Student Scholarships come in many forms, on many levels.  The most local level of scholarship money is found here at the high school in the spring.  RHAM is fortunate to have local organizations from the tri-town area and private individuals donate scholarship funds each year.  Please check this page for updates and information throughout the school year.

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving scholarships are now available. There is a brand-new application this year...students complete just one application to apply for multiple scholarships. For more information visit the FAQ page.



·  Deadline to apply: February 4, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

·  Go to hfpg.org/scholarships.

·  Click the link to the log on page, create a profile, and log back in.

·  On the dashboard task bar, click on "Apply."

·  Then click "Apply" to open the application.

·  Your answers determine the scholarships for which you are eligible.

·  Scholarships will be listed after you complete the application.

·  Some scholarships will require additional questions or essays to apply.

Community Scholarships: As a service to the community, HFPG offers individuals and organizations across the Greater Hartford region the ability to promote their scholarships through their website. Each Community Scholarship has its own unique criteria and application process, and the list of available scholarships updates throughout the year. Click here to search the Community Scholarship listings. 

American Educational Guidance Center, Inc. has a site that links to thousands of resources to help people identify their educational, scholarship and financial aid options. You may access this information by visiting: http://www.college-scholarships.com/ .

Imagine America Foundation High School Scholarships: Graduating high school seniors who meet the recommended guidelines are eligible to receive a tuition discount that can be used at career colleges participating in the Imagine America Scholarship Program throughout the nation (see list here: https://www.imagine-america.org/our-schools/ ). For more information please visit: https://www.imagine-america.org/applyforscholarships/  and for criteria and FAQ’s please visit: https://www.imagine-america.org/faqimagine-america-high-school-scholarships/ . There are also scholarship opportunities for Connecticut Trade Schools- please visit https://www.imagine-america.org/high-school-scholarships-connecticut-trade-schools/ .

 Many corporate scholarships are available and can be found by doing simple research at each website.  For example, go to the Best Buy, DunkinDonuts, Big Y sites for information.  All deadline and required materials vary so students need to be organized and dedicated to searching the scholarships.

 Raise.me is a social enterprise working in partnership with the White House and over 180 colleges to expand access to higher education by improving the way students prepare for college—both financially and academically. Rather than waiting until the end of high school to award aid, which is often too late to impact a student’s college ambitions or choices, Raise.me enables students to earn grant aid throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community or joining an extracurricular. The amount that students earn from a college on Raise.me represents a guaranteed minimum amount of aid they’ll receive if they apply and are admitted to that college. Please visit https://www.raise.me/ for full details.

CT Dollars and Sense Financial Literacy Portal: A partnership of state agencies has launched CT Dollars & Sense, an on-line portal that provides one website for Connecticut students and parents to find out how to plan, save and pay for college. Students can get information on scholarships, loans, and college savings plans, and also learn how to budget their money or find internships. Information is available by visiting https://ctdollarsandsense.com/ . 

www.CollegeCovered.com : This site, powered by Discover Student Loans, is a free resource on planning and paying for college with information on Discover Scholarship Sweepstakes Awards.

LendEDU's Guide to College Scholarships is a resource that teaches students and families the importance of searching for scholarships when figuring out how to pay for college. The site now includes a new search tool where students can filter scholarship opportunities based on their grade level, GPA, the scholarship amount, and the requirements of the scholarship. https://lendedu.com/blog/scholarships .

United Negro College Fund manages various scholarship programs and each program has its own eligibility criteria, open/close dates and required documentation. https://scholarships.uncf.org/ 

 Finally, there are a large number of search engines: GoingMerry.com ; fastweb.com ; College Board; Scholarships.com; scholarsapp.com; guaranteed-scholarships.com; School Soup; collegescholarships.org; scholarshipamerica.org- there are many, many more.  Students need to register, enter background information (religion, ethnicity, parent affiliation such as Lions Club, Masons) and the site will kick out all scholarships that the student is eligible to apply for.  Again, great opportunities but there is work required in applying.

***PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION***

• Please be sure that all required documents are attached and all information is completed (don’t forget to include your full address if it is requested- Region 8 encompasses 3 different towns!)

• For transcript, please email your request to (susan.abbatomarco@rhamschools.org ). You must specify whether you need  Official or Unofficial copy/copies and how many of each type.  Only an  unofficial version will be emailed to you. Please allow 2 weekdays to process your request.

• Please notify your counselor if you  will need her to complete information such as comments, GPA,  signature or providing a letter of recommendation prior to submitting your application(s). Please allow 2 weekdays for them to fulfill your request(s).

• Be sure to notate submission deadlines and method of delivery: Some scholarships require that submissions be mailed or emailed to the organization while others need to be dropped off in the school counseling office .  

• If requested, here is the link for the RHAM HS Profile .

**If you have any questions or need assistance accessing an application, please contact

 Ms. Abbatomarco in the school counseling office!** 

Current Scholarship Applications

Honors Graduation Design a Better Future Scholarship: This scholarship is a design-thinking, community-improvement project using their checklist as a guide. You must be a graduating high school senior that will be attending an accredited US-based university, college, or trade school to continue your education. Full details are available on the scholarship website and the FAQ’s & Details page.  Final Deadline: Submit your final application by April 7, 2025 at 11:59 Mountain Time. 

