Helen M. McLoraine Opportunity Scholarship

This scholarship program was created to provide educational scholarships for individuals who have had to face extraordinary or challenging circumstances, have actively taken steps to improve their lives, and are committed to advancing their education. This program is open to clients and former clients of select nonprofit agencies.

Eligibility

• Be a client, or former client, of one of the seventeen nonprofit organizations participating in the program. Former clients must have received services within fifteen years of the application deadline. Participating organizations include: select Boys and Girls Clubs, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Emily Krzyzewski Center, Escuela De Guadalupe, Figure Skating in Harlem, Mount Saint Vincent Home, On Our Own, PHAMALY, Urban Peak, Warren Village, and WINGS Foundation.
• Complete the criteria for the organization’s services/support received by the application deadline. For a list of the specific criteria, please click here.
• Enrolled or will begin studies at an accredited post-secondary school in the United States and/or be planning to study full-time or part-time for the upcoming academic year.

Selection

Scholarships will be awarded once a year through a competitive process based on: 

• academics 
• essay(s) 
• financial need 

Additional information

Scholarship awards will be paid directly to a recipient’s educational institution and may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other required educational expenses for the upcoming academic year.

Automatic renewals for this scholarship do not take place, nor is awarding guaranteed because a recipient received the award previously. A student may re-apply for the opportunity if they have previously been awarded. Awards may be used for part-time or full-time undergraduate study.  

Please note that award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university. Awards must be used for the upcoming academic year. 

How to apply 

1. Read through the eligibility to confirm you meet the requirements for the scholarship opportunity 
2. Prepare and submit the following items: 
   1. Resume 
   2. Transcript 
   3. Two to three essays 
      1. Please describe what you would like to study in college, what inspired your interest in this area, and what you hope to achieve with this degree. 
      2. Reflect on what it means to be resilient. How has this influenced your short and long-term career goals? 
      3. (Reapplicants only) How has this scholarship had an impact on your goals and plans for your future academic, professional, and/or personal life? 
   4. One community reference 
   5. A letter from an eligible nonprofit