Jewish Endowment Foundation scholarships available

Date: 4/13/2009

SPRINGFIELD " The Jewish Endowment Foundation (JEF) of Western Massachusetts is pleased to announce that it is accepting scholarship applications for the 2009-10 academic year. According to Scott Kaplan, Director of the JEF, In these difficult economic times, it is important for our scholarships to provide funding so deserving students can further their academic goals. Applications are available online at www.jewishwesternmass.org and FastWeb.com. They may also be obtained from local high school guidance offices, or may be picked up in person at the JEF, 1160 Dickinson St., Springfield, office. The deadline for applications is April 17.

The Springfield Council of Jewish Women Scholarship Funds are available to qualified college bound students regardless of race, religion or gender. Applicants must be residents of Springfield, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Hampden, Agawam or West Springfield and have a grade point average of at least 2.7 and be in the upper half of the class. Applicants must be planning to become a full time student at an accredited two or four year college or university.

Scholarship recipients are chosen based on a combination of academic achievement, financial need and community involvement. Scholarships may be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study. In 2008, 51 awards totaling $56,850 were awarded.

The scholarship program originated in 1943 with a single scholarship awarded to a Smith College student. Over the years, more than $1 million have been awarded to financially assist local students in their pursuit of higher education. Currently a part of the JEF of Western Massachusetts, there are now over 30 scholarship funds from which awards are distributed annually.

Through the same application process, the JEF also administers several designated funds that are endowed to provide scholarships for Jewish students in the Springfield area planning to attend graduate or undergraduate programs in Israel or who continue their studies in the field of Jewish communal service or who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in athletics. Complete descriptions of the requirements for these and all funds are detailed in the scholarship application and online at www.jewishwesternmass.org.

For further information on any of these scholarships please contact Michelle Lancto, Grants Administrator of the JEF, at 732-9994 or mlancto@jewishwesternmass.org. The JEF is a division of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.