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Strategic Scholarships

What is a CPS "strategic" scholarship?
A CPS Strategic Scholarship is a scholarship that is offered by an organization, company, institution, foundation, individual or family that specifically targets and awards Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school students. There are millions of scholarships that students can apply for; however, it is the goal of the Office of Pathways to College and Career to identify scholarship opportunities that specifically target CPS students as recipients.

Why is it important for CPS students to apply for these "strategic" scholarships?
Because the preferred applicants are, in part or as a whole, CPS students!

Black History Month Essay Competition

City of Chicago - City Treasurer - Stephanie D. Neely

Scholarship Description: The City Treasurer’s Office of Chicago is the custodian and manager of all cash and investments of the City of Chicago. Each year the City Treasurer’s Office sponsors a Black History Month Essay Competition. The winner of this competition will receive a $1,000 non-renewable scholarship to support the cost of attending the first year of college. The check will be issued to the college where student enrolls in the fall of 2013.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000

Scholarship Deadline: Monday, February 11, 2013. The application period is closed

CEF Engineering Student Incentive Awards

Chicago Engineers’ Foundation of the Union League Club

Scholarship Description The Chicago Engineers’ Foundation of the Union League Club of Chicago offers incentive awards of $800 to CPS seniors graduating in the spring 2012 who are admitted to an engineering program at an accredited four-year college of engineering, and who intend to enroll in the fall of 2013. Last year 30 graduates received this award.

Scholarship Award Amount: $800. Approximately 40 awards are available.

Scholarship Deadline: April 24, 2013

Chicago Public Schools UNCF Scholarship

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

Scholarship Description: The Chicago Public Schools UNCF Scholarship provides a 4-year renewable scholarships to CPS high school seniors who have a demonstrated financial need, academic leadership potential and plan to attend one of the 38 UNCF member colleges or universities.

Scholarship Award Amount: Up to $10,000 based on need

Scholarship Deadline: 3/29/13 for on-line application. Recommendation letters must be in the system by 3/29/13, no exceptions.

CME Mayoral Award for Student Achievement

CME Group

Scholarship Description: The CME Group Center for Innovation Mayoral Award for Student Achievement was established in 1986 by CME in conjunction with the Mayor's Office and the Chicago Board of Education. The purpose of this award is to encourage outstanding Chicago public high school students to achieve excellence and is an acknowledgement of their exceptional accomplishments.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000

Scholarship Deadline: 2/1/2013 The application period is closed

Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship

Comcast

Scholarship Description: The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program is a program for high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership skills, academic achievement and a commitment to community service.
Since 2001, the program has recognized more than 13,300 students around the country—and given away more than $13.4 million in scholarship grants

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000

Scholarship Deadline: 12/7/2012 The application period is closed

Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship

Delta Sigma Theta - Chicago

Scholarship Description: Delta Sigma Theta awards academic scholarships to select African American high school seniors who will attend a four-year college or university.

Scholarship Award Amount: $500 - $4,000

Scholarship Deadline: March 1, 2013

Dolores Saxton-Walker Scholarship Award

Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council

Scholarship Description: The late Dolores Saxton-Walker was an active member of the ChicagoMSDC and a spirited entrepreneur who was devoted to mentoring and nurturing young people. She prepared youth for the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. The scholarship will be awarded to high school seniors that are aspiring to be an entrepreneur or seeking a business major at a recognized college or university.

Scholarship Award Amount: $3,000

Scholarship Deadline: 1/11/2013 The application period is closed

Education Assistance Program (EAP)

Education Assistance Program (EAP)

Scholarship Description: The Chicago Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. has established the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) to grant financial awards of $1,000 or $1,500 to students who demonstrate the qualities of the 15,000 African Americans who received aviation training at Tuskegee Alabama from 1941 – 1948.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000 - $1,500

Scholarship Deadline: February 28, 2013

Edward G Irvin Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship

Edward G Irvin Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship

Scholarship Description: Edward G Irvin Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship

Scholarship Deadline: 4/12/2013

Gread "Lefty" McKinnis Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Gread 'Lefty' McKinnis Memorial Foundation

Scholarship Description: Gread "Lefty" McKinnis was a pitcher in the famous Negro Baseball League. The Memorial Foundation Scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to high school seniors who are admitted to an accredited two or four-year college or university.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000

Scholarship Deadline: March 15, 2013

Money Smart Kid Essay Contest

Money Smart Kid

Scholarship Description: In support of Chicago's Money Smart Week 2012, taking place April 21-28, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its partner organizations are once again sponsoring the Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. Students in grades 5-8 are encouraged to answer this year's Money Smart Question with an essay of 300 words or less,

Scholarship Award Amount: $2,500 - $5,000

Scholarship Deadline: 3/21/2013

One Million Degrees Scholarship

Scholarship Description: One Million Degrees (OMD) empowers low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work and in life. OMD Scholars benefit from financial, academic, and professional development opportunities including: a mentor and monthly development workshops, intensive academic advising, free one-on-one tutoring in any academic subject, and tuition assistance and a stipend to defray the cost of books, uniforms, and transportation.