Big Y Scholarship Program: Big Y Scholarships recognize academic merit and achievement and are open to graduating high school seniors. Please visit the scholarship page on their official website and check out the FAQ section to review the most up to date information. Only online applications will be accepted. Deadline: A complete application with required supporting documents must be submitted via their scholarship portal by February 1, 2025. 

The Coolidge Scholarship: Open to HS JUNIORS who will graduate in the spring of 2026 and plan to enroll in college in the fall of 2026. Must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. This scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States. Anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study, may apply to this non-partisan, need-blind, program. Calvin Coolidge worked hard in academics, hence the main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars is academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: demonstrated interest in public policy; an appreciation for the values Coolidge championed; as well as humility and service.  Full details regarding eligibility, required materials and application are available by visiting their website. Deadline: December 11, 2024 ,5PM Pacific Time. *Alert: the application requires that candidates read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and a few other readings and then write three essays. Therefore, it is encouraged that students begin the application early.*

The Hagan Scholarship Foundation: The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, designed to provide recipients with the opportunity to graduate college debt-free. Applicants Must graduate from a high school located in the U.S.; Must have a 3.50 Cumulative Grade Point Average; Must enroll at an Eligible Four-Year College or University following high school graduation; Must maintain a four year or less graduation schedule in college; Must work 240 hours each year, from January 1, 2025 until September 1, 2025. Work must be regularly scheduled work performed under supervision for compensation. Applicant’s Adjusted Gross Household Income reported for 2023 Federal Income Tax Purposes must not have exceeded $100,000. The intended recipient of a Hagan Scholarship is a high-achieving goal-driven student in need of financial assistance in order to attend college. Please visit www.hsfmo.org for full details and brochure. Deadline: December 1, 2024.                                                                                          

The 2024-2025 CT Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship Program (formerly CT Governor’s Scholarship Program): If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please contact your school counselor as soon as possible to begin the application process, but no later than February 7, 2025, in order for her to submit the application on your behalf as is required. Please note these specific guidelines:

• The Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship Program requires eligible high school students to rank in the top 20 percent of their junior year class (upon graduation for all others) and/or have a combined score of 1200 or better on the SAT or have an ACT score of 25 or better. 

• To qualify for the need-based requirement, students must have a federal Student Aid Index (SAI) equal to or below our annual maximum SAI cutoff of 10,999 to be considered for an award. High Schools do not have to determine EFC eligibility.  The Office of Higher Education will determine eligibility based the student’s FAFSA.

• All applicants must submit a 2025-26 FAFSA (FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid ) no later than February 15, 2025.  Students must list an eligible Connecticut institution on the FAFSA for award consideration. The Office of Higher Education gets FAFSA information automatically.

• In order to qualify for an award, students must ultimately attend an eligible Connecticut public or private, not-for-profit institution of higher education with the exception of Wesleyan University and Yale University.

• Student award notifications will be sent, once their FAFSA has been received, to the email address the student entered on their FAFSA.

Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Men’s College Scholarship: The scholarship is designed to identify and reward outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated an ability to excel in the fields of academics, extra-curricular school activities, and community involvement. The scholarship is available to any male, graduating high school senior who is enrolling in a four-year undergraduate college program that commences in fall 2025. Current or future membership in a fraternity is not required. Full details and application are available on their website. Deadline: April 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET. 

The Justin Wisniewski Firefighters Scholarship Fund: In keeping with Justin’s life example, the scholarship is based totally on volunteerism. To be eligible for the scholarship you must be a CT Firefighter, or the spouse, child, grandchild or sibling of a CT Firefighter. Please visit www.ride4justin.com for more information and to download the application. Deadline: March 15, 2025.

Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund: Applicants may attend college anywhere in the United States but must be from New England. Awards are limited to students seeking their first bachelor’s degree at a four-year college in the 2025-2026 academic year. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 to be considered. Students should be involved with sustained community service (in school, the community or at home) and have a history of part-time employment. Applicants must have financial need. Before beginning the application, applicants should use the financial calculator on the Phillips website to be sure they qualify financially. Complete information and eligibility criteria can be found by visiting www.phillips-scholarship.org . Deadlines: Early Response Option is due by noon April 3, 2025 and Regular Application is due by noon May 1, 2025.

Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation, Inc. Horticultural Scholarships: CNF will be awarding 3 scholarships to spring 2025 graduating CT resident students.

· The Lud and Marie Hoffman Scholarship: applicant must be accepted into a course of study beneficial to the Horticultural industry.

· The Howard Jennings Scholarship: The grant will be in the amount of $500.  This is a one-time grant to a CT student, who has been accepted by the University of       Connecticut,  majoring in the field of Horticulture in either the 2 or 4-year program.

· The Michael Johnson Scholarship: This scholarship is for students who are a non-traditional learner. They will be considered on their enthusiasm, diligence, aspirations, and  potential as a valued member of the horticultural field.

Applications and full details/criteria are available by visiting their website.  Deadlines: Applications must be received by March 10, 2025. 

West Hartford Women's Chorale Scholarship: WHWC will offer scholarships to deserving seniors in a Greater Hartford high school. Applicants are chosen because they have been active participants in their high school music program throughout their time in school and plan to continue with music in some capacity in college. Application deadline: February 10, 2025.