THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 


Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs                                                                                Tel.: (518) 486-1319

Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit                                                                                   Fax: (518) 486-5346

                                          Room 1078 Education Building Addition

                                          Albany, NY  12234

                                         http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/scholarships/home.htm

                                     

 

 

 

 


2004

                                                                                            NEW YORK STATE

                                                              AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

 

                  This circular is limited to a description of awards and scholarships administered by the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs, Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit, New York State Education Department.  Additional information concerning other student financial aid programs can be obtained from high school counselors, college financial aid officers, and/or the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Division of Grants and Scholarships/Scholarship Unit, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY  12255 (web site:  www.hesc.org, phone:  888-697-4372).

 

                  The following awards and scholarships are available only to legal residents of New York State.  Only the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship may be used at colleges outside of New York State.

 

                  1.            Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

                 

                  2.            Scholarships for Academic Excellence

 

                  3               Regents Health Care Scholarship for Medicine and Dentistry

 

                  4.             Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarship Program

 

                  5.             Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Award Program

 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.          ROBERT C. BYRD HONORS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

                  The purpose of the federally funded Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

                  is to promote student excellence and achievement and to recognize exceptionally able students who show promise of continued excellence. Scholarships may be used at any accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.  Federal regulations prohibit use of the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship at United States military academies.  The number of awards is dependent upon Federal funding.  It is expected that approximately 400 awards will be provided annually.  Awards are for $1,500 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study.  Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress at their institution for renewal of the award. Students are nominated by their high schools for this award. The Robert C. Byrd information bulletins and application forms are sent to all New York State registered high schools by November of each year.  All applications for the 2004 competition must be sent directly from individual high schools and  be postmarked by March 1, 2004.

 

                  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

                  Eligible applicants must:

·                               be United States citizens, nationals, permanent residents, or selected refugees approved by the Attorney General of the United States;

·                               be legal residents of New York State for at least one year immediately   preceding the effective date of the award; and

·                               be students in their senior year in high school, or

·                               be students earning a GED diploma by the end of February of the academic year prior to the effective date of the award, and

·                               have a minimum SAT score of 1250 at one sitting and a minimum unweighted GPA of 95.00 in selected academic courses, or a 310 GED score and a SAT score of 1250 at one sitting.     

 

                  SELECTION PROCESS

                  Applicants will be ranked within their county of legal residence based on a final ranking score composed of 75 percent for their GPA and 25 percent for their SAT test score.

 

2.          SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

                  The Governor and the Legislature approved a new program of merit scholarships that began in the 1997-98 academic year called the Scholarships for Academic Excellence.  This scholarship can only be used at colleges and universities within New York State.  Students are selected by their high schools for this award.  Pending appropriation of State funds during the yearly session of the New York State Legislature, 8,000 scholarships will be awarded.  Of the 8,000, 2,000 will have a value of $1,500 and 6,000 scholarships will have a value of $500.  After the allocation of one $1,500 scholarship to each high school, any remaining $1,500 scholarships will be allocated on a proportional basis defined in law. The Scholarships for Academic Excellence information bulletins and application forms are sent to all New York State registered high schools by September of each year.  All applications for the 2004 series must be sent directly from individual high schools and be postmarked by December 19, 2003.

 

                  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

                  Eligible applicants must:

·             be United States citizens, nationals, permanent residents or selected refugees approved by the Attorney General of the United States;

·             be legal residents of New York State for at least one year prior to September 30, 2003; and

·             graduate from a New York State high school by the end of the 2003-2004 school year.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

                  Scholarship winners are selected by their high school based on academic excellence as measured by scores on Regents examinations taken prior to the senior year.  The five subject areas are: Comprehensive English, Global Studies, U.S. History/Government, Mathematics B, and Science.  Non-public schools not offering the Regents examinations in these subject areas may base awards on rank in class. 

 

3.          REGENTS HEALTH CARE SCHOLARSHIP FOR MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY

                  The purpose of the Regents Health Care Scholarship Program is to increase the number of minority and disadvantaged individuals in the medical and dental professions.  Applicants must be beginning or already enrolled in an approved medical or dental school in New York State.  Pending the appropriation of state funds during the yearly session of the New York State Legislature, up to 100 scholarships (80 in medicine and 20 in dentistry) can be awarded in the amount of  $10,000 per year for medical or dental school expenses.  Applications and information are available from the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs, Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit in January of the competition year.  Applications for the 2004 competition must be postmarked by May 3, 2004.

 

                  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

                  Eligible applicants must:

·                               be United States citizens, nationals, permanent residents, or selected refugees approved by the Attorney General of the United States;

·                               be legal residents of New York State for at least one year immediately preceding the effective date of the award; and

·                               be enrolled in, or a candidate for admission to, an approved medical or dental school in New York State.

