The 2024 scholarship season is over.
Congratulations to all the students who received an award this year. We are so proud of you!
Our Scholarship Program
The Holyoke Community College Foundation offers more than $300,000 in life-changing scholarships each year to new, current, and transfer students. This is money that our students never have to pay back. Scholarship awards can be spent on tuition, books and supplies, and other resources depending on the award and amount.
2025 SCHOLARSHIP SEASON DATES
Current application dates and add COMING SOON!
WHY APPLY?
- With a scholarship, students can focus on learning instead of worrying about tuition or associated costs.
- Scholarships are student aid you do not have to pay back! This means you graduate with less - or in some cases - no debt.
- We have many scholarships based on financial need, academic excellence, student leadership, and/or community service. Not all scholarships are solely based on financial need.
HOW TO APPLY:
- Complete the scholarship application
- Need help with the essay? Visit the scholarship resource center!
- Transferring? We have scholarships for students transferring to a four-year institution. Transfer students are encouraged to apply!
QUESTIONS?
- Email scholarships@hcc.edu
- Call 413.552.2182
- Visit the NEW Scholarship Resource Center in DON 158
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scholarship Resources
getting started
How can I access the scholarship application?
The 2024 scholarship season has ended. Please check back soon for information on the 2025 scholarship season.
Can I apply if I don't have an HCC email address?
All applicants must be an HCC student with an HCC email address. If you are a new accepted student, please reach out to the admissions office to verify that you have an HCC email address.
GENERAL
Who is eligible for an HCC Foundation scholarship?
Any current or accepted HCC student who has an HCC email address.
How many applications do I need to fill out?
There is one simple online application to fill out. AwardSpring will then automatically apply you to all the scholarship opportunities for which you qualify.
Can I save my application and come back later?
Yes! AwardSpring automatically saves your progress in the application, so you can always log back in to complete it.
How will I receive my scholarship award?
Your offer will be emailed to your HCC email address. The email will have instructions on how to accept your award. You will also see a status beside scholarship applications on the "Home" tab displayed as "Offered." Once all requirements have been met, your award will be applied to your fall and spring bills 30 days after the beginning of the semester.
When will I know if I have or have not received a scholarship award?
All students will receive notification whether or not they have received an award by the end of the semester.
Can international students apply?
Yes! All HCC students are encouraged to apply!
What if I don't qualify for financial aid?
If you don't qualify for financial aid, attach a copy of the first two pages of the most recent head of household tax return.
What if I am transferring?
There are a number of scholarships for students who are transferring – so please still apply!
What if I am a part-time student?
Our scholarships often have a minimum number of credits being taken each semester, with some as low as six credits.
Can I change my reference contact?
Yes. Sign in to your application and click on "References." You can resend a request for a reference or enter a new reference.
Scholarship Essay
As part of the scholarship application, students are required to write an essay. The essay should be between 250-500 words, using one of the following prompts:
- What are your academic and/or career goals? How will this scholarship help you achieve them?
- Share a time when you demonstrated leadership and its impact on those around you.
- How have you overcome a significant challenge in your life, and how has it impacted your personal growth?
FAFSA Application
New and continuing HCC students are encouraged to complete the most recent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. After you complete your FAFSA, you will receive a link to access your SAR (Student Aid Report) within five business days of filing. HCC's school code is 002170. For questions about the FAFSA application, please visit our financial aid page.
Can I apply for a scholarship every year?
Yes! Receiving a scholarship does not prevent you from applying again next year.
- Email scholarships@hcc.edu
- Call 413.552.2182
- Visit the NEW Scholarship Resource Center in DON 158
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FAFSA: Any student applying for financial aid from the government needs to fill out the free application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. The online form offers some benefits to the paper version, such as ensuring that no information is missing or conflicting before the applicant submits the form.
Your personal essay gives you the chance to show the scholarship committees what makes you unique!
A strong essay will include: personal, professional, and educational accomplishments (what you have done); aspirations (what do you hope to do); and how scholarship support will help you. Here are some tips to help you write your essay:
- Read essay instructions carefully. Make sure you understand exactly what is being asked of you.
- Brainstorm ideas. Write your ideas down in an organized fashion in preparation before you begin your essay.
- Prepare an outline. Before you begin writing your essay, prepare an outline. Your outline should address each element identified in the essay instructions.
- Develop outline points. Begin your essay by expanding on each point identified in your outline.
- Write clearly. Use clear, concise, and simple language throughout the essay.
- Tell us about yourself. Describe your greatest successes, accomplishments, and personal achievements. Include educational, career, and/or personal goals, significant obstacles you have overcome, personal and financial needs that are unique to you, and any special circumstances that have had a significant impact on your academic performance.
- Proofread your essay. Check and double-check your essay to correct any spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors.
HCC's Dwight Writing Center offers a series of workshops for students who need help with the essay. Please call 413.552.2599 or drop in at DON 238 for more information
the importance of thanking your donor
You will be required to take some time to compose a short thank-you, which you will include as part of your acceptance of the scholarship. Your thank-you should be sincere and should express your appreciation for the award and the impact it will have on your life. The tone should be formal but pleasant, and the body of the letter should run no more than a couple of well-written paragraphs.
Scholarship donors are generous, caring people who give to support the educational endeavors of students like you. Receiving a well-written thank-you note and video from a student is a special touch that lets the donor know that their scholarship is greatly appreciated. Your words of gratitude remind them why they gave in the first place, and often help to secure continuing gifts for future students. You can find information on the donors.
include in your thank-you
- Express your appreciation for the scholarship and the impact it has had on you and your family ("Thank you for making this scholarship possible" or "Your scholarship makes it possible for me to concentrate more fully on my courses")
- Add a personal statement - give the donor a sense of who you are, what you have overcome to attend college, your personal and/or professional goals, etc.
