Scholarship Program

Academic year 2024-2025 is now Closed!

Over the past 20 years, our Foundation has awarded scholarships to over 700 college and university students with a value close to $800,000 US Dollars. We are building on our success, and are pleased to announce our program for this year.

The number of awarded scholarships will be limited to the following:
- One (1) Platinum level scholarship of $2,000 for the applicant with the top combined scores of essay and GPA.
- One (1) Gold level scholarship of $1,500 for the applicant with the second top combined scores of essay and GPA.
- One (1) Silver level scholarship of $1,250 for the applicant with the top GPA score of students in the sophomore, junior and senior classes.
- One (1) Silver level scholarship of $1,250 for the applicant with the top high school GPA in the freshman class.
- Twelve (12) Bronze level scholarships up to $1,000 for the applicants with the top combined scores of essay and either GPA (high school GPA for freshman and college GPA sophomores, junior and seniors).
- One (1) top university scholarship will be $2,500 for the applicant enrolled in one of the top 20 universities in the United States. This will be awarded once per year. If more than one applicant applies in a given year, the applicant with the highest GPA will be awarded. Additional applicants will be assigned to the general pool of regular scholarships.
*** if we obtains more funds, we will extend the bronze level awards ***
Mandatory students’ orientation meeting held online at 12:00PM EST on Sunday November 10, 2024.
Please register for the Mandatory Orientation here
Deadline for online application is midnight of December 8, 2024.

Purpose

The establishment of an incentive to excel in academic performance and the pursuit of higher education.

Target population

Circassian college students pursuing higher college education.

Eligibility criteria

Circassian college students registered, as full-time students, in the academic year 2024-2025 in freshman, sophomore, junior and senior college levels.
Enrollment in an accredited college or university in the USA.
US citizens, permanent residents, and international students residing in the USA with a valid visa. The Foundation may award limited scholarships to international Circassian students based upon the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Students who receive, in aggregate, full financial aid or a full scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year from sources other than the CEF are disqualified. The CEF has the right to ask the student to obtain an official letter from the college or university clarifying their financial status.

This year’s Scholarship program deadline (midnight of December 8, 2024) will not be extended and no exceptions will be made. The CEF shall not be responsible for any late submissions that result from the malfunctioning of the CEF website, the CEF scholarship portal, or delays resulting from any other technical or procedural difficulties arising in connection with any application, either caused by the CEF, its agents or any third parties.

PLEASE BE SURE TO COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISQUALIFICATION.

Procedure

Each applicant is required to do the following:

Fill out an online Scholarship application form
Submit an online essay of a minimum of 500 words.
The essay topic must be one of the following 2 choices:
1. OPTION 1. From your perspective, describe the importance of the preservation of Circassian culture. Suggest three (3) ways to implement your ideas of preservation within the global Circassian community.
2. OPTION 2. Describe a personal accomplishment you are proud to have achieved, and how you plan on transferring that experience to serve the betterment for your local Circassian community.
The essays will be scored blindly by the CEF scholarship essay judges. The scores will be ranked. In addition to receiving higher level scholarships, summaries of the top essays will be presented at the CEF gala in January 2025. Furthermore, the CEF Board of Directors will give serious consideration to the implementation of the top essays as real projects in the future.
An essay less than the 500 words will be automatically disqualified from the scholarship and no exceptions will be made.
Students must submit official GPA scores mailed directly from the high school (for freshman) and from college or university (for sophomore, junior and senior) to the CEF (unofficial documents will not be accepted). All official and original documents must be emailed to secretary@circassianfoundation.org Or mailed to the Circassian Education Foundation P.O. Box 2276, Wayne, NJ 07470. This requirement applies to all applicants.
Submit proof of full-time enrollment in an accredited college or university in the USA for the academic year 2024-2025. Official Transcripts from the university or college must be emailed directly to secretary@circassianfoundation.org Or mailed to the Circassian Education Foundation P.O. Box 2276, Wayne, NJ 07470
The number of times students can apply for this scholarship is as follows. County college students (normally a 2-year college) are limited to three (3) years (i.e., three (3) attempts); and four-year college students are limited to five (5) years (i.e., five (5) attempts).
Incomplete applications will be ineligible. If all the above items are not met, your application will be incomplete and thus ineligible for a scholarship (i.e., you will not receive a scholarship). EXCEPT FOR THE SUBMISSION OF REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED HEREIN, APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE REVISED, AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED PAST THE December , 2024 DEADLINE.
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST the CEF will hold an online scholarship orientation meeting for all applicants. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND; FAILURE TO ATTEND WILL DISQUALIFY STUDENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AND NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE FOR ANY REASON.
Please register for the Mandatory Orientation here.
Each scholarship recipient is required to sell at least 2 admission tickets for the scholarship awards gala. Tickets can be obtained from Board members.

