5. Completing the Application: Fill in the form THEN PRINT and SIGN the form.
6. Submission to Chapter Secretary: The applicant MUST return the application package to the chapter secretary by March 1st. This will allow the secretary and the chapter’s Educational Scholarship and ESTARL Committee to review the application materials to ensure that it is complete and, if not, notify the applicant of what is missing.
7. Forwarding to Sectional Committee: All Chapters forward the application materials by April 1st to the Sectional Committee Member. If, for any reason, you are having difficulty gathering materials, notify the chapter secretary who will contact the sectional committee member PRIOR to the April 1 deadline. The sectional committee member will make every effort to work with you to ensure the completion of the application process in a timely manner.

Notification and Presentation of Awards

The Educational Scholarship and ESTARL Committee meet in April. Notification is sent to the applicant and the secretaries of the sponsoring chapter by the chairman of the committee. Scholarships applications approved and/or disapproved are notified and the reason why the application was denied.

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Obligation to Return Funds

If you do not return to school in the fall following receipt of a scholarship or ESTARL award or you do not complete a full semester after the scholarship or ESTARL award is granted, you are obligated to return the money to the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania within the year of the scholarship or ESTARL award was granted.

Contact Information

For further inquiries, you can contact:

Linda M. Hunter (221) (5A), Western Section101 Greenfield Road, Derry, PA 15627H.724-694-5465 C.

ESTARL Awards (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership)

The Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership (ESTARL) are specifically designed to support individuals pursuing religious education and leadership roles. These awards aim to assist those who plan to serve God in leadership positions.

Eligibility Criteria for ESTARL Awards

To be eligible for an ESTARL Award from the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, applicants must meet the following criteria:

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1. Membership or Affiliation: Eligibility shall be members of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing, or their spouses, children, step-children, or grandchildren, parents or siblings.
2. Academic Standing: An applicant must have successfully completed one (1) year in an accredited school offering leadership training before applying for an ESTARL Award. The applicant must be of good moral character and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, and have limited financial resources and willingness toward self-help.
3. Preference: Preference is given to juniors and seniors in college and students in Theological Seminaries.
4. Award Limit: No applicant shall receive more than two (2) awards and, if an applicant who has received two (2) Educational Scholarships, they may receive one (1) ESTARL Award if enrolled full-time in a Theological Seminary.

Application Process for ESTARL Awards

The application process for ESTARL Awards mirrors that of the educational scholarships:

1. Letter of Request: The applicant needs to write a letter to the chapter NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1 of which the applicant, parent, step-parent or grandparent is a member.
2. Chapter Approval: The chapter will then vote on approving the applicant’s request.
3. Application Materials: The secretary of the chapter will send a letter, under the seal of the chapter, to the sectional committee member requesting application materials.
4. Downloading Forms: There are several links on this page for downloading the forms, click on one of those links and a window should come up for saving or opening. Depending upon an iPad or Tablet’s configurations, it may not be possible to do the download and open the files. If this occurs, use a laptop or desktop to download. If there are still difficulties, contact the webmaster.When given the option, click on the ARROW next to save and a dropdown will show up so you can do a “SAVE-AS”. Then you can tell it WHERE you want the file saved. Once saved, you can go to that file and UNZIP it. If using Windows 10, do NOT try to double click the PDF file to open it. Open the file using a recent version (10 or higher) of Acrobat. Form can be edited within Adobe or other PDF readers. There should be three files.When you open the Application pdf file, it will ask for the password that will be supplied.
5. Completing the Application: Fill in the form THEN PRINT and SIGN the form.
6. Submission to Chapter Secretary: The applicant MUST return the application package to the chapter secretary by March 1st. This will allow the secretary and the chapter’s Educational Scholarship and ESTARL Committee to review the application materials to ensure that it is complete and, if not, notify the applicant of what is missing.
7. Forwarding to Sectional Committee: All Chapters forward the application materials by April 1st to the Sectional Committee Member. If, for any reason, you are having difficulty gathering materials, notify the chapter secretary who will contact the sectional committee member PRIOR to the April 1 deadline. The sectional committee member will make every effort to work with you to ensure the completion of the application process in a timely manner.

Notification and Presentation of Awards

The Educational Scholarship and ESTARL Committee meet in April. Notification is sent to the applicant and the secretaries of the sponsoring chapter by the chairman of the committee. Scholarships applications approved and/or disapproved are notified and the reason why the application was denied.

Obligation to Return Funds

If you do not return to school in the fall following receipt of a scholarship or ESTARL award or you do not complete a full semester after the scholarship or ESTARL award is granted, you are obligated to return the money to the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania within the year of the scholarship or ESTARL award was granted.

ESTARL Grant: A Scholarship for Religious Education

The ESTARL grant, initiated in June 1952 and formalized as a permanent committee in 1956, reflects the Order's commitment to supporting religious education. This grant is specifically aimed at individuals pursuing careers in religious leadership. At each Grand Chapter Session an ESTARL worship service is held on Sunday morning.

Eligibility for an ESTARL Grant

The ESTARL scholarship is open to any person pursuing an education which will enable him or her to serve in God in leadership as 1) minister, 2), missionary, 3) director of church music, or 4) director of youth or religious education. Candidates for this award must be in at least their second year of college. Membership in or relationship to anyone in the Order or any affiliated Masonic organization is not required.

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How to Apply for an ESTARL Grant

The first step is to fill out the Request for ESTARL Grant form and gather the required information listed there. The form will need to be turned into the secretary of a local Chapter. Once the Chapter votes to support the request, the form will be sent to the ESTARL/Education Committee. Members of the committee screen the candidates on the basis of academic record, citizenship, character, and financial need. The amount of the grant is variable up to $1,200 per year and can be renewed. The money is sent to the accredited school of the applicant’s choice to be used to help defray school expense.

General Scholarship Requirements and Information

Several general requirements and pieces of information apply to various Eastern Star scholarships.

General Application Requirements

A complete application typically requires the following:

1. Application form
2. School Transcript (High School & College)
3. Three letters of recommendation

Additional Scholarship Opportunity

Recipients can reapply each year so long as requirements are met. The recipient must provide proof of enrollment to obtain the first half of the scholarship. Upon verification of enrollment for the second semester and GPA level, the additional half will be issued. Verification is to be sent to the Educational Fund Scholarship Board Committee within 30 days following completion of the first semester.

How You Can Help

Donate online using the form below. Box 2436, Kennesaw, GA 30156. The 2026-27 Application Forms are now available below for the 2026-27 school year: DOWNLOAD Application Forms(Please read the form opening instructions below)

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