Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness | Housing First for Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans

Give US Your Poor is proud to partner with the Horatio Alger Association in offering college scholarships to homeless and at-risk students. The Horatio Alger Association provides approximately 1,000 scholarships each year to eligible students who have overcome adversity in their lives.

For the first time this year, in partnership with Give US Your Poor, the Association is reaching out directly to students who have experienced homelessness to invite them to apply for their scholarship programs.

The Horatio Alger Association provides scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. National scholarships are awarded at $20,000. Scholarships in each state are also awarded at various amounts.

Applications for Fall 2010 may be accessed online at https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships from August 1 until October 30, 2010.

We know that a quality education is one way to prevent and to end the cycle of homelessness, as it can help with social networks, career development and life skills. By offering scholarships to students who have experienced homelessness, we hope to play a key role in empowering students to pursue their dreams and to create a fulfilling life. We are immensely grateful to the Horatio Alger Association and proud to partner with them in assisting hard-working, homeless high school students to attend college and follow their dreams.

Who is eligible

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

enrollment full time as a high school senior, progressing normally toward graduation in the Spring/Summer 2011, with plans to enter college no later than the fall following graduation;
a strong commitment to pursuing and completing a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution located in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution. Idaho, Louisiana, and Montana state scholarship recipients must pursue and complete a degree at specific colleges and universities. Please see the individual program description for those requirements);
critical financial need ($50,000 or less adjusted gross income per family is preferred, if higher explanation must be provided);
involvement in co-curricular and community activities;
demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
United States Citizenship.

How to apply

Click here to access the Horatio Alger Association website online application and click on the Apply Now button in the photo.