NLHA Education Fund Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities
The NLHA Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to providing educational grants and scholarships to low-income individuals residing in federally assisted rental housing owned, managed, or administered by members of the National Leased Housing Association. The National Leased Housing Association (NLHA) is a non-profit organization focused on the development and preservation of decent and safe affordable rental housing.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the NLHA Education Fund scholarship, applicants must be residents of privately owned federally assisted low-income housing properties (such as Section 8 or properties utilizing low-income housing tax credits) or recipients of Section 8 voucher assistance. Crucially, applicants must demonstrate both merit and financial need.
Scholarship Types
The NLHA Education Fund offers four distinct types of scholarships, each with its own specific focus:
Air Gives Opportunity Scholarship: This scholarship, established in recognition of AIR Communities' role in providing quality apartment homes and its commitment to corporate citizenship, is directed towards eligible applicants living in or coming from affordable housing who demonstrate both merit and need and are pursuing an undergraduate degree.
William F. Gandert Memorial Vocational Scholarship: Named after Bill Gandert, who played a key role in creating numerous public housing authorities in Ohio and was a vocal advocate for the poor, this scholarship benefits eligible graduating high school seniors or returning students. Applicants must demonstrate both merit and need to pursue educational opportunities in a specific trade or vocation. Bill Gandert served as general counsel for many housing authorities and as Executive Director of the Mansfield, Crawford, Huron, Marion and Seneca County Metropolitan Housing Authorities. He was also an active NLHA member, serving as the organization’s 7th President.
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Mary Lou Manzie Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship honors Mary Lou Manzie, who dedicated her career to providing safe, decent, and affordable housing. A member of the National Leased Housing Association from 1975 until her death in 2006, she served as an Officer and Director of NLHA for many years. This scholarship is designed to benefit non-traditional students by providing eligible applicants who demonstrate both merit and need, a chance to pursue higher education or other training that will lead to better employment opportunities. Mary Lou Manzie was always willing to look at new and effortless ways to achieve the goal of providing affordable housing.
Neil Churchill Memorial Scholarship: Named after a past NLHA President and Section 8 advocate, Neil Churchill, who worked at HUD and later became a developer, bond underwriter, and FHA specialist, this scholarship supports students pursuing higher education. Before his untimely death in 2003, he was a Vice President with GMAC. Neil devoted his entire career to affordable housing.
Application Process
All applications must be submitted electronically through the provided link. Applications are typically accepted online starting November 1. The deadline for submission is usually in the spring. Students must select only ONE of the four scholarships when submitting their application.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
While the NLHA Education Fund offers valuable support, students seeking financial aid for education should also explore other scholarship opportunities. Some examples include:
ScholarshipOwl: This platform aims to streamline the scholarship application process by providing direct access to relevant scholarships.
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The "Be Bold" Scholarship: This no-essay scholarship awards the applicant with the boldest profile.
Niche Scholarship: This scholarship covers college expenses for four years. It is open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are age 17 or older at the time of entry. Employees and contractors of LeverEdge Association are ineligible.
Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship: This scholarship is open to all students who want extra help paying for their education.
Christian Connector Scholarship Drawings: These scholarships are specifically for students interested in Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities.
Appily Scholarship: The Appily scholarship application process is designed to be fast and easy and is open to high school sophomores, juniors, and first semester senior students for all majors and schools.
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The Lenny Scholarship: This scholarship offers $1,001 US to support young individuals aged 16 and above, enrolled in college and residing in the US or India.
Impact and Motivation
The NLHA Education Fund has a significant impact on the lives of its recipients. In 2024, the Fund awarded over $100,000 to 40 deserving applicants. According to Muha, the stories of the applicants are inspiring, especially given the challenges many of them face. One example is a young man who completed his senior year of college and is now going to dental school, which motivated his mother to return to school as well. The essays submitted by the applicants demonstrate their motivation and potential.
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