Clark Foundation Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Clark Foundation Scholarship Program

The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program is a remarkable initiative that aims to support students from 12 New York State school districts in their pursuit of higher education. This includes post-secondary programs at any accredited institution of higher learning. The districts that benefit from this program are Cooperstown, Cherry Valley-Springfield, Edmeston, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Laurens, Milford, Morris, Mount Markham, Owen D. Young, Richfield Springs, Schenevus, and Worcester, as well as the Otsego Area Occupational Center BOCES in Milford.

Since its inception, the Clark Foundation Scholarship has provided financial assistance to over 14,800 deserving students, enabling them to attend post-secondary programs. Each academic year, the program awards approximately $4 million in scholarships to nearly 800 recipients.

To be eligible for a Clark Foundation Scholarship, the primary criterion is the geographical location of the high school from which the student graduates. High school seniors must be on track to graduate from one of the 13 NY State schools listed above.

Additionally, graduates from these schools who did not receive a scholarship as high school seniors but have successfully completed two full-time consecutive semesters at an accredited higher education institution, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, are also eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Moreover, adults who have been residents of the 12 school districts for at least 10 years (after reaching the age of 18) and are enrolled in a full-time, accredited college program, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for two consecutive semesters, are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

High School seniors can apply for a Clark Foundation Scholarship through their guidance departments, which send applications to The Clark Foundation Scholarship Office in early February. Applications are reviewed and applicants are notified of their status by late March. Applicants who are not currently in high school should contact The Clark Foundation Scholarship Office to set up an appointment.

The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships based on scholastic ability, personal character and conduct, service to school and community, and the promise of successful achievement in higher education. If the student’s achievements justify support, the scholarship awards continue throughout the recipient’s eight-semester undergraduate career. A personal interview is required to enter the program as well as to maintain the scholarship each academic year.

The program is not limited to students bound for traditional four-year colleges. Students attending accredited certificate, associate degree or baccalaureate level programs are eligible for support. Enrollment must be for at least one academic year (usually no less than 10 months) and the student must be enrolled for no less than 12 credits per semester. In some cases, programs requiring additional semesters also receive approval. Support for extended studies is focused on health care programs (for example pharmacy or physical therapy). Graduate assistance is limited to Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant programs.