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First Literacy 2023-2024 New Scholarship Application

Application Checklist:

NEW scholarship applicants MUST be nominated by a teacher or advisor from their ABE (Adult Basic Education) program.

If you have been nominated by your program to apply for a scholarship, please complete each section of the application and upload the documents listed below where required in the application. If you would like to save a draft of your application to return to later, click on Save Draft at the bottom of the form. You can preview your finished application before submitting by clicking on the Preview button at the bottom of the form.

  • This application, with all of the documents listed below, must be submitted online no later than Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 5:00 PM. Applications will not be accepted via email, and late submissions will not be considered.
    1. Proof of your acceptance to a community college, a four-year college, or an accredited vocational training program of one year or longer,
    2. Your Personal Statement,
    3. Two letters of recommendation (At least one of these letters must be from a staff member at your ABE program: teacher, advisor, or administrator). 
  • All NEW scholarship finalists are required to participate in a 30-minute interview at a date and time scheduled between June 1 and June 16, 2023. This will be a virtual meeting. 
  • Applicants will be notified by Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Scholarship Awards:

Scholarship award certificates will be presented at a ceremony held in Summer 2023 which scholarship recipients are required to attend. Before Scholarship awards will be paid to the recipient’s school, First Literacy MUST receive the following: 

  • First Literacy Photo Permission Form (provided by First Literacy) 
  • Proof that scholar has created a LinkedIn account and is following First Literacy 
  • Permission form authorizing First Literacy to speak to the recipient’s school about their financial status and class progress (form provided by First Literacy) 
  • Head shot of scholarship recipient (a photograph including head and shoulders on a light background)

Scholarship recipients will be required to attend the following events through the academic year: 

  • Scholar Ceremony: August 2023. Date TBD by the Mayor’s office 
  • Scholar Workshop: October 5, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 PM 
  • Scholar Potluck: January 10, 2024 


Please note that all application questions with an (*) are required.