The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships for 2023.
Each year, this local foundation presents approximately a dozen scholarships.
Students eligible for these scholarships include those who are majoring in technical education in their high school program and plan to go to college next year. The scholarship foundation also offers a Career Award for students who gain employment in a Career and Technical Education field prior to or soon after graduation and incur expenses as a result of that employment. This award allows the reimbursement of up to $750 for trade-specific expenses such as employment clothing, personal protective equipment, tools, supplies, certifications, credentials and/or licenses.
Award eligibility includes nearly all students enrolled in the Technical Education Center located at Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES. Also eligible are those adults who wish to enroll in vocational training, such as practical nursing, at Herkimer BOCES.
Application forms are now available from school counselors in all Herkimer BOCES area school districts, online for printing at www.herkimer-boces.org/scholarshipfoundation or by calling Shawn Maxson at Herkimer BOCES at 315-867-2023. The deadline for submitting an application is March 1, 2023.
Aside from the scholarships that students apply for, there are special incentive awards available for those pursuing careers in certain areas. These special funds are administered by the Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation and are in addition to the scholarships offered through the general fund.
The special incentive awards are:
- The Paul A. Bouck Memorial Fund provides a scholarship to a student who is entering a field of study that relates to agriculture, a rural-related field or other related areas.
- The Robert A. Moore Memorial Scholarship provides a scholarship to a student who has completed the Herkimer BOCES Visual Communications Media Arts program and plans to further their training in the field of radio and television broadcasting.
- The Special Nursing Fund provides a scholarship to a nursing student in need of financial assistance.
- The Mower Family Farm Fund provides a scholarship to a student who will be pursuing occupations in the field of agriculture.
- The William E. Whitehill Jr. Scholarship provides a scholarship to a student in the Technical Education Center who demonstrates the most improvement while in the program.
- The Chris Brockway Memorial Scholarship Award provides a scholarship to a student who completes the Criminal Justice program.
- The Papaleo/Dady Family Scholarship provides a scholarship to a student who successfully completes a two-year technical education program at BOCES with a minimum grade-point average of 85%.
- The Harry J. Enea Sr. Memorial Scholarship provides a scholarship to a student entering the mortuary science field.
- The Chester A. Scerra Memorial Scholarship provides a scholarship to a student pursuing an education in the field of culinary arts.
- The William E. Busacker Scholarship Award provides a scholarship to a student who has demonstrated leadership in causes that promote change to the status-quo, compassion for the less-fortunate, animal rights or other issues.
- The Hummel Family Scholarship Award provides a scholarship to a student who demonstrated community-minded focus throughout the student’s high school career.
The Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation is unique because all scholarships go to technical education majors, Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation Board President Sharon Baisley said. Among the colleges being attended by winners of last year’s scholarships are Herkimer SUNY, Mohawk Valley Community College, Clarkson University, University of Wyoming and Alfred State College. Several nursing students were awarded scholarships to attend the Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program.
Herkimer Region College & Career Scholarship Foundation 2022 scholarship winners and alternates who attended the 31st annual awards ceremony in May 2022 at the MV Golf & Event Center in Little Falls pose together. From left, Ryan Calhoun, of Poland Central School District; Kathleen Marhaver, of Central Valley Central School District; Sofia Kucerak, of Little Falls City School District; Abigail Fasani, of Central Valley Central School District; AnNi Carroll, of Mount Markham Central School District; Brittany Adams, Adult Practical Nursing Program student from Gloversville; Caroline Pontius, of Herkimer Central School District; Breslin Clark, of Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District, and Rebekah Nichols, of Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District.