HEAR Scholarship Foundation: Empowering Chicagoland Students Through Financial Aid and Mentorship

The HEAR Scholarship Foundation stands as a beacon of hope for college-bound high school seniors from disadvantaged homes in the Chicagoland area. Founded in 2010, the foundation's primary goal is to provide financial assistance and mentorship to students who demonstrate a commitment to their schools and communities, enabling them to pursue higher education. To date, the HEAR Scholarship Foundation has awarded over 225 college scholarships to high school graduates in financial need, who showed perseverance and demonstrated academic excellence. Many of these students are first-generation college-goers in their family.

Scholarship Overview

The HEAR Scholarship Foundation awards a $20,000 tuition scholarship to Chicagoland high school seniors from disadvantaged homes, who demonstrate commitment to their community. This scholarship is paid directly to the college in increments of $5,000 per year for four years of higher education. The HEAR Scholarship can be used for Tuition, Fees, Room, and Board; i.e. any expenses that are paid through the scholar’s university account. The HEAR Scholarship can not be used for off-campus housing unless it is paid from a scholar’s student account. The scholarship is intended to alleviate the financial burden of higher education, allowing students to focus on their studies and personal growth.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants need to prove they have financial need, must fulfill HEAR’s minimum academic requirements, and must show that they are of outstanding character and caring, active members of their communities. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be college-bound seniors attending a high school in the Chicagoland area. They must also hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need as well as scholastic achievement, an impressive work ethic, and a commitment to service. The HEAR Scholar isn’t necessarily class valedictorian (though s/he can be!). We look for a good all-around student who is dedicated to his community, has a strong sense of service, and who demonstrates a strong work ethic across the board.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the eligibility requirements:

Geographic Location: Applicants must be college-bound seniors attending a high school in the Chicagoland area, also known as the Chicago Metropolitan Area, includes the areas of northeastern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and southeastern Wisconsin.
GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
Financial Need: Applicants need to prove they have financial need
Academic Achievement: Applicants must demonstrate scholastic achievement and an impressive work ethic.
Community Involvement: A commitment to service and active involvement in their communities is essential.
Citizenship: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, or due to become one before the start of college.
Test Scores: Submission of ACT / SAT are optional, but if you have taken these exams, you are strongly encouraged to submit your scores. As a rule, ACT scores of at or above 22 OR SAT scores of at or above 1110 are required.
Four-Year Course: Only applicants who are planning to attend a four-year course at an accredited institution of higher education will be considered.

Financial Considerations

HEAR considers both a student’s SAI number and the total annual household income when determining financial eligibility. To help you understand these, please review the information below.

Student Aid Index (SAI)

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number calculated from information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It replaces the former Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and is used by colleges to determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The SAI reflects a family’s financial strength and provides a benchmark for colleges to determine the amount of need-based aid a student can receive. Here’s how it works:

Calculation: The SAI is based on the family’s income, assets, household size, and number of family members attending college
Purpose: Colleges subtract the SAI from their Cost of Attendance (COA) (which includes tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses) to calculate a student’s financial need. This helps colleges tailor a financial aid package that may include grants, work-study, loans, and other aid
SAI Range: Unlike the EFC, the SAI can be as low as -$1,500, allowing schools to offer additional aid to students with the greatest financial need.

This new system is designed to make financial aid calculations more transparent and accessible for families. As a benchmark, the SAI range for eligibility is $-1,500-$5,000. However, extenuating circumstances will may also be taken into consideration.

Total Annual Household Income

This is the combined income of all family members who contribute to or rely on the household finances over a year. This includes all sources of income for anyone who is part of the household, such as:

Salaries or wages from jobs
Self-employment income
Social Security benefits
Child support or alimony payments
Unemployment benefits
Rental income from property
Investment income (like interest or dividends)

For the application, students should calculate their total annual household income based on everyone living in the household, typically parents or guardians and anyone else contributing financially, to provide a complete picture of the household’s financial situation. As a guide, applicants whose household income is at or below $15,000 per family member per year will be eligible to apply.

Application Process

All applications for the HEAR Scholarship are done via an online platform. Scholars must upload all documents, send automated messages with transcript and recommendation requests, and submit their applications through the portal. All fully-completed applications undergo a screening process, and successful applicants are invited to attend an interview.

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Ready to kick off your scholarship application process? Get ahead of the game and start gathering your work experience, volunteer hours, writing those essays, and getting info from other sources - this can take some time. Make sure you reach out to your college or guidance counselor-they’re your go-to for navigating the college application process like a pro. They will also need to upload some information on your behalf. So, get a head start now. Once the application portal is live, be sure to make a note of your login information, and save your progress regularly. When everything’s perfect, hit submit!

Application Requirements

In the personal information section, we ask students to tell us who they are and why they qualify for a HEAR Scholarship. We want to hear about your volunteer work and activities, sports or other extracurriculars as well as work experience. We also ask you to complete several sentences and write two essays that tell us more about who you are.

Your financial information helps us assess your need. Submitting SAT/ACT results is optional. If you have taken these exams however, we would encourage you to include your results on your application. We also ask for a letter of recommendation from a counselor, teacher, or another trusted adult from your community. There are information request fields for this on the portal. We urge you to submit these requests as early as possible to give your recommender time to compose a thoughtful, personal letter. Check in often with your recommenders to ensure they have received your request.

