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Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation Inc.
James Hughes
Memorial Scholarship
Fund
This scholarship has been founded by friends and family to honor the memory of the late James Hughes of Philadelphia, a beloved and respected leader of his community and a founding member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors.
The purpose of this program is to provide recognition and financial assistance to low-income, disadvantaged students residing in the city of Philadelphia, who attend any of the public high schools or charter schools in the School District of Philadelphia
and who wish to enroll in universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The students chosen for the scholarship should have demonstrated their ability and desire to achieve academically despite adversities and should have need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses. The awards are “last-dollar” scholarships and not to replace other scholarships or grants. |
| Amount Awarded: |
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Maximum awards of $1,500 ($750 for fall semesters and $750 for spring semester) will be made to selected students. |
| Eligibility: |
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- The student must have graduated from any public high school or charter school in the School District of Philadelphia.
- The student must be a full-time undergraduate student accepted at a PASSHE university, with priority given to incoming freshmen.
- The student must have financial need as determined by the standard financial need requirements of the universities.
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| Student Requirements: |
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- Students must fill out a James Hughes Memorial Scholarship (JHMS) application form.
- Students must submit 2 written references using the letter of reference form (1 academic/professional and one personal.
- Students must submit a current high school transcript.
- Students are required to write a 250-word essay on why they feel they are deserving of the Hughes scholarship, their desire to achieve academically and how they have overcome adversities in their lives.
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| Selection Process: |
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- All applications should be sent directly to the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund by April 30, 2010. The address is included on the application.
- If a university receives an application, it should date receipt the application and forward it to the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- The James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund will contact the universities to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive the scholarship.
- The James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund will make its selections and notify all scholarship recipients in June.
- The PA Foundation and the universities will be notified in June.
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Renewals: |
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As long as funds are available, current Hughes Scholars will receive the scholarship automatically during their sophomore, junior and senior year as long as they:
- maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average in college courses,
- are enrolled as a full-time student and
- are in good standing with the university
The universities will monitor the academic progress of each Hughes Scholar and send a warning letter if they are in danger of dropping below a 2.0 GPA. If a renewal student’s GPA slips below 2.0, the university may grant a grace period of one semester to allow the student to bring up his/her GPA. (The student will not be required to attend summer sessions for this purpose). If the GPA does not equal 2.0 after the grace period, the student will forfeit the scholarship.
University financial aid offices must forward all renewals to the Foundation by June 29. In addition, the universities must submit a list of Hughes Scholars who will not be returning to college and give the reason, as best they know, for their withdrawal from the university (i.e. graduation, financial, academic, personal, reason unknown, contact with student lost).
By July 6, the Foundation must forward the list of renewals to the Hughes Scholarship Committee for their record.
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| Number of Awards: |
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Scholarships can be awarded from both current contributions and interest earned on the James Hughes Scholarship Endowment Fund. Contingent on funds available, scholarships will be awarded each year in the following priority order:
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania will be eligible for 14 new scholarships each year in addition to renewals from current Hughes Scholars.
- Each of the other 13 State System universities will be eligible for 1 new scholarship in addition to renewals from current Hughes Scholars.
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| Deadline: |
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April 30 |
Deadline for submission of applications to the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund
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June |
James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund will notify all James Hughes Scholarship recipients.
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June |
James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund will notify PASSHE Foundation and the universities.
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June |
Universities submit a report of renewed scholars to the PASSHE Foundation.
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September |
Each university submits an enrollment confirmation on new and renewal recipients to the Foundation, including renewals in a grace period. Universities must also submit a list of Hughes Scholars who will not be returning to college and give the reason, as best they know, for their withdrawal from the university (i.e. financial, academic, personal, reason unknown, etc.)
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| Withdrawals and Transfers |
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Students who withdrawal from the university forfeit the scholarship. The student may appeal to the financial aid office to be reinstated because of extenuating circumstances. If a student withdraws for a semester in the case of a medical emergency approved by the university, the scholarship commitment will be met. No alternate may be selected if a student transfers or withdraws.
Students transferring to another university, even a PASSHE university, forfeit the scholarship. |
| Application: |
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Download a .pdf file of the Hughes Scholarship Application. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free, click here. |
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| Contact Information: |
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For more information about the scholarship program, contact:
James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund Office
215-472-JHMS (5467)
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation Inc.
2986 North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-720-4065
fax: 717-720-7082
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