Scholarships on File
Many colleges have their own scholarship opportunities. You can find these on individual college websites. Please see your counselor if any of them require a nomination.
Click here for a list of scholarships from The High School Counselors' Association of WNY. Please check back often, scholarships and deadlines can change.
February 2025
2025 Series Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- New York State offers awards based on academic excellence: the demonstrated ability to perform, achieve, and/or excel in scholastic activities.
- 1 award for $1500
- 7 awards for $500
- The selection criteria is based on class rank
- *no action is required by the student*
embraceWNY Grant/Scholarship -https://embracewny.org/ and click on Apply for Funding. This Scholarship has a rolling deadline.
Benjamin Milak Memorial Scholarship – Must be a graduating senior who struggles with a hearing loss, a learning disability or who has battled cancer. The recipient should possess a realistic career goal, be community minded and have a respect for the natural world. Visit: www.milakscholarship.org Deadline: February 1, 2025
Elks National Scholarships-Legacy Awards– $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk Members. Applications are available at www.enf.elks.org/Leg. Deadline: February 3, 2025
AAUW BUFFALO BRANCH SCHOLARSHIP – Two $5,000 scholarships awarded to high school senior girls attending an Erie or Niagara County high school. Must have a GPA of at least 95. Must complete an application, submit two letters of recommendation and your high school transcript. May also need to attend a personal interview, if requested. Visit https://aauwbuffalo.org/scholarships-loans-and-grants/ Deadline: February 19, 2025
Louis J. Nanni Memorial Scholarship – this $500 scholarship is available to North Towns Federal Credit Union members in good standing who are graduating seniors in 2024. Applications are available here. Deadline: February 21, 2025
The Junior League of Buffalo is pleased to announce that we will award three $2,000 scholarships to graduating female high school seniors who are outstanding leaders in the Western New York Community. The scholarships are awarded based on evidence of demonstrated community service and volunteerism within their school and community. Additionally, the student’s background should show strong evidence of being well rounded in both personal and academic endeavors. Apply online at https://buffalo.jl.org/featured/the-jlb-scholarship-applications-are-now-open/ Deadline: February 28, 2025
The Summit Federal Credit Union College Scholarship Program Applicants for all 2025 scholarships must either be a current member of The Summit or join The Summit as a primary account holder. Visit: www.summitfcu.org/join-the-summit/services-benefits/scholarships/ Deadline: February 28, 2025.
Character Council of WNY And The Harvest Time Partners Foundation- $1,000 cash scholarships to high-school seniors who exemplify character in their daily lives. Visit: www.charactercouncilwny.org/scholarship/ Deadline: March 1st of the student’s graduating year.
The Buffalo Astronomical Association (BAA) Rowland A. Rupp, Jr. Astronomy Scholarship - $5,000 scholarship opportunity for a qualifying, college-bound high school senior who desires to pursue a degree in an astronomy-related field. Applications and scholarship guidelines are available on-line at https://ruppscholarship.com/. Deadline: March 1, 2025
Robert A Geiger Scholarship - This scholarship was created by the members of the Clarence Chamber Annual Awards Gala Committee who would like to recognize and honor the works of Robert A. Geiger in the town of Clarence. The Clarence Chamber of Commerce is offering a $500.00 scholarship to a current Clarence High School senior that has been accepted into an accredited higher education program for the academic year, 2025-2026. Further information and the application are available here. Deadline: March 1, 2025
Association of Fire Districts of The State of New York–Ned Carter Scholarship – Four $1,500 scholarships to NY State high school seniors who will be graduating in June of 2025 and who either are related to a firefighter, are a firefighter or an explorer in a fire department or fire district that is a member of the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York. Visit: https://afdsny.org/ Deadline: March 2, 2025
NYSIR Scholarship - The Board of Trustees of the New York Schools Insurance Foundation and the Board of Governors of the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal are pleased to announce that they are once again offering Cristin Bambino, Paul Jensen and Joseph Goncalves scholarship awards. These scholarships are for college-bound students from NYSIR-subscribing districts only. Criteria will also be available on nysir.org at https://www.nysir.org/page/2025-scholarship-application A committee will review all applications and scholarship winners will be notified by the end of May. Deadline March 7, 2025
Fireman’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY)-Gerard J. Buckenmeyer Volunteer Scholarship- FASNY will be awarding twenty-five $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors entering college. The applicant must be actively participating as a volunteer or junior firefighter or participate in a volunteer EMS program. Visit www.fasny.com/scholarship Deadline: March 15, 2025
Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation was formed in honor of fallen Buffalo Firefighter Jason Arno, who heroically gave his life in the line of duty on March 1, 2023. The FAM Foundation has established the "FAM Foundation First Responder Family Scholarship," with the goal of providing financial assistance to high school seniors who are the sons or daughters of first responders in Western New York. This scholarship aims to support their pursuit of higher education at 2-year or 4-year colleges or universities. Click here for more details. Deadline: March 15, 2025
The Eighth District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State - $1,000 stipend to a graduating high school senior who is enrolling in a two or four year college. A one-time payment deposited into the student’s bookstore account. Applicants must be planning to major in agricultural, horticultural, environmental, or related field. Applications are available online at www.gardenclubsofwny.com. Deadline: Applications must be postmarked between March 15 – 31, 2025
Bank on Buffalo Scholarship – High School graduating seniors with intentions to further their education at a college or university and seeking a business-related degree. Student must attend a high school in the BankOnBuffalo market area. Dependents of Directors or Officers of BankOnBuffalo are not eligible to apply. Visit: www.BankOnBuffalo.bank/Scholarship Deadline: March 16, 2025.