Mentoring Program

Beyond financial assistance, the HEAR Scholarship Foundation provides each of their scholars with an individual mentor who can help them navigate their new and exciting journey! We firmly believe that HEAR’s 98% graduation rate is due in large part to the support, safety and encouragement that the mentoring program provides each scholar in HEAR’s College Success Program.

The HEAR Mentoring Program pairs scholars with successful young professionals from various fields, who guide them through their college and future career journey. The HEAR Mentoring team works hard to pair mentors with scholars based on job experience, background and personality.

Read also: Foundation Scholarship Details

Benefits of Mentoring

"I truly believe that most people seek opportunities to live purposely and to help others. Mentoring is a way to do both. Through the HEAR Mentoring Program, individuals can work with college bound HEAR scholars to guide and support them throughout their college career. Through mentoring, we all have the ability to help change lives.”Patti Kelly, founder of HEAR’s Mentoring Program.

Becoming a mentor has the potential to change not just the life of our scholars, but yours too, as you share your knowledge and experience.

Mentor Recruitment

We are now recruiting mentors for the HEAR Class of 2029. Get in the game early and register your interest now!

Resources for Mentees

The HEAR Foundation provides resources to help mentees who are struggling academically, mentally, or socially.

Academic Resources

Tutoring Centers: Most colleges offer free subject-specific tutoring (e.g., math labs, writing centers).
Academic Advising: Advisors can help with course planning, academic concerns, and graduation requirements.
Study Groups: Joining or forming study groups can provide collaborative learning and peer support.
Office Hours: Professors and teaching assistants often offer office hours to answer questions and provide guidance.
Library Resources: Libraries provide research support, study materials, and academic workshops.

Please also encourage your mentee to contact HEAR for additional resources and support.

Mental Health Resources

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Most colleges provide counseling services. Students should contact their school’s health center.
Peer Support Groups: Check if the campus offers student-led mental health groups or organizations (like Active Minds).
Mental Health Hotlines: Many universities have 24-hour mental health hotlines for emergencies.
If the student feels that their mental health concern could be related to a learning or other disability such as ADHD, have them contact Student Disability Service on campus. They will be able to identify extra support.

Social Resources

Student Organizations & Clubs: Joining clubs or special interest groups helps meet peers with similar interests.
Campus Events: Attending social events, workshops, and networking activities can provide natural opportunities to connect.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Therapy sessions can help address social anxiety or difficulties forming connections.
Peer Mentorship Programs: Many colleges have programs where upperclassmen mentor newer students to help them navigate campus life.
Cultural and Identity Centers: Safe spaces to connect with people with similar backgrounds and experiences.

Internship Opportunities

Advise your scholar to attend all workshops that HEAR has access to. Encourage them to contact HEAR staff to work within our network.

Emergency Funding

There is an angel fund that can be allocated at the discretion of the scholarship committee. Please contact HEAR if you believe your scholar urgently needs financial assistance. Examples include disruptions to meal access, unexpected travel expenses, or medical testing not covered by insurance. Your scholar can also reach out directly to the Executive Director to discuss how to apply directly for emergency funding.

Notable HEAR Scholars

Our scholarship recipients have gone on to Marquette, Syracuse, Loyola University Chicago, Dickinson, Carroll, and Harvard University, University of Southern California, Northeastern University Chicago, Northeastern University Boston, Tampa and Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Agnes Scott College, DePaul University, UIC and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Mizzou and Northwestern, DePauw University, St. Louis, Hampton and Southern University, ITT in Chicago, Elmhurst College, and Middlebury. Our scholars have been able to maintain a cumulative GPA of over 3.51.

Some of the HEAR Class of 2024 Graduates include:

Sonja B. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign BSc in Food Science and Human Nutrition

A growing group of mentors, successful young professionals from various fields, help guide each HEAR scholar through his or her college and future career journey.

Application Timeline and Updates

Based on previous application cycles, we expect this scholarship to reopen in November 2025. The HEAR Scholarship winner will be announced: May 15, 2025.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

The HEAR Scholarship is just one of the many Illinois scholarships, Indiana scholarships, and Wisconsin scholarships available on the Scholarships360 platform. We encourage you to apply for this scholarship and others you qualify for as well.

Help America Hear Scholarship

who experiences hearing loss? If so, you may be eligible for the Help America Hear Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 and hearing aids to help ten students with hearing loss “reach their full potential by giving them a financial boost and the gift of sound.” To apply, interested students must submit a 500-1,500-word essay about their experiences with hearing impairment and their goals for the future. If you’re a college-bound high schooler who experiences hearing loss, we encourage you to apply.

Help America Hear was established in 2004 as Foundation for Sight & Sound. The initial mission was to raise money to grant to other not-for-profits. The grants were used to start or continue projects that positively impacted individuals' lives in the “vision & hearing communities.” After careful consideration, in 2018, the Board of Directors determined it was becoming difficult to focus and provide adequate assistance for two different communities. A path was chosen to enable the organization to utilize the most viable partnerships and resources that provided direct results for the programs. was legally recognized as a New York State registered 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization.

The Help America Hear Scholarship winner will be announced: June 2025. Based on previous application cycles, we expect this scholarship to reopen in February 2026.

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