The Alumni Scholarship Fund

With the recent news regarding Northeast Catholic, many people have been wondering what would happen with the NC Alumni scholarship fund. After gathering information from the Alumni Association, I have attempted to answer many of the questions regarding this fund. Below, you will find the timeline of the evolution of the fund, followed by the latest changes to the fund. If you have any additional questions, please contact the NC Alumni office at 215-289-4994.

History of the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association Memorial Scholarship Fund

April 30, 1968 - Founded to award tuition assistance grants to graduating seniors at NECHS to attend Allentown College of St Francis DeSales (now DeSales University)

1973 – Board of Trustees expanded the number of colleges to also include LaSalle, St Joseph University, Villanova University and St Charles Borromeo Seminary.

1977 – Expanded scholarship program to include sons/daughters of dues paying alumnus. Established a grant to partially underwite the tuition of incoming Freshmen at Northeast Catholic High School. (The Fund was now awarding $106,000 annually to four college students and twenty-one Northeast Catholic students.)

1992 – Due to the threatened closure of North, the college awards were suspended and the fund was now focused solely on tuition assistance grants to incoming freshman. At this time, the fund awarded 57 incoming freshman grants, with an annual value of $165,000.

2008 – The scholarship fund is now awarding 30 grants with an annual value of $250,000, in the following increments: five at $12,000, five at $10,000, ten at $8,000, ten at $6,000. These grants were paid directly to Northeast Catholic in equal semi-annual installments on the students’ behalf. Over the years, the fund has paid out nearly $3.2 million in tuition assistance to Northeast Catholic students.

The Future of the Scholarship Fund
Due to the closing of Northeast Catholic High School, the scholarship fund will change once again. The fund will continue to support catholic education by expanding the mission of the fund to include the tuition assistance grants for high school, college and elementary school students of children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. Please note: Awards will continue to be based on academic success and financial need.

Current award recipients
Any student (NC freshman, sophomores, and juniors) who is receiving a grant from the scholarship fund, will continue to receive tuition assistance, based on their grant contract, provided that student transfers to a Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school. Pleas note: All other contract conditions apply. You should have been notified by the Alumni Association regarding current awards.
College Grants
The 4 years college grants will be awarded to high school seniors at Northeast Catholic, as well as children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These grants may be used at catholic colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region (Contact the NC Alumni Office for the specific colleges/universities that are included.) The student’s application must be submitted while the student is a senior in high school.

High School Grants
The 4 years high school grants will be awarded to 8th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards may be used at any catholic high school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton Dioceses. The student’s application must be submitted while the student is in the 8th grade.

Elementary school Grants
These 3 year elementary school grants will be awarded to 5th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards will be granted to any qualifying student who will be attending a catholic elementary school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton dioceses. The student’s application must be completed while the student is in the 5th grade.

Qualifications and Notes:

1. 1. The student must be a Northeast Catholic senior (in 2010), or the child or grandchild of a dues paying member of The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association.
2. All grants are based on academic success and financial need. Official transcripts and tax information will need to be provided with the applications.
3. Awarding of any grants does not automatically qualify that student for future grants. For example, if a student wins a grant for elementary school, it does not mean that student will automatically qualify for a high school grant. Each level of grants must be applied for separately, and transcripts and tax information must be provided with each application.
4. 
   
   Once a grant is awarded, it will be for the time specified in the contract (3 years for elementary school and 4 years for high school and college awards.) The amount of the award will be divided equally over the number of years for that award.

Tax deductible donations may be sent to the Fund at P. 0. Box 4896, Philadelphia, PA 19124-0896.