New York scholarships: Free money for NY students

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program is available to students who must be a legal New York State resident for 12 continuous months prior to enrolling or qualified under NYS DREAM Act. For academic year 2024-2025, dependent undergraduate students within a household earning under the income limit, independent undergraduate students (married or single) with tax dependents, and undergraduate students who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13 must have $125,000 or less net taxable income (NTI); independent undergraduate students (married) without tax dependents must have $60,000 or less net taxable income (NTI); and independent undergraduate students (single) without tax dependents must have $30,000 or less net taxable income (NTI). The scholarship will be awarded for 3 years to students pursuing their associate degree full-time; 4 years to students pursuing their bachelor's degree full-time; and 5 years to students in approved five-year degree programs. Applicants must have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED), or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test. Applicants must also attend an approved college, be enrolled in a degree-granting program of study and maintain good academic standing, and be charged at least $200 for tuition per year. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Fraternalist of the Year Award is an honor presented by the New Jersey-New York Fraternal Alliance to recognize an individual within the fraternal benefit system who, through example and accomplishment, provides outstanding volunteer service. The nominee must be a member of a local lodge or council of a NJ-NY Fraternal Alliance member-society and must be living at the time of selection. Officers of member societies and fraternal leaders within the Alliance are not eligible to receive the award. An individual can win the award only once. Applicants must be a resident of New Jersey or New York. Each society is encouraged to sponsor the program within their local lodges and councils. It is suggested that the contest within each society be coordinated and promoted by the fraternal director. Each member-society is eligible to submit one nomination per year. Nominations may be submitted online or mailed to Frederick M. Durso, Chairperson. Please visit the award's website for more information.

Fox Pest Control believes in investing in future leaders who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities. That's why they created the Fox Pest Control Future Leaders Scholarship to support students who demonstrate leadership, commitment to their communities, and a passion for growth. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be current college students currently enrolled in a four-year or two-year program, taking a minimum of twelve credit hours; or students have been accepted to a four-year or two-year program for the Spring 2026 semester. All students must submit a Spring 2026 class schedule upon request. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is to develop knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights, and privileges of American citizenship. All contestants must be bonafide students herein described as any student under the age of 20 years on the date of the National Finals Contest and who is presently enrolled in high school or junior high school (public, military, private, or parochial, or who are home schooled) in which the curriculum is of high school grade level commencing with grade nine and terminating with grade twelve. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of the contest. High school students that graduate early during the school year are eligible to compete if they are not enrolled in a college, university, trade school or other institution of higher learning at the time of the Department finals contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the department (state) where they enter competition. The scholarships may be used to attend any high school (tuition only), college or university in the United States. Scholarships are good for seven years starting from the first payment requested and will be paid directly to the recipient's high school, college, or university. Applicants must prepare an oration on the following assigned topic for 2026: Amendment IV; Article III, Section 3; Article IV, Section 4; and Article VI, Clause 3. The Contestant Application must be filled out and signed by the contestant, the principal of the high school, and parent or guardian. Both the Prepared Oration and Contestant Application must be submitted to the County Chairman no later than November 22, 2025. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The James Cothran, KD3NI, Scholarship will be awarded to those with any active Amateur Radio License Class. Applicants must be residents of the Atlantic Division, the Roanoke Division, the Southeastern Division or Washington, D.C. Applicants may be pursuing any field of study in any institution. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The East Coast Amateur Radio Service (ECARS) Scholarship will be awarded to those with active Technician Class or higher. Applicants must reside in the general coverage areas of ECARS including ARRL Atlantic, Great Lakes, Hudson, New England, and Roanoke Divisions. Applicants must be pursuing their studies at a two-year trade school or 4-year undergraduate institution. Applicants should generally be between the ages of 17 and 25 at the time of the award, but older applicants retraining in a changing job market will be considered. Applicants must submit transcripts which must cover the applicant's entire high school career to date and, if in college, must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to those with a General Class License or higher. Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor's degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields. Applicants must submit transcripts which must cover the applicant's entire high school career to date and, if in college, must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. For students applying for graduate school assistance, high school transcripts are not necessary. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The Yankee Clipper Contest Club Youth Scholarship will be awarded to those with an active General Class License or higher. Applicants must have residence and college or university attendance within 175 miles of YCCC center which is in Erving, MA. MA, RI, CT and Long Island, NY, most of VT and NH, portions of ME, eastern NY and northeastern sections of PA and NJ. Applicants must be pursuing a 2-year or 4-year program at an accredited college or university. The recipient must be 22 years or younger as of June 1 of the year of the grant. Applicants must submit transcripts which must cover the applicant's entire high school career to date and, if in college, must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The Henry Broughton, K2AE, Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to those with a General Class License or higher. Applicants must have residence within 70 miles of Schenectady, New York. Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, sciences, or similar field at an accredited 4-year college or university. Applicants must submit transcripts which must cover the applicant's entire high school career to date and, if in college, must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. For students applying for graduate school assistance, high school transcripts are not necessary. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.