The 2023 Competitive Scholarship Program is now open. The deadline to submit an application is March 22, 2023.
Following are the available scholarships for 2023. In addition to the General Eligibility Criteria, many scholarships have specific donor-defined eligibility requirements. Please read each scholarship description carefully and address the specific requirements in the scholarship listing.
Unless otherwise stated, the scholarships below are only open to individuals that live in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Easton, Trumbull, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, and Milford. If you live in a town not listed, we have scholarships available to most other public high schools throughout Fairfield County through each school’s guidance office. Please review our location-based designated scholarships and visit your guidance office to ask about all scholarships available to graduating seniors. Each high school has its own deadline date, so please visit them as soon as possible.
Skilled Trade
Arthur A. Lunin “Learn a Trade” Scholarship
- Must be a high school graduate from a public high school in the greater Bridgeport area.(Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Easton, Trumbull, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, and Milford)
- For full or part-time study in an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university, technical or vocational school with focus on a degree or skilled trade certificate for a specific vocation or profession. Accredited programs may include culinary arts, computer graphics or computer-aided drafting, engineering, domestic engineering teaching degree or nursing. Other areas of study may apply as well.
- Two letters of recommendation are required.
- Renewable scholarship with submission of renewal application and transcript.
Fairfield Prep, Lauralton Hall, Notre Dame
Chiota Family Scholarship
- Applicant must be a graduating senior from Fairfield Prep (Fairfield), Lauralton Hall (Milford), or
- Notre Dame High School (Fairfield).
- Must be planning to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Town of residence is not applicable.
- Must demonstrate good moral character, good citizenship and a commitment to community.
Women, Optometry
Dorothy Weitzner Kornblut Scholarship
- Applicant must be a female student attending an accredited College of Optometry.
- Preference shall be given to a resident of (1) Fairfield County, (2) the State of Connecticut, or (3) New England, in that order.
- This scholarship is awarded through the CT Association of Optometrists. Please visit their website for application details: https://www.cteyes.org/scholarships
Special Needs
Edward A. Dworken Memorial Scholarship
- Must be a graduating senior from any high school in these Greater Bridgeport Area cities and towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull or Westport.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Applicants who are handicapped or with special needs are encouraged to apply.
- Preference will be given to applicants entering a field which works with special needs or handicapped youth.
Industrial Arts
Edward C. Hawley Scholarship
- Must be for study at an accredited college in the field of industrial arts (including but not limited to:
- architecture
- automotive mechanics
- building construction
- computer-aided design
- drafting
- electrical engineering
- electronics
- mechanical drawing
- metals
- technology education
- It is preferred that the applicant is a graduate of Bullard-Havens Tech, although it is not a requirement.
Bassick High School
Edward R. Kasparek Memorial Scholarship
- Applicant must be a graduate of Bassick High School.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Bridgeport High School, Business or Accounting
Ernest & Joan Trefz Scholarship
- Applicant must be a graduate of a Bridgeport high school.
- Must be planning to major in the field of business or accounting.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Trade, Technical, Vocational or Certificate Program
Greater Bridgeport Area General Scholarship
- Must be a graduating senior from any high school in these Greater Bridgeport Area cities and towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull or Westport.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university, vocational school, trade school, technical school or certificate program.
Public High School
Helen Redding Scholarship
- Must be graduating from a public high school.
- Must have at least a “B” or 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Must demonstrate socially acceptable behavior.
- Preferred but not required that the applicant be African-American.
- Preferred but not required that the applicant graduated from or attended Bryant Elementary School in Bridgeport, where Mrs. Redding taught.
Bridgeport Housing Authority Resident
Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Scholarship
- Applicants must be residents of properties under the Bridgeport Housing Authority’s management.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university, vocational school, trade school, technical school or certificate program.
Bridgeport Area High School
Irving Loeb Kornblut Award
- Applicant must be a graduate of a Bridgeport high school.
- Applicant must be accepted at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Music
Jack & Roselyn Goloff Nowitz Musical Scholarship
- Applicant must be planning to enter the field of music or music education.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Cancer Survivor
Jeff Keith Scholarship
- Applicant must be a cancer survivor or currently have cancer.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Women and Low-Income
John D. Kelly Aviation Scholarship Fund
- Must plan to pursue a career as a pilot or aircraft maintenance technician.
- Women of African American, LatinX or other diverse backgrounds encouraged to apply.
- Available through the Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians or the Florida Institute of Technology; contact schools directly for more information and to apply
Bridgeport Area High School
Kay & Louis F. Samotus Scholarship
- Applicant must be a graduate of a Bridgeport high school.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Applicants must indicate in Personal Statement/Essay how education has helped (or will help) you achieve your dreams or goals.
Keys Programs
Keys Scholarship
- Must have completed at least 3 years of KEYS programs.
- Must be a graduating senior from any high school in these Greater Bridgeport Area cities and towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull or Westport.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university, vocational school, trade school, technical school or certificate program.