Scholarship Award Amount: based on need

Scholarship Deadline: 4/16/2013

Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship

Phi Beta Kappa

Scholarship Description: The Phi Beta Kappa Association of the Chicago-Area (PBKACA) will offer a one-year $5,000 scholarship ($2,500 per semester) to an outstanding 2012 graduate from the Chicago Public Schools for continuation of his/her education in college. The goal is to enable the recipient to benefit from higher education while pursuing academic excellence in keeping with the ideals of Phi Beta Kappa.

Scholarship Award Amount: $5,000

Scholarship Deadline: March 1, 2013

Posse

Posse Foundation

Scholarship Description: Since 1989, The Posse Foundation has identified, recruited and trained 4,223 public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential to become Posse Scholars. Posse extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, multicultural teams—Posses—of 10 students.These students—many of whom might have been overlooked by traditional college selection processes—receive four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships from Posse’s partner institutions of higher education. Most important, Posse Scholars graduate at a rate of 90 percent and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their professional careers.

Scholarship Award Amount: Four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships.

Scholarship Deadline: June 2013

President's Award Program

University of Illinois at Chicago

Scholarship Description: High achieving newly admitted freshmen from historically underrepresented groups; high achieving students from low-sending Illinois counties defined as counties sending an average of two or fewer students per academic year to the University of Illinois in the past five year period; and high achieving dependent students whose families are not expected to contribute to the cost of their education as verified through FAFSA and financial aid application processes are eligible for consideration for the PAP award. Eligibility is based on a combination of ACT composite score and class rank. Application for the award is made through the regular admissions review process; once admitted eligible students receive individual review for the PAP.

Scholarship Award Amount: $5,000 a year for 4 years (8 semesters) - $20,000 total

Scholarship Deadline: January 31, 2013

Pullman Educational Foundation Scholarship

George M. Pullman Educational Foundation

Scholarship Description:The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation awards Pullman Scholars last-dollar scholarships ranging from $200-$5,000 ($4,000 for incoming first-year students) per year, depending on the scholars’ financial need. Pullman Scholars who remain in good academic standing are invited to renew their scholarship for up to four years (eight semesters) of full-time undergraduate study.

Scholarship Award Amount: $200 - $4,000

Scholarship Deadline: March 29, 2013

Society of Women Engineers Chicago Regional Section Scholarship

Society of Women Engineers - Chicago

Scholarship Description: Scholarships are awarded to graduating female students accepted into an engineering or computer science program at an accredited college or university.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,500

Scholarship Deadline: April 15, 2013

Wentcher Foundation Scholarship

Wentcher Educational Foundation Scholarship

Scholarship Description: The Wentcher Educational Fund plans to make several renewable scholarship grants to deserving CPS high school seniors for the class of 2013 to meet part of their expenses in pursuing higher education. The funds will be paid directly to the institution in which the successful applicants enroll.

Scholarship Award Amount: $7,500

Scholarship Deadline: March 1, 2013 or until the first 350 applications are received

William J Cook Scholarship Fund

Chicago Community Trust

Scholarship Description: The Chicago Community Trust established the William J. Cook Scholarship Fund to assist male high school seniors from Cook County, Illinois who plan to continue their education in an accredited four-year college or university.

Scholarship Award Amount: $1,000 to $5,000

Scholarship Deadline: April, 2013 (exact deadline to be released in February, 2013)

Zeta Phi Beta Diamond Dove Achievement Award

Zeta Phi Beta

Scholarship Description: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Tau Zeta Chapter in partnership with Zeta Tau Zeta White Rose Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce The “Diamond Dove” Achievement Awards. Scholarships are given in honor of members of the chapter who have dedicated fifty or more years of service to the Sorority. Awards will be presented to eligible graduating African-American female high school seniors and eligible past recipients in the Chicago area.

Scholarship Award Amount: $500 -$1,000

Scholarship Deadline: 12/7/2012 The application period is closed

More Information

Boyd, Marcia
K-12 Advising Department Project Manager
mlboyd1@cps.k12.il.us
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