Clark Foundation Scholarship

The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program is designed to aid students in 12 New York State school districts to attain education beyond the high school level. This may include post-secondary programs at any accredited institution of higher learning. The Clark Foundation Scholarship serves students in the following school districts: Cooperstown, Cherry Valley-Springfield, Edmeston, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Laurens, Milford, Morris, Mount Markham, Owen D. Young, Richfield Springs, Schenevus, and Worcester, as well as the Otsego Area Occupational Center BOCES in Milford.

Since The Clark Foundation Scholarship was established, more than 14,800 qualified students have attended post-secondary programs with scholarship support. The Program makes scholarship awards of approximately $4.2 million each academic year to almost 800 recipients.

Scholarship Eligibility

The primary requirement for eligibility for a Clark Foundation Scholarship is based on geography. Graduating high school seniors must be on track to graduate from the following 13 schools:

• Cherry Valley Springfield
• Cooperstown
• Edmeston
• Laurens
• Gilbertsville Mt. Upton
• Milford
• Morris
• Mt. Markham
• Owen D. Young
• Richfield Springs
• Schenevus
• Worcester
• Otsego Area Occupational Center BOCES, Milford

High school students must apply through their guidance departments.  What follows are two other avenues that a person may take to become eligible for a Clark Foundation Scholarship.  If there are questions, we encourage you to call the office.

A graduate of one of the above 13 schools who did not receive a scholarship as a High School senior should contact The Scholarship Office to determine their future eligibility.   Applicants must complete two full-time consecutive college semesters maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher.

Documented 10-year adult residents (after age 18) of the 12  school districts are eligible to apply for a scholarship (for GMU and Morris, eligibility starts from the year 2015). The resident needs to attend a full-time accredited college program maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters prior to the application process.

High School Scholarship Award Criteria

The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships based on scholastic ability, personal character and conduct, service to his or her school and community, and the promise of successful achievement in higher education. If the student’s achievements justify support, The Clark Foundation Scholarship awards continue throughout the recipient’s eight-semester undergraduate career. A personal interview is required to enter the program as well as to maintain the scholarship each academic year.

The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program is not limited to helping students bound for traditional four-year colleges. Students attending accredited certificate, associate degree or baccalaureate level programs are eligible for support. Enrollment must be for at least one academic year (usually no less than 10 months) and the student must be enrolled for no less than 12 credits per semester.  In some cases, programs requiring additional semesters also receive approval.   Support for extended studies is focused on health care programs (for example pharmacy or physical therapy). Graduate assistance is limited to Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant programs.