Tri-County Scholarship Fund: Eligibility and Opportunities

Since 1981, the Tri-County Scholarship Fund has been dedicated to transforming the lives of financially disadvantaged children in Northern New Jersey by providing them with access to quality education. The fund offers partial K-12th grade scholarships, enabling these students to attend safe, values-based, independent schools where they can thrive. By supporting the Tri-County Scholarship Fund through donations, sponsorships, event attendance, or planned giving, individuals can help provide life-changing educational opportunities that empower students to achieve their dreams and create a lasting impact on families and communities.

Scholarship Programs and Financial Aid

The Tri-County Scholarship Fund offers various scholarship programs to support students in their educational pursuits. In addition to the customary annual scholarships of $2,250 per grade school student and $4,000 per high school student, Tri-County offers Freedom Scholarships. These scholarships are designed to assist students from low- and middle-income families in North Carolina with the financial obligations of college, while also providing enriching programming to prepare them for successful careers in STEM and STEM education.

Tri Counties Bank Endowed Scholarship Fund: Established in memory of Don Carter, this fund provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors throughout California who are pursuing higher education.
Tri Counties Bank Income-Based Scholarship: This program offers scholarships to economically-challenged, community-minded students attending trade schools, 4-year colleges/universities, or community colleges. Sixty $1,500 scholarships are awarded competitively.
Tri Counties Bank Merit-Based Scholarship: This scholarship recognizes graduating high school students who display outstanding achievements in academics, community service, or business entrepreneurship.

Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College
TCCC Scholarships: TCCC offers a variety of scholarships ranging from $250 to $2,500, made possible by the generous donations of local individuals and businesses.
Dr. F. Golden LEAF Scholars Program: This program is available to degree-seeking students for tuition, fees, and related expenses. The scholarship is need and merit-based and may be renewed for one year if the student meets eligibility criteria.
Golden LEAF OE Scholars Program: This program is available to Occupational Education students and covers tuition, books, fees, supplies, and other related costs, including transportation.
Golden Leaf Scholarship for Students Attending Public Universities & Private Colleges & Universities: This scholarship assists current high school seniors and North Carolina community college transfer students who are from certain rural counties, demonstrate financial need and merit, and plan to attend participating North Carolina colleges and universities.
SECU Bridge to Career Program Scholarship: This program helps remove financial barriers for students seeking state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials that lead to sustainable wage careers within their communities. It provides funding for $500 scholarships to eligible students at each of the 58 NC Community College campuses.

Read also: Empowering Osceola County
Short-Term Workforce Development (STWD) Grant Program: This state-funded financial aid program supports eligible Workforce Continuing Education students pursuing high-demand, family-sustaining wage credentials.
Goodnight Scholars Program: This program assists low- and middle-income families in North Carolina with the financial obligations of college, while also providing enriching programming to prepare them for successful careers in STEM and STEM education.
O'Berry Scholarship: This scholarship provides $1,000 towards college education for students who meet the criteria.

Freedom Scholarship Program: A Deeper Dive

The Freedom Scholar program is specifically designed for high school students with financial need and significant academic achievement and potential. These scholars benefit from having the bulk of their tuition paid, with Tri-County contributing up to $5,000 and participating schools matching that amount in tuition credits. The students' families are responsible for paying the remaining tuition balance.

Eligibility Requirements for Freedom Scholars

Applicants to the Freedom Scholar program must be graduating 8th graders and high school students who demonstrate high achievement. Specific requirements include:

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Maintaining at least an overall B average throughout high school.
No grade lower than a B in any core subject.
Emphasis on attendance, homework completion, participation, service, and general good behavior.

Students who fall below a B average will be placed on academic probation, and the school will provide support to help them achieve a B average. If the student meets the guidelines, they will retain the scholarship.

Support and Mentorship for Freedom Scholars

Each Freedom Scholar is assigned a designated mentor, a senior staff or faculty member within their high school, who meets with them monthly. Additionally, tutoring is available to all Freedom Scholars, along with college testing preparation in junior year and college essay preparation in senior year.

Application Process for Freedom Scholars

To apply for the Freedom Scholar program, applicants must:

Download and print the application or pick it up at participating high schools.
Submit the application by the deadline, which is February 15.
Download, fill out, and return a supplemental application providing the student's grades, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, and student essay.

General Eligibility Requirements for Tri-County Scholarships

In addition to the program-specific criteria for Freedom Scholars, there are general eligibility requirements for all Tri-County scholarships:

Financial Need

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Families must complete an application by the February 15th deadline through the FACTS application system to demonstrate their need. It is important to note that it takes approximately two weeks for FACTS to process the information uploaded to their system.

Geography

The student must reside within Morris, Passaic, or Sussex counties of New Jersey, OR the school they plan to attend must be located in one of these counties.

School

Students must apply to a Tri-County partner school in addition to applying for a Tri-County scholarship.

Priority

Students must re-apply for a scholarship each year. Priority is given to existing Tri-County scholarship recipients as long as they show continued financial need and apply with their updated financial information by the February 15 deadline.

Typical Financial Profile

A typical scholarship recipient comes from a single-parent household with multiple children and an average income of $34,500 per year.

Application Deadline

The annual application deadline for all Tri-County scholarships is February 15. All students seeking a scholarship for the coming school year, both existing and new applicants, must submit their financial information by this date.

Alumni Involvement

Alumni of the Tri-County Scholarship Fund play a vital role as ambassadors for the organization. They contribute by speaking to small groups or at events with large audiences, volunteering with the Friends of Tri-County group, and serving as trustees.

Contact Information

For more information about the Tri-County Scholarship Fund and its programs, please contact:

Tri-County Scholarship Fund

14 W. Main Street

Mendham, NJ 07945

(973) 984-9600

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