Clarence/Newstead Administrative Fire Council Scholarship – This $250 scholarship is available to a Clarence or Akron High School senior who was in a special education program or plans on continuing their education in a trade school or college; or any student who is currently a member of a Fire Company explorer post or has a family member that belongs to a Volunteer Fire Company in Clarence, Akron or Newstead. Applications available here. Deadline: March 28, 2025
Kreher Family Farms Scholarship– This $500 scholarship is for a Clarence High School senior who plans on a career in agriculture or the food industry. A short essay is required. Application is available here. Deadline: Application and essay must be returned to the Guidance Office by the end of the school day on March 28, 2025
James E. Grosse Memorial Scholarship– The Clarence Jaycees will offer two scholarships in memory of James E. Grosse. Candidates should have a positive attitude and have had to overcome hardships on their way to college. For scholarship requirements, click here. Deadline: Essays must be returned to the Guidance Office by the end of the school day on March 28, 2025
Jean Ellen Mayer Memorial Scholarship– This $300.00 scholarship is sponsored by the CHS PTO and Mr. Dennis Mayer, and is for a college bound senior who is community minded and has a strong sense of social responsibility. A short essay and letters of recommendation are required. More information is available by clicking here. Deadline: Essay and letters of recommendations must be returned to the Guidance Office by the end of the school day on March 28, 2025
Nolan M. Burch Memorial Scholarship - The Remember Nolan Project is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to assist young adults in recognizing and preventing the dangers of hazing and bullying. The Nolan M Burch Memorial Scholarship is given to a student based on their answers to three specific questions about leadership and doing the right thing to help others. Application information can be found here. Responses should be given to the Guidance Office by the end of the school day on April 1, 2025.
Empire State Potato Growers, Inc – Applicant must be a NYS resident, pursuing an agricultural-related area of study. Click here for application. Deadline: April 1, 2025
The Aurora Players Theater in East Aurora will be awarding the Roberta Rathbun Scholarship for Theatrical Arts. This is a $1000 scholarship awarded to a WNY 2025 High School graduate who plans on continuing their higher education in a theater-related major. For more information visit https://auroraplayers.org/opportunities/scholarship Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2025
The Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen of the State of New York (SWAVF) and its’ Ladies Auxiliary are pleased to announce its community service scholarship program for 2025. This is open to all high school seniors who will graduate in 2025 and will be enrolling for full-time study at an accredited institution of post-secondary study in the fall of 2025. Additional information can be found here. Deadline: April 15, 2025
Scalp and Blade Scholarship - This $2500 scholarship is renewable for a total of four years, providing the student maintains satisfactory grades in college. Only one senior male can be nominated by his high school principal or guidance counselor. Candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic accomplishment in terms of grades and college entrance exams, extracurricular activities, community involvement as well as financial need. If you wish to be nominated, the application is available here and needs to be submitted to Mrs. Fuller in the Guidance Office by April 25, 2025 for consideration. The Scalp and Blade committee deadline to receive the submission is May 5, 2025.
KidsPlay Scholarship - $1,000 awarded to a graduating senior who participated in a KidsPlay program as a child. Apply online at www.kidsplaywny.com/scholarship Deadline: April 28, 2025
Grace “Silver Belle” Shallowhorn Graduate Scholarship - The purpose of this scholarship through Kappa Upsilon Zeta Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is to provide financial assistance to matriculating minority female college students in pursuit of self-improvement through education. The recipient of the Grace “Silver Belle” Shallowhorn Graduate Scholarship displays characteristics of Finer Womanhood, Sisterly Love, has a strong academic foundation and the ability to follow through on her goals no matter what obstacles cross her path. Click here for application. Deadline: April 30, 2025.
Willie Carney Hardin Undergraduate Scholarship - The purpose of this scholarship through Kappa Upsilon Zeta Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is to provide financial assistance to matriculating minority female college students in pursuit of self-improvement through education. The recipient of the Kappa Upsilon Zeta Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Willie Carney Hardin Undergraduate Scholarship should demonstrate leadership abilities through participation in the community and displays academic progress. Click here for application. Deadline: April 30, 2025.
Connie C. Bowman Scholarship- The purpose of this scholarship through Kappa Upsilon Zeta Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is to provide financial assistance to matriculating minority female college students in pursuit of self-improvement through education. Click here for application. Deadline: April 30, 2025.
Erie County Committee of the American Legion and Past National Commander Michael J. Kogutek Scholarships- Two scholarships to students/veterans attending college in 2023. Visit www.eriecountyal.org Deadline: May 2, 2025
The Go To Girls, Inc. Kindness Award – is given to a student who exudes the definition of kindness: “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate” to their peers, teachers, staff and throughout the community. This student goes above and beyond to ensure that others are not left alone and gives generously of themselves with no expectation of reward or recognition. https://forms.office.com/r/x81VxHyFMr Deadline: May 16, 2025