Family Affected by Industrial Accident
L’Ambiance Scholarship
- Must be a graduating senior from any high school in these Greater Bridgeport Area cities and towns: Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull or Westport.
- Awarded to a student whose immediate family has been affected by an industrial accident.
Performing Arts
La Danza Scholarship
- Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Must demonstrate evidence of genuine interest or prior experience in the performing arts (including music, dance, theatre or opera).
- Applicants are required to complete an additional one-page essay describing specific arts involvement.
- Recipients are also to return to the Barnum Festival La Danza annual event following their award to perform or make a contribution on the theme of “linking cultures through the arts”.
- Two Letters of Recommendation required with the completed application.
African-American
Les Treize Scholarships
- Must be a graduating senior from a high school in: Bridgeport, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford or Trumbull.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university.
- Applicant must be African-American.
Social Justice
Peter Hanson Social Justice Scholarship Fund
- Must be a graduating high school senior from a Bridgeport high school.
- Awarded based upon an applicant’s support of social justice and social responsibility, appreciation for cultural differences, strong belief system, passion for living, sensitivity to issue of peace, environmental action and human rights.
- Renewal based upon good academic standing and annual report completion.
- Essay required regarding commitment to social justice and community service.
Science
Richard K. Schmidt / Aquarion Science Scholarship
- Applicant must be planning to major in the physical sciences; including but not limited to: biology, chemistry, physics or engineering.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Education
Richard Mayer Scholarship
- Applicant must be majoring in education
- Applicant must be a Bridgeport resident graduating from Bassick High School, Central High School, Warren Harding High School, or a Bridgeport resident graduating from Achievement First
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Education
Rose Kornblut Gay Scholarship Fund
- Applicant must be majoring in education
- Applicant must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university (not a community college).
- Preference given to a student who will be attending Smith College in Northampton, Mass
- If not attending Smith College, student must be attending a college or university within Connecticut.
Performing Arts
Ruth Carlson Horn Scholarship
- Offered to applicants majoring in music, performing arts, fine arts or a closely related field.
- Preference will be given to applicants who will be attending an accredited college or university in New England.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
Stamford, Hispanic Descent
Sheyla M. Ramos Scholarship
- Must be a Stamford resident graduating from a public Stamford high school
- Must be of Hispanic descent
- Must have graduated high school with at least a 3.0 GPA
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
3.0 GPA or Higher
Sonneborn Scholarship
- Must demonstrate strong academic potential (3.0 GPA or higher).
- Must have financial need.
Bridgeport, Hispanic Descent
Spanish Merchants Association Scholarship
- Applicant must be a graduate of Bassick, Harding or Central High School in Bridgeport
- Must be of Hispanic descent.
- Must have high academic average of 3.0 GPA or better.
- Must be accepted to an accredited 4-year college or university.
Full-time
Sumner Simpson Scholarship
- Preference is given to children and relatives of former Raybestos employees.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university, vocational school, trade school, technical school or certificate program.
Healthcare
THE EMPLOYEES TUBERCULOSIS AND RESPIRATORY ASSOCIATION (ETRA) HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP
- Available to current full-time undergraduate or graduate student and to graduating high school seniors enrolled at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Open to students that are residents of any Fairfield County town.
- Be pursuing specialized study in the medical or health fields.
- Demonstrate community involvement.
- Renewable scholarship with submission of renewal application and transcript.
Architecture
Theodore Muller Scholarship
- Have a connection to the 9 Town Greater Bridgeport Area either as a native resident, high school graduate, or current resident. (Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Easton, Trumbull, Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, and Milford)
- Must demonstrate strong academic achievement with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Must be majoring in Architecture.
Bridgeport High School
Thomas Carroll Scholarship
- Must be graduating high school senior from a Bridgeport high school.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university.
Business, Finance
Walter Breslav, Jr. Scholarship
- Available to applicants seeking a Bachelor’s degree in business and/or finance.
- Must plan to attend and be a full-time student at an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Preference given to applicants that demonstrate a strong social conscience.
This scholarship is offered on a biyearly basis. Applications will be accepted again in early 2024.
Special Scholarship Awards
with Guidance Counselor Recommendation Only
Magnus Wahlstrom Leadership Award
- Must be nominated AND recommended by your guidance counselor (include letter of recommendation on school letterhead signed by your guidance counselor).
- Must be a high school senior graduating in the spring semester.
- Demonstrate a passion for learning, a deep interest in academics and a desire for continued education.
- Be recognized for outstanding academic and social leadership in his or her school and peer community.
- Show personal characteristics which suggest future success in our society and illustrate an interest in making an impact on the community.
- Plan to attend an accredited 4-year college or university.
- Must submit a second essay with the application. In the essay, please tell us about your leadership skills. Describe how you have been an outstanding leader in your school, club or community. Describe a specific example of a meaningful experience during your high school career where you showed leadership and how others responded to you.
- NOTE: This scholarship is renewable for a total of 4 years provided that the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 and submits a renewal application each year.
