Long Island Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide to Funding Your Education

Navigating the world of college funding can be daunting, but for students on Long Island, numerous scholarship opportunities exist to help ease the financial burden. This article provides a detailed overview of various scholarships available to Long Island students, covering a range of criteria including academic achievement, financial need, community involvement, and specific fields of study.

Understanding the Landscape of Long Island Scholarships

New York scholarships are financial aid awards for students who either hold residence in New York or are attending school in New York. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not need to be paid back. Some scholarship awards even allow winners to allocate the money towards non-tuition expenses such as housing, food, and books.

Applying for scholarships is easy with Scholarships.com. Simply sign up for a free account and input your demographic information to be matched with applicable scholarships, including local New York scholarships. It’s important to remember that scholarship deadlines vary, as do eligibility requirements related to applicants’ current years in school. For this reason, you should begin scholarship searching as early as possible, ideally in your junior year of high school or earlier.

Because there are countless scholarships available to New York students, it’s best to narrow down your options as much as possible. The more specific a particular scholarship’s requirements are, the smaller the pool of people who can apply, so eligible students have a greater chance to win.

United Way of Long Island Scholarships

United Way of Long Island has been a significant provider of scholarships and grants since 2002, awarding more than $1,000,000 in the areas of Academics & Enrichment. The Youth Advisory Board, comprised of 7th graders to college students, works under the guidance of United Way staff to make award decisions for youth scholarships. Several memorial scholarship funds are administered through United Way, each with specific criteria and purposes.

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The Frank L. & Virginia A. Regnante Memorial Fund

This fund honors Frank L., a Korean War veteran, and Virginia A., who dedicated her life to helping women battling breast cancer. It provides financial assistance to veterans and women battling breast cancer across Long Island.

Academic Scholarships

These scholarships assist with costs associated with educational goals. Applicants must be in grade 12 and planning on attending a four-year college or university, demonstrate financial need and student needs to show a history of commitment to community service throughout high school.

The Long Island Power Authority Scholarship

This scholarship was established for high school students and young people 24 years of age and under from disadvantaged communities.

The Sandy Oliva Memorial Scholarship Fund

In order to continue Sandy's mission and as a way to honor her, a memorial fund has been established in her name, through United Way of Long Island to provide education, housing and living expenses to women who have left abusive relationships. The Sandy Oliva Memorial Scholarship Fund is a tribute to her legacy and all contributions will go directly to help women and children in need.

The Robert B. Read Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund is in memory of Robert B. Read, a native of Long Island (West Islip) and veteran broadcast journalist who served as senior producer of Inside Edition’s award-winning investigative unit and managing editor for the program’s overall coverage. Robert’s work ethic and leadership were incomparable. He was a mentor and role model to many and through this scholarship, his dedication to helping others along their career path will continue. This scholarship is designated for a Long Island high school senior who will be attending the University of Michigan.

The Anthony J. Stupore Memorial Scholarship Fund

Tony Stupore served the United Way of Long Island for 15 years as a volunteer, Board Member and Treasurer. In Tony's memory, United Way of Long Island has created The Anthony J. Stupore Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit young people’s futures throughout Long Island.

The Camilla G. Belser Memorial Scholarship Fund

In memory of Cammy, and her commitment to education and the insurance industry, The Long Island Insurance Community established the Camilla G. Belser Memorial Scholarship Fund through United Way of Long Island in her honor. The program offers a $2,500 annual renewable scholarship to a student who will be attending Nassau or Suffolk Community College. We will consider other accredited two-year colleges.

The Lorraine Aycock Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Lorraine Aycock Memorial Scholarship Fund provides academic scholarships to deserving young women achievers to pursue their dreams and aspirations of attending higher education.

The Sal LaFonte Memorial Fund

Maria A. Grasso, United Way of Long Island Executive Board Member, has established a memorial fund in honor of her father, Sal LaFonte. Mr. Navy from 1961 to 1965.

The Scott Martella Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Scott Martella Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Stacy and Stephen Martella in honor of their son Scott.

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The Thomas F. Dougherty Scholarship

Open to graduating high school seniors living in Suffolk County’s East End who will be attending college or vocational training.

Scholarships Based on Specific Criteria

The best New York scholarships for any individual high school student will depend on several factors, including their gender, field of study, and school year. For instance, The Race For Education organization’s Robert J. Frankel Scholarship is a highly-specific scholarship open to high school seniors residing in or planning to attend college in New York. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.85, demonstrated financial need, and a family involvement in the Thoroughbred horse industry.

New York college students have plenty of options for scholarships, all with different criteria. Some of the best choices will be those based on applicants’ personal qualities, such as their field of study. For example, undergraduate students majoring in geology should look into the Angelo Tagliacozzo Memorial Geological Scholarship. Northeast, its other eligibility requirements are extremely specific.