 

                 

SELECTION CRITERIA

                  In selecting scholarship recipients, priority is given to applicants in the following order:

 

                                    PRIORITY I                         Applicants who are economically disadvantaged and members of a minority group historically underrepresented in the professions (i.e., Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Alaskan Native).

 

                                    PRIORITY II                        Applicants who are members of a minority group historically underrepresented in the professions (see above).

 

                                    PRIORITY III                      Applicants who are enrolled in or graduates of the following State-sponsored opportunity programs: Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK), or College Discovery.

 

                  SERVICE AGREEMENT

                  Award recipients must agree, upon licensure, to:

·                               practice in an area or facility within New York State designated by the New York State Board of Regents as having a shortage of physicians or dentists, and

·                               serve 12 months for each annual payment received, with a minimum of 24 months.

 

4.          REGENTS PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

                  The purpose of the Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarship is to increase representation of minority and disadvantaged individuals in New York State licensed professions.  Applicants must be beginning or already enrolled in an approved degree-bearing program of study in New York State that leads to licensure in a particular profession (see below).  Pending the appropriation of State funds during the yearly session of the New York State legislature, at least 220 scholarship winners will receive awards ranging up to $5,000 per year for payment of college expenses.  No award may exceed the total cost of education.  Applications and information are available from the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs, Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit in January of the competition year. Applications for the 2004 competition must be postmarked by May 3, 2004.  New York State licensed professions included in the Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarship:


                  Acupuncture

                  Architecture

                  Athletic Trainer

                  Audiology

                  Certified Public Accountancy

                  Chiropractic

                  Dental Hygiene

                  Dietetics/Nutrition

                  Interior Design

                  Landscape Architecture

                  Law

                  Massage Therapy

                  Midwifery

                  Nurse Practitioner

                  Occupational Therapy

                  Occupational Therapy Assistant

                  Ophthalmic Dispensing

                  Optometry

                  Pharmacy

                  Physical Therapy

                  Physical Therapy Assistant

                  Podiatry

                  Professional Engineering

                  Psychology

                  Registered Professional Nurse

                  Registered Physician Assistant

                  Respiratory Therapy

                  Social Work

                  Speech Language Pathology

                  Veterinary Medicine

                  Veterinary Technology


 

                 

                  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

                                    Eligible applicants must:

·                               be United States citizens, permanent residents, or selected refugees approved by the Attorney General of the United States;

·                               be legal residents of New York State for at least one year immediately preceding the effective date of the award; and

·                               be enrolled in, or be a candidate for admission to, a degree-bearing, licensure-qualifying program in New York State.

 

                  SELECTION CRITERIA:

                  In selecting scholarship recipients, priority is given to applicants in the following order:

 

                                    PRIORITY I                         Applicants who are economically disadvantaged and members of a minority group historically underrepresented in the professions.  (i.e., Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Alaskan Native)

 

                                    PRIORITY II                        Applicants who are members of a minority group historically underrepresented in the professions (see above).

 

                                    PRIORITY III                      Applicants who are enrolled in or graduates of one of the following State-sponsored opportunity programs: Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK), or College Discovery.

 

SERVICE AGREEMENT:

                  Award recipients must agree to practice upon licensure in their chosen profession in New York State.  The period of service is 12 months for each annual payment received.

 

5.          REGENTS PHYSICIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS AWARD PROGRAM

                  The purpose of the Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Award Program is to increase the number of physicians practicing in areas of New York State designated by the New York State Board of Regents as having a shortage of physicians.  Emphasis is placed on primary care.  Pending the appropriation of State funds during the yearly session of the New York State legislature, at least 80 awards up to $10,000 per year for two years are offered.  Award amount is based on undergraduate and medical school student loan amounts, loan interest expense, and income.  Applications and information are available from the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs, Scholarships and Grants Administration Unit by February of the competition year.  Applications for the 2004 competition must be postmarked by June 1, 2004.


                  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA              

                  Eligible applicants must:

·                               be United States citizens, permanent residents, or selected refugees approved by the Attorney General of the United States;

·                               be residents of New York State;

·                               be licensed to practice medicine in New York State; and

·                               be within two years of completing an accredited residency program in primary care or have completed a professional residency program within the five years immediately preceding the period for which the first award would be granted.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

                                    FIRST PRIORITY will be given to applicants who are completing the second year of the service agreement and are reapplying for an additional two-year award.

 

                                    SECOND PRIORITY will be given to new applicants who agree to practice in an area determined by the Regents to have a severe shortage of primary care physician services.

 

                  SERVICE AGREEMENT:

                  Award recipients must agree to practice medicine in a specific area in New York State or serve a specific underserved population designated by the New York State Board of Regents as having a shortage of physicians for a period of 12 months for each annual payment received.  They must serve a minimum of 24 months regardless of the amount of payment received.

 

 

To obtain additional information and individual applications for these scholarships, you can also visit our web site at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/scholarships/home.htm.