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.)
American Legion John H. Secor Post 329 and Thomas A. Dexter Scholarships: Two scholarship opportunities available for high school seniors who have been accepted to an accredited college or university. One is open to all seniors; the other is for members’ children or grandchildren. Thomas A. Dexter Scholarship applicant must be a bona fide senior at Pearl River High School. John H. Secor Post 329 Scholarship applicant must be the son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter of a current member of American Legion Post #329. Official transcript, community service and a 300-word essay on the Bill of Rights required. The Committee must receive all mailed materials no later than May 15, 2026.
Buddyball Sports Scholarship 2026: This scholarship is available to a resident of Orangetown who will be graduating from High School in June of 2026 and plans to attend a 2 or 4 year college in September 2026. Please read the scholarship application for requirements. An essay, resume and a letter of recommendation is needed. Application deadline is May 4, 2026.
Franklin Avenue PTA Scholarship: Award offered to a graduate of Franklin Avenue Elementary School. A 500- to 700-word essay describing how your experiences at Franklin Avenue have shaped who you are today, a list of community service/activities and two (2) letters of recommendation required. Submissions will be accepted up to noon time on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The Jamaican Civic & Cultural Association of Rockland, Inc. (JAMCCAR): Graduating high school seniors of Caribbean descent from any school district in Rockland County who are members or associate members of JAMCCAR and who have been actively participating in the organization, or other community organizations. Proof of involvement will be required. Requirements include: A least an overall "B" average, Proof of acceptance to college or proof of attendance at RCC or trade school, a recommendation from a teacher of the high school or a JAMCCAR member, an essay of at least 750 words, a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee and a written statement that funds will only be used for educational purposes. Application must be postmarked by April 28, 2026. The completed application with attachments should be emailed to jamccarny@yahoo.com or mailed to JAMCCAR, Attention: Scholarship Committee, PO Box 1727, Spring Valley, NY 10977.
Lincoln Avenue PTA Audra Marinelli Memorial Scholarship: One (1) $1,000 scholarship offered exclusively to a current Pearl River High School senior who graduated from Lincoln Avenue Elementary School. Essay about your fondest memory at Lincoln Avenue, your plans for the future, what sets you apart from other applicants and community service experience required. Please complete the Google application form to apply. Deadline to submit is April 27, 2026.
OMM Soccer Scholarship 2026: This scholarship is available to a resident of Orangetown who will be graduating from High School in June of 2026 and plans to attend a 2 or 4 year college in September 2026. Please read the scholarship application for requirements. An essay, resume and a letter of recommendation is needed. Application deadline is May 4, 2026.
The Orangetown Patriots Scholarship: Applicants must have played/cheered for Orangetown Patriots for at least two years and played/cheered for their high school for two years or more or volunteered for Orangetown Patriots for at least two years. Official transcript with school seal and counselor signature required. Please bring application to guidance office by May 14th so that the application and official transcript can be mailed by the deadline of May 15, 2026.
Pearl River Lions Club High School Scholarship Essay Contest: The Pearl River Lions Club will award $1,000 to a graduating PRHS senior planning on a career in the helping professions of human services, social work, or psychology (e.g. Teaching, Nursing, Mental Health, Public Health, Criminal Justice.) Community service and future education plans for a career serving others will be the most important considerations for this award. Students are to write a 300-500 word essay on their experiences with community service, their education plans, and one experience that had a strong effect upon them in choosing to make a career in a helping profession. Please submit your essay to the Counseling Office or email the digital file to guidance@pearlriver.org no later than May 6, 2026 at 2:00 pm to be forwarded to the Pearl River Lions Club for judging.
Pearl River Little League (PRLL) Scholarship: Scholarship will be awarded to a Pearl River High School senior who has participated in the Pearl River Little League in the past. An essay of no more than 200 words regarding the impact that the PRLL has had on you is required. Deadline for submission is May 1, 2026.
Pearl River Middle School PTA Scholarship 2026: The PRMS PTA is pleased to offer a $500 scholarship to a PRHS graduating senior who graduated from Pearl River Middle School. This is a non-academic-based scholarship that will be awarded to a senior based on their commitment to local community service and personal responses to the questions on the google form. The deadline for this scholarship is April 30, 2026.
