JSSA Educational Scholarship Fund

As part of our mission to give back to the community, JSSA is privileged to administer scholarship funds contributed by generous Jewish benefactors who are dedicated to supporting deserving students on their educational journeys.

The scholarship application for the 2026-2027 academic year is now open.

Students, note that there is only one application to complete to be considered for all scholarships listed online.

2026-2027 Scholarship Application

Please note that there is a single application form for all scholarships managed by JSSA, on behalf of generous benefactors and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, for students whose permanent addresses are in Montgomery County, Maryland; Fairfax County, Virginia; or the District of Columbia. These scholarships can only be used for tuition expenses. Make sure to complete the entire application. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at scholarships@jssa.org.

Important Application Notes

• The application deadline is in May 17.
• Only complete applications will be considered for a scholarship.
• All eligible applications will be reviewed after the deadline, starting on Monday, May 18, 2026. Please do not submit your application before it is complete; incomplete applications will not be considered for awards.
• Please name all uploaded files starting with the initials of your first and last names. For example, if your name is John Doe, name your resume JD_Resume.

Regarding the 2026-2027 FAFSA

If you plan to complete the FAFSA application (which helps with your college financial aid), please wait to submit your scholarship application until you have submitted your FAFSA application and obtained the SAI Submission Report. While the FAFSA is not mandatory for this scholarship application, it is very important for the Scholarship Committee's review of your application and the awarding process. We strongly encourage eligible applicants to complete it and include the SAI Submission Report with their application.

Noncitizens should also complete the FAFSA and select "No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen." Although they are not eligible for federal financial aid, completing the form can be helpful when applying for state and private scholarships, such as this.

Scholarships for Undergraduate Students:

Morton A. Gibson Memorial Scholarship

Funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Amount: $875 - $2500

Application Requirements:

• Must be a high school senior
• Must be a Jewish resident of Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA, or Washington, DC
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program on a full-time basis
• Completed significant volunteer services within the local Jewish community (in addition to high school graduation service requirements)

Max and Emmy Dreyfuss Jewish Undergraduate Scholarship

Amount: $1,500 - $4,000

Application Requirements:

• Must be a Jewish resident of Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA, or Washington, DC
• Must be a first-generation college student
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program on a full-time basis
• Note:  Cannot be used for community college or study abroad programs

JSSA Educational Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

Amount: $2,000 - $6,000

Application Requirements:

• Must be a senior in a Montgomery County public high school
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Must be accepted into an accredited four-year undergraduate program, vocational school, or community college
• Note: Recipients are eligible to apply for a 2nd year of funding

Scholarships for Graduate Students:

Hyman P. Moldover Scholarship for Communal Service

Funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Application Requirements:

• Must be a Jewish resident of Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA, or Washington, DC
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Accepted into a full-time graduate program in Jewish communal service
• Intending to work professionally in the Jewish community upon graduation

JSSA Educational Scholarship for Graduate Students

Amount: $1,000 - $3,000

Application Requirements:

• Under the age of 30
• Must be a Montgomery County resident
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Must be accepted into an accredited graduate program

Scholarships for study in Israel:

Sahm/Goldman Scholarship

Funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Amount: $250 - $2,500

Application Requirements:

• Must be a Jewish resident of Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA, or Washington, DC
• Must be a U.S. citizen or working towards citizenship
• Completed a minimum of two years of undergraduate study
• Studying or conducting significant research or career development in Israel
• Note: Priority is given to applicants traveling to Israel for the first time