2025 Scholarships

Application Deadline: March 19, 2025

The following scholarships are available to all Colonie Central High School Seniors planning to attend a full-time accredited two-year or four-year college or university in Fall 2025.

 

SCHOLARSHIP

CRITERIA

AMOUNT

Above the Rim

(2 Scholarships)

ESSAY: Describe lessons learned from basketball that you will carry with you into adulhood.

- Current Varsity Boys Basketball player

- Intends to enroll at a secondary or vocational school with no full scholarships offers

$500

Greg Aidala Presents: "The Knock-Knock, Who's There?" Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in the Arts

$250

Sheila Allen Memorial Scholarship

 

(1 Scholarship)

 

ESSAY: Please write about the unfulfilled dreams of a specific person who motivates you to success. (600-800 words)

- Female attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- GPA of 2.8 or greater

- Demonstrates community involvement

- Financial or social need (ex: first in family to attend college, family trauma, etc.)

 

Lawrence A. Bach Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Describe your musical activities. What do you feel you have gained from your musical experience? How do you intend to apply these experiences toward your future plans?

- Must be attending a 4-year college

- Currently enrolled in music and has participated in a CCHS performing group all years attending CCHS

- Letter of recommendation from a CCHS music teacher

- Preference will be given to candidates who have used their music to serve the community

$500

Backyard Fence Future Leader Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Student known for acts of kindness, advocate for others

- Strong community service

- Average of 85 or greater

$500

Dr. Thomas A Brown / Cecile B. David Scholarship

 (3 Scholarships)

- Will attend community college, OR

- Pursuing a degree in social work

$500

Ross Buddenhagen Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Attended Lisha Kill Middle School

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Consistent community involvement

$500

Anne Bernice Bytner Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Please describe what it personally means to you to be able to care for the sick

- Pursuing a degree in Nursing

- Has volunteer experience in either a hospital or nursing home

$500

J. Dennis Cafaro Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or Accounting

- Community service, leadership

$1,000

David Michael Camadine Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Outline need for financial aid, describe school activities and leadership, education and career goals, and any unusual hardships brought on by family and personal circumstances.

 - Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- GPA of 2.5 or greater

- Demonstrating financial need, leadership, and community service

$2,500

Cannon Funeral Home Caregiver Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in a Caregiver field (i.e.: nursing, physical therapy, medical, pharmacy)

- Demonstrated caregiving as a volunteer in community-based organizations

$500

Michael and Patricia Carey Appreciation Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Explain your medical / financial situation, reason for attending college and what you hope to accomplish in the future

- Student who has experienced severe medical hardship or had a family member who experienced a medical hardship making it hard for the family to pay college costs

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Award can be given anonymously if desired by student

$1,000

The John F. Cavotta Technology Award

(1 Scholarship)

- Student who has taken technology classes

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university, or vocational school

- Pursuing a degree in technology

$300

Colonie Cheerleading Scholarship

(2 Scholarships)

ESSAY: How has cheerleading affected your life and how will it affect your future plans?

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Community service

$250

Colonie Police Benevolent Assoc. Investment in the Future Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Grade average of 85% or greater

- Community service

$500

Colonie Pride Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Describe how your community service has made a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ Community or on issues important to the LGBTQ+ community. (500 words)

- Student who demonstrates passion to community service

- Has made a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community, or student who identifies as LGBTQ+

$500

Colonie Youth Court Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Please write an essay on the importance of the Youth Court in the community. (250 words)

- Student who has at least 2 years of service in Youth Court, including Senior year

- Grade average of 80% or greater

- Pursing a degree in either teaching, criminal justice, law, political science, sociology, psychology, political science or advocacy related programs

$750

Courage Award

(1 Scholarship)

Student who has shown courage to overcome a difficult life situation or adversity based on immigration status, socio-economic status, sexual identity, gender or race

$250

French and Spanish Language Award

(1 Scholarship)

- Plans to study foreign language in college

- 90% average in foreign language coursework over three years

- Student must be active in CCHS community

$250

Kathleen Grace Yule Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Student must come from single parent household

- Community service

$500

Michael & Karen Grignon Service to Humanity Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in social work, psychology or counseling, or public health

$250

Robert & Patricia Hagen Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Student has achieved success while overcoming academic challenges

$500

Key Club, Yours in Service Scholarships

(2 Scholarships)

ESSAY: How has Key Club affected you? (200-250 words)

- Senior who is a member in good standing of Key Club

- Has shown leadership and volunteerism to school and local community

$250

MacKenzie Kate Malone Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Female senior

