Ascend Educational Fund awards scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school to attend public or private colleges and universities, regardless of ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. Eligibility Requirements Must be born outside the United States or have two parents born outside the United States Must be a graduating senior at a high school in the five boroughs of New York City Must enroll full-time at an accredited public or private college or university in 2018-2019 Application Materials Completed and signed application form Official high school transcript Copy of SAT or ACT score report Two letters of recommendation Two essays Selection Criteria and Process Scholarship recipients will be selected based on qualities traditionally valued and demonstrated by the immigrant community: hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance in the face of adversity, academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to one’s community. A committee will review applications and select a group of finalists for interviews. November 1, 2017 – Application opens online February 2, 2018 – Online scholarship application closes May 7, 2018 – Finalists Selected & Notified May 19-20, 2018 – Final Interviews Applications must be submitted by the Friday, February 2, 2018 11:59 PM EST deadline. Scholarship Conditions Scholarships will be disbursed directly to the recipient’s educational institution in equal installments over a two or four year period, depending on the type of institution. Failure to comply with the following conditions may result in the suspension or revocation of scholarship awards: Enroll full-time at an accredited public or private college or university Remain in good standing and maintain a 2.5 grade point average Submit progress reports to Ascend Educational Fund every semester Participate in mentoring provided by Ascend Educational Fund Additional Information