Community Foundation Launches Class of 2025 Scholarship Challenge for Tri-County Schools

WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce an exciting  challenge to inspire greater participation in its scholarship program from the Class of 2025 and give schools  a chance to win a share of up to $5,000 in grant support. 

 The Community Foundation’s scholarship program supports graduating seniors pursuing further education  — whether at an accredited college, university, technical, or trade school. 

 The scholarship challenge is open to all schools in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.   There are two ways schools have a chance to win grant support: First, the Foundation will award one  $1,000 grant to a school in each of the three counties it serves: Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence. To be  eligible, schools must achieve at least 25% participation from their senior class in submitting scholarship  applications by February 21, 2025.  

 In addition, the top nine schools — three from each county — with the highest overall participation rates  by the March 15, 2025, application deadline will be eligible to win a $2,000 grant.   “With an increasing number and variety of opportunities available to support students, we hope this incentive  will help build the widest pool of applicants across our region,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community  Foundation executive director. “If this challenge is successful, it will be a win for all as students will benefit  directly, their schools may receive additional funding, and our donors will have the best opportunity provide  help in the most meaningful ways.” 

 The schools selected for grant awards will be chosen at random. Awards may be used to support a schoolwide  initiative or project chosen by the senior class officers at the winning schools. 

Tri-county seniors should apply for scholarship support by completing the Community Foundation’s online  common application found at nnycf.org or bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships by Saturday, March 15, 2025.  Last year, 19 percent of all high school seniors in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties applied for  Community Foundation scholarship support. In Jefferson County, 26 percent of the senior class applied, while  Lewis County saw 22 percent of its seniors apply and 10 percent of St. Lawrence County seniors completed a  scholarship application. 

 In partnership with donors and tri-county school districts, the Community Foundation last year awarded  $1.33 million in scholarship support to 583 graduating high school seniors from Jefferson, Lewis, and  St. Lawrence counties. The average award in 2024 was $2,250 per student. In many cases, eligible students  were awarded more than one scholarship to pursue their educational goals. 

 Contact Mary Perrine, coordinator of partnerships, 315-782-7110, or [email protected], or Tara Hess,  stewardship and donor services associate, [email protected], with questions about Community Foundation  scholarships. 

About the Northern New York Community Foundation 

 Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching  the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.  Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families  and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and  collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable  objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy  while inspiring others. 

 The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional  advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the  Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative  solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.