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Scholarships for Seniors
Scholarships for Seniors
Important Scholarship Information
Scholarships will be posted below as they become available and emails will be sent periodically via Naviance indicating the scholarship list has been updated. Click on the scholarship name for instructions. Students are responsible for meeting the deadlines of the scholarships. Scholarship applications are also available through the Naviance. After signing in to Naviance, click on the "Colleges" tab, then scroll down and select "Scholarships." All of the available scholarships are listed with links to their applications. When supplemental materials such as transcripts and/or letters of recommendations are required, please submit these requests to the counseling office well in advance of the deadline to allow for processing.
Questions and/or concerns about scholarships can be directed to the Counseling Office or email scholarships@pearlriver.org.
New York State College Tuition Programs
Excelsior Scholarship Program
The Excelsior Scholarship provides free tuition to New York State students whose families earn up to $110,000 annually, to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college. It will extend to families making up to $125,000 annually. Apply or learn more at Excelsior. To find additional information on the benefits of the scholarship and how to apply, students and their families can visit Higher Education Services Corporation or Tuition-Free Degree Program: The Excelsior Scholarship, and text COLLEGE to 81336 for updates.
To apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including:
- Be residents of New York State
- Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college
- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study
- Graduate with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years
Family income requirements: This program is open to students whose annual household federal adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less.
To complete the application, you will need: IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s) for you and your parent(s), as applicable. The Excelsior Scholarship Program will open in late spring. Students eligible to apply through the NYS DREAM Act can apply at Account Login.
More information can be found at the the Excelsior Scholarship.
NYS Enhanced Tuition Award
Are you a high school graduate attending one of these private colleges or universities located in New York State next fall? If so, you may be eligible for the NYS Enhanced Tuition Award.
To apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including:
- Be residents of New York State
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a participating private colleges or universities located in New York State
- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study
- Graduate with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years
Family income requirements: This program is open to students whose annual household federal adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less.
To complete the application, you will need: 2019 IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s) for you and your parent(s), as applicable.
The Enhanced Tuition Awards Application is available here. Students eligible to apply through the NYS DREAM Act can apply at Account Login.
More information can be found at Enhanced Tuition Awards.
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
The New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence program provides scholarship assistance to outstanding New York State high school graduates. Each year, 8,000 scholarships are awarded - up to 2,000 scholarships of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships of $500 to top scholars from registered New York State high schools. Awards are based on certain academic criteria. Recipients can also receive other non-loan student aid, but the total cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
Selection Criteria: While past criteria has been based on Regents exam scores, due to the cancellation of Regents exams in 2020, the limited selection of Regents exams offered in June 2021, and the ability for students to be granted a Special Appeal in lieu of numeric scores in June 2022, exam results cannot be used as a consistent measure of achievement. Therefore, for this year and the next few years, Pearl River High School winners will be selected based on students' class rank at the end of their junior year.
Please click on the links below for more information on each scholarship.
(Links to additional scholarship resources are available below this list.)
The Cristin Ann Bambino Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is available to a college or technical school-bound special education student with an active IEP or 504 plan from a NYSIR-member school district to reward him/her for working through special challenges to complete high school and obtain acceptance to a college or university. Application and 650 word essay are required. Please see application for more information. Deadline for scholarship is April 2, 2026.
Community Arts Association’s 2026 Visual Arts Scholarships: The Haas Scholarship for Excellence in the Visual Arts and The Lorraine Strangfeld Memorial Scholarships are made possible through donations by Glenda S. Haas and the Lorraine Strangfeld Family in conjunction with the Community Arts Association of Allendale, N.J. The scholarships will be granted to high school seniors from Bergen County, N.J. or Rockland County, N.Y. who will major in the visual arts at an accredited college or university. Student work will be displayed at the Community Arts Association’s Member Show. Applicants must be majoring in art at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2026. Applicants must submit ten images of your artwork and a 300-500 word essay. Please ask the Guidance Department to send in a copy of your official transcript. Deadline for the scholarships is March 18, 2026.
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International: Alpha Eta Chapter Scholarship: The Alpha Eta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a female high school senior graduating in June 2025 with plans to enter college in September 2026 to pursue a career in the field of education. Candidates must have at least a B average, demonstrated good conduct, and performed community service. A 500-word essay and two (2) letters of reference are mandatory. For an overview of the organization please visit www.dkg.org. Deadline for submission is April 17, 2026.
Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship: Multiple scholarships offered to Rockland County high school seniors of African descent who exemplify scholastic excellence, high ideals, and plan to attend an accredited college or university in the fall following their graduation year. Students must have a GPA of 80 or above and be active in extracurricular and/or community activities to be considered for an award. Completed application form, documents verifying citizenship, letters of recommendation, SAT/ACT scores, high school transcript, and a short essay required. Personal interviews will be conducted. Application deadline is February 13, 2026.
Hudson Valley Magazine's Excellence in Nursing Scholarship: $1,500 will be awarded to a motivated high school senior who plans to pursue a career in nursing. Transcript, two (2) letters of recommendation, SAT/ACT scores and a 500-700-word essay explaining why you want to be a nurse required. The winner will be featured in Hudson Valley Magazine and celebrated at an Excellence in Nursing Awards Dinner. Applications must be postmarked by February 2, 2026. Please email completed packets and essays to pr@hvmag.com. Be sure to include “2026 Nursing Awards Scholarship” in the subject line.
The Joseph Goncalves Student Humanitarian Scholarship: This scholarship, one in the amount of $5,000, the other for $3,000, will be awarded to a graduating senior, who plans to attend college in NY State. Applying students should be able to demonstrate a record of involvement and work for a cause or organization that actively promotes social justice, equal opportunity, relief of human suffering or similar aspirations generally understood to be within the meaning of humanitarian activity. The application and an essay not to exceed 650 words are due by April 2, 2026. Please see attachment for further information.
Lathisms Scholarship: This scholarship aims to support Hispanic/Latinx students interested in pursuing a career focused on mathematical sciences; such career paths include, but are not limited to, scientific research, mathematics education, engineering, and finance. They will be awarding scholarships of up to $500 (each) aimed at prospective and current undergraduate/graduate students. Applicants must be Latinx/Hispanic (self-identified), pursuing a career in the mathematical sciences and be high school juniors/seniors.Deadline is February 27, 2026.
Michael Gregory 2026 Scholarship: On behalf of the Vincent Linguanti Lodge Brothers & Sisters of the Order of the Sons
& Daughters of Italy in Suffern, NY, they are proud to offer the Michael Gregory 2026 Scholarship to students of Italian descent who are committed to vocational trades for their next level of education/instruction. This scholarship committee is looking for an individual who is of Italian descent that possesses a uniqueness all their own, can articulate how they care about others and is committed to their trade. Completed applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 3, 2026.
Morning Music Club: Morning Music Club is holding its annual auditions for scholarship awards on Monday, March 2, 2026 (snow date March 9, 2026) at the Rockland Conservatory of Music in Pearl River, 45 South Main Street. Auditions are open to seniors attending Rockland County high schools who intend to continue their music studies in college, university, or conservatory. Applicants do not have to major in Music to qualify. Please see application form for details. Applications must be postmarked to emailed no later than February 23, 2026.
The Paul Jensen Memorial Scholarship 2026: This scholarship, one in the amount of $5,000 and another for $3,000 will be awarded to a student who has demonstrated an inspired imagination and creative aesthetic in their school career and who is seeking an opportunity to attend college. The scholarship is in memory of Paul Jensen, a marketing representative for NYSIR, who passed away in 2006. An essay of up to 650 words is required with other required documents. The deadline for this application is April 2, 2026.
Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund: Awarded to graduating seniors of Rockland County of African-American descent. Official transcript, letter of recommendation and essay required. See application for details. Applications are due no later than Friday, February 13, 2026.
Steven W. Dauksza Memorial Scholarship: The Steven W. Dauksza Memorial Scholarship Fund was started by Steven’s family to help students interested in pursuing a career in the automotive field. Scholarships will be awarded to two Rockland students looking to follow in Steven’s footsteps and pursue a career as an auto mechanic. There will be one scholarship award for $5,000 to UTI (Universal Technical Institute) and a second to a NYS automotive school for $2,000. Interested applicants must submit an essay about how you became interested in the automotive field and why you chose to pursue a career as an auto mechanic. Resume required. Applications must be submitted no later than March 25, 2026.