*** Failure to comply with and meet any of the above requirements will disqualify you from receiving a scholarship for this year and no exceptions will be made for any reason. ***

Scholarship Awards Gala

The annual scholarship awards gala will be held at the

Time: 6:00 PM

Date: Friday, January 31, 2025

Location: The Tides Estates at 1245 Belmont Ave, North Haledon, NJ 07508

At the event, the scholarship awards will be announced. Each winner will receive an acknowledgment certificate from the CEF and a check in the amount of the award. The scholarship award will be payable to the college or university in which the student is registered.

Scholarship winners must attend the scholarship award gala. Failure to participate in the scholarship award gala and ceremony will result in forfeiture of scholarship.

Fund raising

The CEF is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. Donations may be tax deductible. Donations of any amount are encouraged.

Timeline

The online scholarship application deadline is December 8, 2024. All applicants must provide all supporting original and official documents (i.e., proof of enrollment, transcripts and SAT score reports) to the CEF’s email secretary@circassianfoundation.org Or P.O. Box or by hand delivery to one of the Directors no later than December 8, 2024, otherwise you will be disqualified from this year’s scholarship program. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS if you, your college/university or The College Board delivers these documents after the deadline date of December 8, 2024. We strongly suggest that you continually check with your college or university and CEF emails that there are not missing documents for your chances in obtaining a scholarship this year.

NEW ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP THIS YEAR 2024-2025!!!

Research Paper Scholarship

This is a new special additional scholarship for the academic year 2024-2025. The research paper scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to one recipient in addition to the regular scholarship. Applying for this additional scholarship is optional for those applying for the regular scholarship. The application process and deadline are the same as the regular scholarship. The scholarship recipient will be invited to present their research paper at the annual Scholarship Awards Dinner and Gala.

Purpose

The establishment of an additional incentive for critical thinking and advanced engagement in modern life issues.

Target population

Circassian college students pursuing higher college education and applying for the 2024-2025 scholarship program.

Eligibility criteria

Circassian college students who applied and satisfied all eligibility criteria for the scholarship program of the academic year 2024-2025.
Winning the highest rank of scoring of a research paper by a panel of judges.
The final award of this special scholarship is contingent on qualifying and receiving a regular scholarship in the academic year 2024-2025.

Procedure

Each applicant is required to do the following:

Fill out an online Scholarship application form
Submit an online research paper of a minimum of 2,000 words with proper MLA or Chicago-style citation bibliography on the following topic: The gender gap in college graduation rates has seen significant shifts over the past few decades in the United States. Traditionally, more men than women completed their bachelor's degrees. However, this trend has reversed since the 1970s, with women now graduating at higher rates than men. As of 2020, about 41% of young women (ages 25 to 34) have a bachelor's degree compared to 32% of men in the same age group, creating a noticeable gap in educational attainment favoring women (Cited: The Brookings Institution). The Circassian community is not immune to this statistic. Describe three (3) effects this gender gap in education imposes on the Circassian community, and offer solutions which work towards equalizing the gap.

First Name	Last Name	DOB	Gender
Email	Address		Legal Release
City		State	Zip
Home Phone	Work Phone	Cell Phone	Scholarship or Financial Aid
SAT or GPA	Current School Name		SchoolYear
Enrolled School Name		Enrolled School Address
Scholarship Essay - (please see above for essy topics)

The essay must be your own original writing. Copying and plagiarizing essays will result in disqualification from the scholarship. The required word count of the essay is a minimum of 500 words.

Research Paper Essay - Optional

The essay and the research paper must be your own original writing. Using help from others copying, plagiarizing and the usage of artificial intelligence in the essay and/or the research paper will result in disqualification from the scholarship. The required word count of the essay is a minimum of 500 words. The required word count of the research paper is a minimum of 2,000 words.

Pledge by scholarship applicant

First pledge: Hereby I pledge to give my full support, to the best of my ability, now and in the future, to cause of education of all Circassians. I also pledge to give my full support, to the best of my ability, now and in the future, to the Circassian Education Foundation in its mission and activities to promote education, culture, knowledge and acquisition of modern life skills to all Circassians in the USA and the world. I specifically emphasize the inspiration of children and youth toward higher education. I shall make supporting and participating in charitable work a very important part of my life.

Second pledge: Hereby I pledge that I shall write the required essay and the research paper with my own writing ability without help from anyone else or anything else. I shall not commit plagiarizing from any source. I shall not use the help of artificial intelligence (AI). If I am found to have committed plagiarizing and/or usage of AI, I understand that I will be disqualified from the scholarship.