Albright Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Albright College

Albright College awards 25 Eugene Shirk Scholarships annually. Established to honor late Albright math professor and coach Eugene Shirk, this merit scholarship encourages Berks County students to continue his legacy of community service, leadership, strength of character and commitment to excellence.

How much aid does the scholarship provide?

All Shirk Scholars receive $22,000 per year or $88,000 over four years of study at Albright College.

Shirk Scholarships are awarded to new, full-time students and are renewable each of the four years the student is enrolled. In order to renew annually, a student must attend as a full-time day student on Albright’s Reading campus and maintain a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.*

What is the application process for the Shirk Scholarship?

Berks County students who complete their Albright application for admission and the Shirk Scholarship application by February 1 receive full scholarship review.

Once Albright College receives both of these applications, all candidates are presented to the Shirk Scholarship Committee for preliminary review. Students who are selected as candidates in this first phase become finalists and may be called to do a scholarship interview. These interviews may take place in person or virtually.

During review, the scholarship committee evaluates applicants on the basis of their school and community service, extracurricular activities, strength of character and academic achievement. Candidate writing effort is also assessed through a required scholarship essay, as is personal interaction during the interview, which is a relaxed and friendly conversation.

Shirk Scholarship Application

To apply for the Eugene Shirk Scholarship, a student must:

• Currently be a senior and attend a Berks County high school or reside in Berks County as a home-schooled student
• Complete the Albright application for admission on or before February 1.
• Complete a Shirk Scholarship application on or before February 1.
• To be considered for the Shirk Scholarship, please complete the following form and upload your written essay or video essay.    

Awards

Albright College offers a variety of awards based on factors beyond academics. Browse our Awards online to see if you may qualify.

Legacy Award

If you are a child or grandchild of an Albright College graduate, you are eligible to receive the Legacy Award. Candidates must provide documentation of legacy status in their application prior to an offer of admission.

Talent Awards

If you demonstrate outstanding creative talent and a serious commitment toward student leadership, you may be invited to apply for the Albright Talent Award. These renewable grants are awarded based on your portfolio, interview, or audition.