Scholarships

Scholarships In addition to the Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs administered by the Financial Aid Office (603-775-2313 or seacoastfinaid@nhctc.edu ) there are many other sources of scholarship or grant aid.
These programs all have their own eligibility, application, and/or deadline requirements.
Many are restricted and some are very competitive, but they are all worth investigating.


NHCTC- Stratham & Portsmouth offers:

The Academic Competitiveness Grant is a new federal grant which provides up to $750 for first year students, and up to $1300 for second year students. Students must qualify for the Pell Grant, and must have successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative grade pint average of at least 3.0 to qualify. The Financial Aid Office will consider all financial aid applicants for this grant, and will award it to all students who meet the qualifications.

The New Hampshire Valedictorian Scholarship is a one-year full-tuition scholarship, granted to the designated Valedictorian at any New Hampshire accredited high school. The designation as Valedictorian must be based on the student’s cumulative grade point average, and the student must enroll as a matriculated student at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth within fifteen months of high school graduation. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office in Stratham.

The UNIQUE Scholarship, funded by the New Hampshire Higher Education Savings Plan, and intended to provide increased equal access and choice for deserving, needy New Hampshire residents. Full-time students are eligible for $1,000 grants; half-time students are eligible for $500 grants.

The Student Senate at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth sponsors the Star Scholarship for continuing NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth students. Applicants must be matriculated, have completed at least six credit hours at Stratham & Portsmouth, have a minimum grade point average of 2.5, and have completed the financial aid application process. Scholarships are awarded in the categories of Leadership, Volunteer and Community Activities, Academic Excellence, and Promotion of the Major at NHCTC. The application deadline is mid April for the following academic year. Applications are available in the Student Senate office, the Main office, and the Financial Aid Office in Stratham.

The Computer Science, Engineering and Math Scholarships (CSEMS) are sponsored by NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth, for full-time students in the Computer Technologies or Information Systems Technology Associates Degree programs. The scholarships cover unmet need for tuition and fee expenses, after federal funding and grant aid is calculated. The scholarship is renewable for the second year, providing the student earns a 2.5 minimum grade point average. Applications are available on line, in the Admissions Office at NHCTC at Portsmouth or the Financial Aid Office in Stratham.

The American Automobile Association of Northern New England sponsors an annual scholarship for students in the Automotive Technology Program at NHCTC Stratham/Pease or one of the other NHCTC campuses. Applicants must be New Hampshire residents, with mechanical ability and a desire for a career in the automotive service industry, and must demonstrate financial need. Applications are processed through the CCSNH Foundation, and are due June 1 for the following academic year. See www.nhctc.edu/foundation for additional information and applications.

The Bio Connect Grant covers full tuition costs for students taking specific Biotechnology courses at the Portsmouth campus. Recipients must be US citizens or eligible non-citizens, and must be working or planning to work in the biotechnology field. Contact Christopher Lawrence: clawrence@nhctc.edu .


Other foundations and organizations sponsor these scholarships,
which may be used at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth:

The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust Scholarship is for matriculated students with financial need, who are permanent residents of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine or Massachusetts towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. Applications are processed through the CCSNH Foundation, and are due in late July for the following academic year. See www.ccsnh.edu/foundation for additional information and applications.

The CCSNH Employee-Sponsored Scholarship is for a student enrolling in the college after being out of school at least five years. An applicant should be a full-time or part-time student who has completed at least 12 credit hours, and has a grade point average of at least 2.5. Applications are processed through the CCSNH Foundation, and are due in late July for the following academic year. See www.ccsnh.edu/foundation for additional information and applications.

The NASA/Public Service of New Hampshire Scholarship (PSNH) is for full or part-time students who are enrolled in NHCTC programs in science, mathematics, math/science teacher education, engineering or technology and who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing further education or a career in fields of interest to NASA and PSNH. Applications are processed through the CCSNH Foundation, and are due in late June for the following academic year. See www.ccsnh.edu/foundation for additional information and applications.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, through the NHCTC System, sponsors grant aid for child care providers. Applicants who work at least part-time in a child care setting in New Hampshire are eligible to receive a grant for 100% of the tuition for their first Early Childhood Education course at NHCTC Stratham. In subsequent semesters, students may receive grant aid for 50% of the tuition cost of one course. Applications are available in the Early Childhood Education Office or the Financial Aid Office at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth or from www.ccsnh.edu/foundation .

The New Hampshire Incentive Grant Program is available to all New Hampshire residents attending college at least half-time (6 credits) and having a certain level of financial need. The FAFSA is the only application required. The FAFSA must be filed by May 1 to qualify for a grant for the following year. The Adult Student Aid Program, sponsored by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, is designed to help students who have had little post-high school education. The program supports students returning to school to upgrade skills for employment or career advancement, to qualify for a degree program or make a career change.
Awards range from $100 to $500 per academic term. There are three application periods per year, with deadlines of August 15, December 15, and May 15. Applications are available online at www.nhcf.org and from NHCF, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 03301.

The Exeter Hospital Associates Scholarships are two $1,000 scholarships, awarded each fall and spring semester to NHCTC-Stratham & Portsmouth students pursuing a career in a health-related major. They are sponsored by the Exeter Hospital Associates, the volunteer organization at Exeter Hospital. Candidates must show financial need and/or high academic merit, and must have completed 20 credit hours at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth. Candidates must also be from the hospital’s primary area, including the towns of Brentwood, Danville, Durham, Epping, Exeter, East Kingston, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Lee, Newfields, Newmarket, North Hampton, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rye, Rye Beach, Seabrook, Stratham and South Hampton. Applications or nominations should be submitted to the financial aid office.