Pearl River Middle School PTA Special Services Scholarship 2026: The Pearl River MS PTA is pleased to offer a $500 scholarship to a PRHS graduating senior who graduated from Pearl River Middle School and receives special services through an IEP or 504 plan. This is a non-academic-based scholarship that will be awarded to a senior based on their commitment to local community service and personal responses to the google form. To be considered for this scholarship, please complete and submit application no later than Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Pearl River Nurses’ Assocation Scholarship: The Pearl River Nurses Association is awarding a scholarship to two seniors who meet the following criteria: 1) Senior planning to pursue a degree in nursing, 2) In good academic standing, and 3) Demonstrated interest and passion for nursing through community service or extracurricular activity. If you are interested in applying, please complete a short response to the following prompt and submit to the counseling office no later than May 7, 2026. You may email your response to scholarships@pearlriver.org. Late submissions will not be considered. Scholarship prompt: What inspired you to pursue nursing and how can this scholarship make a meaningful difference in your pursuit of your education?
Pearl River Teachers Association (PRTA) Scholarship: The PRTA scholarship is available to current Pearl River High School seniors. Guaranteed winners. Essay of no more than 1,000 words required. Consideration is given to children of union members. Also included is information on the Bill Bates Scholarship, given in memory of a deceased English Teacher to a student with significant contribution to the arts while in high school. Completed application form and essay must be returned to the Counseling Office or emailed to scholarships@pearlriver.org no later than April 28, 2026.
Rockland County Bar Association DEI Juneteenth Essay Contest: Contest is open to senior high school students who either reside in Rockland County or attend high school in Rockland County. This year the student with the winning essay will be guaranteed a scholarship worth at least $750 and the second place winner will be guaranteed a scholarship worth at least $500. The winners are required to attend RCBA's Awards and Installation Dinner on June 18, 2025 to accept the scholarship award. Interested students must submit a 550-word or less essay. Deadline for submission is May 15, 2026, at 11:59pm.
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (Colonel Ellis Camp 124): Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis Memorial Annual Scholarship: Contest is open to all high school seniors in the lower Hudson Valley. A $350 scholarship will be awarded to a student of high academic achievement with a record of performance in school and community activities and an interest in the heritage of the United States. A letter of recommendation and a 500-word essay are required. All applications and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than May 2, 2026.
William V. Harris Memorial Scholarship: Two (2) $500 awards available to graduating seniors. Scholarship is based upon contributions to the community. Essay, intentions for future, two (2) letters of recommendation and a list of extracurricular activities are all required. Completed applications with required documents must be submitted to the Counseling Office by noon on May 8, 2026.
WVQG Phyllis Klein Scholarship 2026: The Warwick Valley Quilters' Guild is offering the Phyllis Klein Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to one (1) graduating senior who plans to continue their education in a fiber arts or fine arts field. The applicant must also have completed at least one course in sewing, design, and/or art during high school. Applications, letters of recommendation and the photo/description of a project example should be emailed by noon on May 1, 2026.
Zimi Bagel / Demakis Scholarship: Two (2) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to seniors who have demonstrated the ability to excel academically while pursuing and excelling in a passion within or outside of school (e.g. Debate, Music, Acting, Art, Sports, etc.) A completed application form and transcript required. Applicants must be planning to attend college and have a minimum average of 90. There is a 350 word max essay. Questions for the essay are on the application. All applications and supporting materials must be submitted to the Counseling Office or emailed to guidance@pearlriver.org no later than 12pm on April 30, 2026.
2026 Anita and Blair Mazin Scholarship: The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) - Westchester Chapter will be awarding three (3) scholarships for high school seniors/adults with hearing loss, to be used toward the pursuit of a college degree or vocational training. Each scholarship will be for $1,000. Applicants must have applied to a college or vocational education program, wear a hearing aid(s) and/or cochlear implant(s) and have a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The scholarship is a one-time award. Application must be received by May 10, 2026. Please see the scholarship applications for more details.