Welcome to the Monticello High School Scholarships Page!
We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students and feel fortunate to live in a community which embraces and rewards our students’ achievements. We are grateful for the organizations and private donors for their generosity. There are many different types of scholarships so please don’t think you won’t qualify for something. Please review all that are posted and make a personal note of the ones you will be applying for. You can apply to as many as you believe you qualify for.
Please read the overview section listed below for more generalized information regarding scholarships. For further questions regarding scholarships please stop by the High School Guidance Office or contact your student’s school counselor.
Thank you,
The Monticello High School Guidance Department
Overview
Over the course of the academic year scholarships become available to our students. Some are local, some are regional, and some are national. Each scholarship has its own specific criteria and procedure for applying. Scholarship information can be obtained by contacting any one of the guidance counselors.
As scholarships become available, we will post them on the website scholarship page.
Students can obtain scholarship applications from a guidance counselor or download them from the websites listed below. It is important to follow the directions stated on the application. Some require students to submit them directly to the sponsor while others require that the application is submitted to the guidance office.
Due dates are firm and must be adhered to. Often the date due to the guidance office is different from the due date listed on the application. This is because guidance personnel need time to collect recommendations, transcripts and other required information.
March through May are the primary months for scholarship applications. It is suggested that students have their scholarship letters of recommendation and resumes on file in their guidance counselor’s office prior to March 1 to expedite the processing of scholarship applications.
It is also strongly recommended that scholarship recipients show their appreciation by sending a note of thanks to the donors.
Scholarship Opportunities for Seniors
Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE)
One scholarship program that is available to seniors is the Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE). This program selects and honors one student for his or her academic excellence from the Monticello Central School District.
MCSD nominates one student for this award based on Class Ranking. The highest ranked 11th grade student is eligible for nomination by the High School Principal.
In order to comply with this award scholarship winners must attend a college or university in New York State. Please note that SAEs cannot be used for trade schools.
The full list of criteria for this scholarship program can be viewed at:
Scholarships for Academic Excellence (SAE) | New York State Education Department
The September Scholarship Newsletter
We would like to provide information regarding the September Scholarship Newsletter. This newsletter provides information on 15 programs that collectively award 670 individual scholarships. The deadlines for these 15 programs vary between September 29th, 2025 to December 31st, 2025, so please be wary of that when submitting applications for these programs. Students who are interested in the September Scholarship Newsletter are able to secure a physical copy by visiting the bulletin board outside Room 601. To download a PDF version of the September Scholarship Newsletter please visit the Student Scholarship Organization website.
St. John Fisher University Scholarship Programs
This university offers unique scholarship programs to St. John Fisher students. If your student has been accepted and intends on attending St. John Fisher University please visit the St. John Fisher University scholarships website for more information.
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Scholarship Opportunities
This foundation provides Hudson Valley students with over 50 scholarships. The opening date for applications begins January 1st, 2026. The deadline for applications is March 15th, 2026. There is an on-site application that screens students on what scholarships they will qualify for, which helps streamline the application process. Each scholarship has different guidelines so please make sure to read each scholarship carefully. For more information, please visit the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley Scholarships page.
BigSun Scholarship
The BigSun Organization is offering their annual scholarship for deserving students who engage in athletic activities either in Monticello High School or in the community. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of which sport they are participating in or to what capacity. This scholarship awards $500 to those selected. The deadline to apply to this scholarship is June 19th, 2026. Please visit the BigSun Scholarship website for more information on the application process.
Sullivan County Veterans Coalition Scholarship
The Sullivan County Veterans Coalition is offering a scholarship program for local graduating high school seniors that are direct descendants to an honorable serving or discharged veteran. Applicants have the opportunity to qualify for one of three scholarship awards. Each scholarship awards $2000 to those selected. If selected, the monetary award is payable after the successful completion of the winner’s 1st semester and is enrolled for their second semester. Applicants must be a son, daughter, nephew, niece, or grandchild of the veteran to qualify. Applicants must be pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education (Junior College, Community College, Technical College, College or University). Applicants should hold an 80 GPA or better. Applicants will have to submit a minimum 200-word essay along with other information and documents attached to their application. The deadline for this scholarship application is April 1st, 2026. If interested, a copy of the scholarship program’s full guidelines and respective application is available for pickup on the bulletin board outside Room 601 in the Monticello High School.
The Sullivan County Long Beards N.Y.S. Chapter Scholarship
The Sullivan County Long Beards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is again extending the opportunity for local high school seniors to participate in the NWTF Dr. James Earl Kennamer scholarship program. This scholarship program has local, state, and national awards. Upon being selected as a winner for the local awards ($250 & $500), the winner(s) will automatically qualify to compete for the NYS state award ($1000/$500). If selected as a winner for both the local and NYS state chapter awards, the winner(s) will then be considered for entry against all other state winners for the national award ($10,000). This scholarship application must be completed via an online application; paper applications will not be accepted. Please see the full list of scholarship guidelines before attempting the online application process; the URL for the online application will be found thereon. All necessary documents must be available for upload at the time of the application process; incomplete submissions will not be considered legitimate. A copy of current hunting license is required. Applicants must be a current NWTF member; they are welcome to contact the NWTF at 1-(800)-THE-NWTF or visit www.nwtf.org to become a member. Applicants must be pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education (Junior College, Community College, Technical College, College or University). Applicants should hold an 80 GPA or better. The deadline for this scholarship application is January 10th, 2026. If interested, a copy of the scholarship program’s full guidelines is available for pickup on the bulletin board outside Room 601 in the Monticello High School.
Delaware Highlands Conservancy – Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to offer the Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship to seniors who will be graduating in the spring of 2026. There will be one student selected from one of nine school districts located in the Upper Delaware River region. This scholarship is applicable to high school seniors who are planning to pursue a career in educational or environmental studies. Students who are interested will need to fill out the Vanessa Joy Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship Application and provide their transcript and 2 student assessment forms/2 letters of recommendation in order to be eligible for selection. Once completed, please return the scholarship application to your student’s school counselor. Your student’s school counselor will then send the application to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy for review. If selected, the student will have an award of $2,500 sent directly to the chosen college upon proof of enrollment. The deadline for this scholarship application is March 20, 2026. Please return the application to the Monticello High School Guidance Department by Friday, March 13, 2026. If interested, a copy of the scholarship program’s full guidelines and respective application is available for pickup on the bulletin board outside Room 601 in the Monticello High School.
Scholarship Websites
Please check the following websites regularly as they have multiple national scholarships with varying due dates. Updates could happen at any time so please check often.
Logon – Scholarship Lifecycle Manager (grantinterface.com)
Additional Resources
How to Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams | Consumer Advice