- Please note that the donor did not select you as the recipient, but provided the funds for the scholarship, i.e. "Thanks for making the {name of scholarship} possible..."
- Be genuine and speak from your heart!
- Check spelling and grammar after you have completed your thank-you note
The following are some sample letters. Do not copy them word for word – use them only as examples, and remember to make your thank-you personal.
Aidan Whitely, recipient of the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship
To the generous donors responsible for the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship, I am more grateful than you will ever know. As a young man growing up I've always had one dream to one day work in the medical field with kinesiology and I will continue to push and follow my dreams every day. Words can't express how grateful I am to be able to receive this award, especially growing up with my younger sister and my mother being our primary caregiver. I can't wait to tell my mother that I've been chosen to receive this ward and that all my handwork is starting to pay off. Once again thank you to the donors of the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship for allowing students like me to follow their dreams, help them with our financial needs, and I will make sure to make the absolute best out of this opportunity and work towards my ultimate goal of being a kinesiologist in the future.
Emma Czarniecki, recipient of the Patricia L. Bonnet '82 Scholarship
To the donors of the Patricia L. Bonnet '82 Scholarship, I wish to express my utmost gratitude. I greatly appreciate your support towards furthering my education. I truly feel blessed to be given such an amazing opportunity to continue my education at such a giving, supportive college. I wish to thank the generous donor for their support in getting me to the next step in my life. I cannot wait to begin this next chapter, and your support puts me so much closer to achieving my dreams. I will make sure to make the most out of this wonderful opportunity and I will not forget your kindness and support. Thank you again for your generosity and I look forward to beginning this next step of my life where I can help others as you have helped me.
Angelica Gavrilov, recipient of the Panitch Family Scholarship
To the donors of the Panitch Family Scholarship, I wholeheartedly express my gratitude for being selected as a recipient of your scholarship! I am so grateful; this is a huge blessing to me. I grew up in a first generation, low-SES immigrant family and on top of that don't have my parents support in my educational journey. I don't receive financial support from them: so to be financially supported by the Panitch family brings warmth and a grin to my face. It means a lot and I can assure you, by investing into me, you are investing into the world bringing it one step closer to wholeness. Thank you for being the supportive family that I need! God bless you and may your giving always bring you much reward and delight.
Millions of dollars in scholarships go unclaimed each year! Following is a list of resources to assist you in your search for scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Please be advised that these scholarship websites are not associated with the Holyoke Community College or the Holyoke Community College Foundation.
Community Foundation: The Community Foundation of Western Mass. administers, through one centralized application process, nearly 100 scholarship and loan funds.
University of Massachusetts Boston Foster Furcolo Transfer Scholarship: Awards two-year scholarships covering tuition and most mandatory fees to one graduate of each public community college in Massachusetts.
College Board: Connect student profiles to a database containing over 2,300 scholarships, internships, and loans.
Elks National Foundation: Elks National Foundation Scholarships
www.finaid.org: A comprehensive site that has information on loans, scholarships, and saving plans. It even includes interactive calculators to help project what your child's college costs will be and how much you should be stashing away.
Fast Web: Matches student profiles to a database containing over 600,000 scholarships. Also, alert students to application deadlines or when new scholarships are added.
Varsity Tutors: Varsity Tutors holds a monthly $1,000 college scholarship contest where students write an essay responding to a monthly prompt. Visitors to the Varsity Tutors scholarship webpage can vote via social media for submitted entries. Varsity Tutors review the top five entries with the most votes at the end of the month and one winner is subsequently chosen to receive the $1,000 college scholarship.
Big Y: Awards for employees and customers.
GoCollege: In an ABC network 20/20 program about college scholarships, the ABC network explicitly pointed to GoCollege as a reliable source for scholarships.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is the largest Hispanic scholarship-granting organization in the nation. HSF provides financial assistance to outstanding Hispanic students in higher education throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Accredited Schools Online: A free guidebook resource dedicated to helping minority students navigate the often-challenging issues of financial aid, scholarships, and college affordability.
Scholarships.com: Scholarship database of 3,000 sources worth up to $3 billion.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation: Harry S. Truman Scholars
Nordson BUILDS Scholarship Program: Scholarships are targeted at students who live or attend school near a Nordson facility.
Community College Nursing Scholarship Program: The Community College Nursing Scholarship program is designed to attract, incentivize, and encourage a diverse population of students to enroll in and complete a postsecondary credential or degree in the nursing profession at a Massachusetts community college.
*Please note the Foundation is not responsible for the overall reliability or accuracy of the above sites. Additionally, we can't guarantee that you'll receive a scholarship(s) from the organizations found on the above sites. (Updated 12/4/23)
- Apply to become a MassTeach Scholar before you transfer
- Take the MTEL and earn your Bachelor's degree in STEM at a state university
- Teach for at least four years at a local high school
As a MassTeach Scholar, you will access a defined transfer pathway for a teaching concentration at Westfield State University. You will be accepted as a STEM major leading to an initial teaching license, and then you will receive a $20,000 stipend for your junior and senior years of college as you complete a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
Funded through the National Science Foundation's Robert F. Noyce Scholarship program.
Coming Soon!
Growing up in a less privileged community has helped me realize the value of a college education. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies more & grow as an individual."
– Tyler Wool, recipient of the Kenneth J. Murphy Scholarship
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SHARE GRATITUDE
Students who received scholarships from the HCC Foundation in 2020 share what receiving a scholarship meant to them.