- Has a true passion for helping the less fortunate through volunteer work

- Has a love of traveling

- Athlete who runs Cross Country, Track or plays Lacrosse

$1,000

The Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Marcelle Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Displays outstanding effort in Social Studies

$600

Mental Wellbeing Scholarship

 

(1 Scholarship)

 

ESSAY: Mental illness can come in many different forms, visible and invisible, public and private, and can have any different types of effects. Please reflect on how mental health, either yours or the health of your friends and family, has impacted your life and how you are able to live with or combat it.  (500 words)

- Student who is struggling with or has overcome a mental illness

- May also be for a student who is hoping to pursue social work and mental health services

$500

Metro Ford Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in business or automotive technology

- Community involvement, academic achievement

$500

Justin Mirabile Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Why student is deserving of this scholarship

- Technology student enrolling in an accredited college

- Demonstrate academic achievement at CCHS

- Community involvement

$1,000

Musical Advancement Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in music

- Participated for at least 3 years in a high school performing group

- Letter of recommendation from a music teacher (private or school)

$500

Nelson Family Brass Ring Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Discuss the potential for artificial intelligence to end all wars. (300-500 words; submission must be student's own work, not assisted by artificial intelligence)

- Grade average of 80% or greater

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Pursuing a degree in finance, business, or economics

$300

NextGen Engineering Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in the engineering field

$500

Liam Pickett Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAYWhat does theatre mean to you and how will you keep theater alive in your life and community?

- Interested in pursuing a degree in education or chemistry

- Participated in Middle School or High School Drama Clubs, or outside Community Theatre

$1,000

Pure Adapt Web Technologies

(2 Scholarships)

- Grade average over 85

- Will attend college in the Capital Region

- Has an active interest in any area(s) of web technologies

- Pursuing a degree in a related field

 

 

 $500

 

 

Raider Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Community involvement

$500

David Scaringe Memorial Scholarship I

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY:  Why do you feel you are deserving of this scholarship? 

- Pursuing a degree in engineering

- Secondary interest in music

$1,000

David Scaringe Memorial Scholarship II

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in engineering

$1,000

Shana Salecker Marra Memorial Scholarship

(1 scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in Special Education

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

$500

Sherry Family Scholarship

(1 scholarship)

ESSAY: How has running helped you? (300-500 words)

- Ran Cross Country or Track in High School

- Pursuing a degree in a science-related field or business

$400

South Colonie Girls Softball Scholarship

(1 scholarship)

- Female senior

- Participated in the South Colonie Girls Softball League for a minimum of 2 years

$500

Edward J. Szesnat III Memorial Scholarship (4-Year scholarship)

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Describe a lesson you learned by playing sports

- Student athlete or cheerleader

$500 each year

Tabner, Ryan & Keniry LLP Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Student athlete who obtained a Varsity Letter during senior year

- Will attend a 4-year college or university

- Grade average of 85% or greater

$500

The Lauren Tanski Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree in journalism or the arts

- Reference by a CCHS staff member

$500

The Adriana Truesell Memorial Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

- Pursuing a degree or certification in nursing or medical field

$500

The Vito Ramundo Scholarship

 (2 Scholarships)

- One male and one female student

- Attending Siena College

- Pursuing a degree in finance, business, accounting, insurance, or data analytics

$500

West Albany Italian Benevolent Society & Women's Auxiliary Italian Scholarship

(1 Scholarship)

ESSAY: Describe how the Italian language has made a difference in your life.

- Excelled in Italian I and Italian II with an average of 92% or greater

- Demonstrates enthusiasm for the Italian language and culture

- Speaks the Italian language both in class  and outside of class

- Attending a 2 or 4 year college or university

- Community involvement

$500
 

All applicants, if qualified, will automatically be considered for the scholarships listed below, but must apply to South Colonie DFS Chapter Scholarships.

South Colonie Alumni Scholarship

(Apply as SCDFS Chapter Scholarships)

- Community Involvement

- Volunteerism

- Grade average of 80% or greater  

$500

South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Chapter Scholarships  

(Multiple scholarships)

- Community Involvement

- Volunteerism

- Grade average of 80% or greater  

$500

South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Directors Scholarship

(Apply as SCDFS Chapter Scholarships)

- Community Involvement

- Volunteerism

- Grade average of 80% or greater 

 

$500

 

South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Albany County Legislature Scholarships

(4 Scholarships)

- Community Involvement

- Volunteerism

- Grade average of 80% or greater

$600