Van Duzer Scholarship

The Van Duzer Scholarship recognizes high school students in the Diocese of New Jersey for service to the church and to the community.

In 1987, members of the Diocesan Youth Commission decided to form a scholarship fund to assist young people entering post-secondary education. The scholarship was named for the Right Reverend Albert W. Van Duzer, eighth bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey.

For more than fifty years, Bishop Van Duzer was an advocate for youth in the Diocese of New Jersey. He served as Youth Director from 1949 to 1954 and was a member of the Board of Youth Consultative Service from 1953 to 1963. Bishop Van Duzer was one of the founding members of Youth Events in the Diocese of New Jersey and shared his vision of a full-time Youth Director for the diocese.

The first scholarship was awarded in 1989. Since then, over 150 scholarships have been awarded to youth of the Diocese. Some of the recipients have continued in the tradition of Bishop Van Duzer and work with young people in and beyond the diocese.

Albert W. Van Duzer Scholarship Fund Application

Below are the materials for the Van Duzer Scholarship application process.  The critical components of the application are:

1. Application form
2. Student's essay
3. Student's activities form
4. Letter of recommendation from the Rector/Vicar or Youth Leader
5. Letter of reference from the Student's guidance counselor
6. High School transcripts
7. A completed Financial Aid Form - Page 1 only with your EFC amount.

The information included in the application is used to assess the applicants on five criteria:

1. Church involvement - local, convocational, diocesan, wider Episcopal Church (this criterion is given high weight)
2. Financial Need (this criterion is also given high weight)
3. Community involvement (you may include a letter of reference supporting your involvement)
4. Student essay
5. Scholastic performance

The deadline for submitting completed application is April 15.  If any piece of the application is missing, the student's incomplete packet will not be considered for an award.  Applications are kept in strict confidence, reviewed only by members of the Van Duzer Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees.  

The funds are intended for recent high school graduates entering their first year of study at an accredited post-secondary institution.  If you have any questions about the process, please contact Wendy Blackman at VanDuzer@dioceseofnj.org.