The Guild at Portsmouth Regional Hospital sponsors two scholarships for nursing students at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth. One award, usually $3,000 annually, is for an older student who has come back to school to get a nursing degree. The second award is the Guild at Portsmouth Regional Hospital Top Hat Scholarship. The amount varies, depending on the success of the year’s fundraiser. Candidates for both awards must be from the Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s primary service area, including Portsmouth, Rye, New Castle, Newington, North Hampton, Greenland, and Kittery.

Career Aid for Technical Students (CATS) is grant aid for postsecondary career and technical students, based on financial need, motivation and demonstrated ability in the applicant’s chosen field. The program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF.) Applications are available online at www.nhcf.org and from the CATS Program, NHCF, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord NH 03301.

The Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarship Trust sponsors grants for New Hampshire residents in nursing, medicine, social work or related fields programs. The Financial Aid Office has applications.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards 400 scholarships of $1,000 and $2,000 each to students attending two-year higher education institutions. The application deadline is May 31. Eligibility requirements are available at www.coca-colascholars.org

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund sponsors grants for students of Hispanic heritage. For more information, see www.hsf.net .

The New England Fiberoptic Council sponsors up to five $!,000 merit-based scholarships each year, for New England community college students who have completed at least 12 credits, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, and are enrolled in an Associates Degree program that includes at least one required course in fiber optics. The application deadline is mid-March for the following academic year. Information and applications are available at www.fiberfest.com .

The New England College Council sponsors annual scholarships for students at member institutions, including NHCTC Stratham/Pease. Candidates must have completed at least 30 credit hours toward their first Associate’s degree, and must be planning to graduate within one year. The application deadline is usually late April. Additional information is available in the Financial Aid Office,

Skrungloo Farm, Inc. sponsors scholarships for New Hampshire students with financial need, academic merit, community service or school activities. The application deadline is usually March 1 for the following academic year; additional information and applications are available in the Financial Aid Office, or from Skrungloo Farm, Inc., c/o Bianco Professional Association, 18 Centre Street, Concord NH 03301.

Foundation for Seacoast Health sponsors the Steven Cutter Award for an outstanding undergraduate student pursuing a health-related career. Applicants must be from Greenland, Portsmouth, Newington, New Castle, North Hampton, or Rye, New Hampshire or Eliot, Kittery, or York, Maine, and demonstrate academic achievement and community service. The application deadline is usually February 1 for the following academic year.

The State of New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission sponsors loan repayment grants for workers in career shortage areas. These are not scholarships per se, but can assist with the repayment of student loans, particularly for nursing program graduates who work as nurses in eligible institutions in shortage areas. Additional information is available at www.state.nh.us/postsecondary .

The State of New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission sponsors scholarships for the children of veterans of the US armed forces who died while on active duty in an armed conflict, or who died of a service-related disability. Additional information is available at www.state.nh.us/postsecondary .

The Portsmouth Garden Club and the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands Urban Forestry Center sponsor the Festival of Trees Scholarship for students demonstrating the ability to succeed in a natural resources or horticulture course of study by maintaining a 3.0 grade point average for a minimum of two semesters. The application deadline is usually early April for the following academic year. Additional information is available from the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth. Application are available on the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation website: www.nhcf.org .

The New Hampshire Chapter of the American Business Women's Association awards annual scholarships to women in their second year of an accredited vocational, technical or community college. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Applications are due late March, for the following academic year. Information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

The Millennium Scholars Program, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provides tuition funding for outstanding low-income minority students. For information and applications, go to www.gatesfoundation.org/education/scholarships .

The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation sponsors Education Support Awards for low-income women and children. Information and applications are available at www.ptmfoundation.net .

Target All-Around Scholarships are based on community volunteer service. For more information, go to www.target.com and search for scholarship.

Talbots Women's Scholarships are for students who finished high school or earned a GED at least 10 years ago. For more information, go to www.talbots.com and search for scholarship.

Worldwide AIGA Scholarships are for economically-disadvantaged students of applied art. For more information, got to www.worldstudio.org .


These scholarships are limited to students with a military connection.
See the individual programs for specific eligibility and application requirements.

The Air Force Aid Society sponsors the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grants for selected sons and daughters of active duty, Title 10 AGR/Reserve, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reserve and deceased Air Force members; spouses (stateside) of active duty members and Title 10 AGR/Reservists; and surviving spouses of deceased personnel for undergraduate studies. Awards are in the amount of $2,000 per academic year. The application deadline is early March for the following academic year. Additional information and applications are available at www.afas.org/ .

The Educational Assistance Program of Army Emergency Relief sponsors scholarship programs for the children and spouses of Army soldiers on active duty, retired, or deceased while on active duty or after retirement. Information and applications are available at www.aerhq.org . The application deadline is March 1 for the following academic year.

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships for higher education to sons and daughters of United States Marines and former Marines, with particular attention being given to children whose parent was killed or wounded in action. Information and applications are available at www.mcsf.org .

The State of New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission sponsors scholarships for the children of veterans of the US armed forces who died while on active duty in an armed conflict, or who died of a service-related disability. Additional information is available at www.state.nh.us/postsecondary .

Information about Veterans Benefits (GI Bill Benefits) is available at www.gibill2.va.gov or from 1-888-442-4551