New Little Swiss Educational Scholarship to benefit Highland High students and alumni
Since 2018, the Little Swiss Fund has poured more than $2.3 million into support for Highland County nonprofits. Now that same fund is supporting a new scholarship for Highland High School seniors and alumni. The Little Swiss Educational Scholarship is a $1,000 award, renewable for up to four years, to support studies at a public or private college or university.
The application process is administered by The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, which also runs the grant cycle for the nonprofit awards.
“The initial $10 million gift to establish the Little Swiss Fund focused on supporting area nonprofits, but there was also a special provision to start this scholarship to celebrate and support students and alumni of Highland High School,” said Ann Siciliano, senior director of scholarships and grants at The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. “This annual award will honor the hard work of individual students, but also the investment of the broader Highland community in molding and inspiring the next generation.”
The application closes April 5.
Scholarship criteria
Students must have been residents of Highland County since the ninth grade, have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have a 90% attendance record.
Only students who have been accepted to attend an accredited public or private college or university may apply.
A final criteria is that applicants must be able to show that their family has planned in advance and made a financial commitment to support the student’s college education.
Other available scholarships
Highland students and alumni may qualify for two other scholarships offered by the foundation.
- Virginia Ready Initiative scholarships provide financial assistance to adult students pursuing certifications in IT/tech, healthcare, and the skilled trades at Massanutten Technical Center, Laurel Ridge Community College, or Blue Ridge Community College.
- Any community college graduate transferring from Mountain Gateway, Blue Ridge, or Laurel Ridge community colleges to a four-year Virginia Public institution can apply for the Community College Transfer Scholarship.
