This Scholarship Directory is just a starting point. It makes good sense to investigate all possible sources of assistance for which you may be eligible.  Check with your guidance counselor, and periodically look for notices on your school bulletin board. Prior to your senior year, read your hometown newspapers (especially in April, May and June) for the names of scholarships given in your area. If you think you may qualify, contact the sponsoring organization.

The Community Foundation in partnership with several other organizations offers additional scholarships through your guidance department and from our Web site at www.cfdcny.org.  These include the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Scholarship, several scholarships from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce through the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Norman and Rita Nussbickel Memorial Scholarship through the Chamber Foundation at the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce.  The Community Foundation also works with several school districts to offer scholarships and awards with recipients selected by the schools.  We encourage you to keep checking the Scholarship section of our Web site for additional scholarship opportunities.

You should also contact your church or synagogue to see if either the local or national organization offers any student aid programs. Contact local civic and fraternal organizations, religious groups, and veterans’ posts; many local, state and national units sponsor some scholarship programs, especially for members’ children. Sometimes these are limited to a specified high school; more often they are given to a local area that includes several high schools.

Ask your parents to check with their employers. Many employers have some form of scholarship or grant aid available to help employees’ children meet educational expenses; sometimes these programs are competitive, with awards based on academic achievement, while others are based on demonstrated need alone.

If your parents are members of labor unions or trade and professional associations, they may discover that these organizations have some type of aid available to assist members’ children. If one of your parents is a military veteran, you might also qualify for some help. Investigate programs that may be underwritten by local businesses and industries.  Much assistance is still provided by the general government, the states, and increasingly, the schools and colleges involved.