POUGHKEEPSIE – With input from Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) juniors and seniors representing Superintendent Rosser’s Student Advisory Committee along with teachers, the PCSD Board of Education (BOE) has expanded the scholarship program for eligible students. Graduating seniors who have been accepted to an accredited post-secondary educational institution can now apply for BOE-awarded scholarships.
For years, the BOE has awarded one scholarship and the BOE has now decided to support Poughkeepsie High School (PHS) seniors who are planning to attend college. According to Dr. Rosser, board members have discussed the idea of expanding the program for several months. The intention is to provide a greater number of students representing the diversity of the school district’s population who can possibly receive a scholarship.
Each scholarship award of $750 is made possible by the George A. Strba Charitable Trust and through districtwide fundraising.
George Strba, a graduate of Syracuse University and World War II veteran was an athletic coach and teacher in many school districts in New York including Poughkeepsie. Serving 33 years as a basketball coach and teacher in the Poughkeepsie City School District, Mr. Strba transitioned to Marist College to become the college’s first varsity basketball coach. Mr. Strba established a charitable trust to support the post-secondary advancement of graduating seniors.
Starting this year, the following scholarships will be awarded:
- Pioneer Excellence Scholarship
- Two academic scholarships will be available for any graduating senior who has maintained an exemplary academic record over four years.
- Poughkeepsie Creator and Dreamer Scholarship
- Two arts education scholarships will be available for any graduating senior who participates in a
- Poughkeepsie High School arts or music club or is a member of a PHS band, choral, or theatrical collective.
- Poughkeepsie Champion Scholarship
- Two athletic scholarships will be available for any graduating senior who participates on a Poughkeepsie
High School athletic team. - Poughkeepsie Leaders of the Future Scholarship – The student liaison to the Board of Education will automatically receive this scholarship as long as they meet all criteria.
- Two student leadership scholarships will be available for any graduating senior who has demonstrated school-based or district-level leadership responsibility while in high school.
- Poughkeepsie Dreamers Scholarship (1)
This scholarship will be available for any graduating senior who has arrived in the United States within the past two years.
Students’ ability to apply for the expanded Board of Education Scholarships will start on March 10, 2023. All graduating high school seniors with drive, perseverance, and who want to pursue a post-secondary education opportunity or college education at an accredited institution are invited to apply. Applications will be sent to the schools and will also be available online – along with all the criteria for each scholarship. Presentation of scholarships to winners will be made at the Poughkeepsie High School Annual Awards Assembly in June, according to Dr. Rosser’s weekly newsletter.
Additional scholarship information can be found by clicking here.