Field of Study Specific Scholarships

For instance, college students in STEM programs who reside in New York City can apply to the Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration STEM Scholarship. Worth $3,000, undergraduates and graduate students in STEM fields can apply by submitting a proposal for a new way to promote organ donations along with two letters of recommendation.

There are also countless scholarships open to New York graduate students. The National Academy of Public Administration, for example, awards the Herbert Roback scholarship to graduate students majoring in public administration at select New York and D.C. metropolitan area institutions.

National Scholarships with Relevance to Long Island Students

Several national scholarships are available to students, including those residing in Long Island. These scholarships often have specific eligibility requirements related to academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal characteristics.

Clarence and Lilly Pickett Grants ($2,500 - $3,000): Grants awarded to future Quaker leaders to undertake a service-learning project.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships (Varies): Several scholarships awarded to high school seniors and current undergraduates. Minimum GPA 2.5, students must exhibit leadership skills.
The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics ($500 - $5,000): A scholarship awarded to college juniors and seniors (must be a registered junior or senior in the Fall semester of the year you are entering the contest).
Gates Millennium Scholarship (varies): Scholarships awarded to minority students entering college for the first time.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund ($500 - $5,000): Administers several scholarships and grants to high school and college students.
Horatio Alger Association Scholarships (varies): Scholarship awarded to high school seniors based on financial need, an applicant's perseverance in overcoming adversity, a good academic record, and the desire to contribute to society.
Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship (up to $40,000): Scholarships awarded to two-year community college students that wish to transfer into a four-year bachelor's degree program.
Japanese American Citizens' League Scholarships (varies): Several scholarships awarded to members of a JACL branch. There are several application categories (entering freshmen, undergraduates, graduates).
Korean American Scholarship Foundation ($500 - $5,000): Several scholarships awarded to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students of Korean heritage.
Mensa Education and Research Foundation Scholarship (varies): The Foundation's college scholarship program bases its awards totally on essays written by the applicants. Consideration is not given to grades, academic program or financial need.
NAACP Scholarships ($1,500 - $5,000): Several scholarships awarded to minority students.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Scholarship Program ($1,000 - $3,000): Scholarships awarded to high school seniors/high school graduates/GED holders that have never previously attended a post secondary institution.
Peermusic Latin Scholarship ($5,000): Scholarship awarded to a student, aged 16-24, who submits the best new original music/lyrics in the Latin genre.
Point Foundation Scholarships (Varies): A scholarship awarded to individuals at all levels in higher education (high school senior - PhD) that are leaders in and plan to contribute professionally to the LGBT community.
Platt Family Scholarship Essay Contest ($500 - $1,500): A scholarship provided by the Lincoln Forum. Must be enrolled in college to apply.
Supercollege.com Scholarship ($1,000): A scholarship offered to help students afford college.
The Truman Scholarship (up to $30,000): A scholarship awarded to college juniors to pursue graduate study in fields related to public service.
Udall Undergraduate Scholarship (up to $7,000): The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment.

Financial Need-Based Scholarships

Many New York scholarships are based on financial need. These scholarships will usually require applicants to complete and submit the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify. If you don’t have financial need, you can still win New York merit scholarships, such as the Founders Fund Scholarship, worth $5,000.

Tips for Scholarship Applications

Apply early: Leave time for unforeseen delays.
Apply often: Cast a wide net in your search for scholarship funds. Don’t get discouraged! If you are not awarded a scholarship the first time you apply, apply again during the next application cycle. Show these organizations that you are a persistent and committed student!
Run your own scholarship search! Apply for the scholarships listed here, but also continue searching for others.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Show your application to a current teacher or advisor and get valuable feedback before submitting your application.
Proofread your essay! Spell-check your essay! Spend time on your essay - make it something to be proud of!
Please let LIU Global know when you receive a scholarship!
Don’t fall for scams! Beware of scholarships that cost money, promise money back guarantees, or request your credit card or money!

LIU Global Scholarships

Pursuing a higher education and studying abroad can be expensive. But when you choose the education that’s right for you and your goals, it can be worth every penny, and LIU Global is committed to helping you find ways to afford college. All applicants are evaluated for a merit-based scholarship. Recipients of scholarships are required each year to complete the federal government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once the Office of Student Financial Services receives the federal FAFSA information, eligibility for N.Y. State's TAP program and the Federal Pell Grant Program can be determined, and estimates can be provided on the financial aid award notice. These notices also provide estimates of the Campus-funded award(s), and any other financial aid available to the student. The Office of Enrollment Services will calculate the exact dollar amount of any scholarship/grant award during the bill clearance process each term.

Additional Strategies for Finding Scholarships

There is a lot of money that goes unclaimed every year, and with the amount of community involvement and commitment that characterizes most LIU Global students, you should have no problem finding the right scholarship source. Look for scholarships that are unique to you. Poet, artist, linguist, activist, writer, woman, minority, etc. - something that makes you stand out and be recognized for a scholarship. Try looking in your own community as well; often there are groups that want to give to people.

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