Dear colleagues: The email below describes a scholarship awards program for college (and high school) students of Puerto Rican descent, who are making a difference in their community. If you know a student who might qualify, please pass on the information. (Eligibility details are in the bullet list below, and application materials are attached.) Best wishes, Eva Eva M. Fernández Assistant Vice Provost Queens College, City University of New York http://efernandez.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu Date: Monday, February 9, 2015 at 2:18 AM Subject: NPRDP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION February 2015 Dear College Advisor/Candidate: The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, (NPRDP), is currently accepting applications for its 2015 Scholarship Awards Program. The scholarship winners will be presented at the NPRDP's Educational Leadership Banquet on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade was established to create national awareness of Puerto Rican contributions. NPRDP's mission is to empower the Puerto Rican community through promoting culture, education, scholarships, and civic engagement. To this end a Scholarship Awards Program was established. NPRDP will award thirty (30) $2,000 scholarships to exceptional Puerto Rican youth who are making a difference in their community. To be eligible: · Applicant must be of Puerto Rican descent · Applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better. · Applicants must undergo an interview with the Selection Committee. · College/ University applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 25. · Applicants in High School must be in their senior year. · Applicants in college must be in an accredited four year institution. (Freshmen, Sophomore or Junior) A completed application package must include an application form, essay, a written bio, volunteer community service statement, two letters of recommendation of which one letter of recommendation must be from the site where the student performs his/her volunteer work, academic transcripts and head shot photo. Letters of recommendation should be requested from teachers, professors, counselors, mentors, clergy, community leaders, etc. The letters should highlight the applicant's volunteer community service, length of the relationship with the candidate, and the specific contributions the applicant has made to the community. All applications must be submitted electronically to NPRDP.Scholars@gmail.com<mailto:NPRDP.Scholars@gmail.com> by Friday, March 6, 2015. Letters of recommendation and sealed transcripts should be mailed together to National Puerto Rican Day Parade, P.O Box 975, New York, NY 10272 by Friday March 6, 2015, (Application, letter of recommendation and official transcripts received after this date will be disqualified). Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email. Interviews will take place the week of March 9, 2015 or March 16, 2015. Recipients of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Scholarship will be disqualified should any of the following conditions occur: (1) recipient provides false information on application; (2) recipient is not enrolled in an accredited college or university; (3) recipient is not of Puerto Rican descent; (4) recipient is a family member or is affiliated with a NPRDP board member. Full disclosure of said relationship must be made and your application will go through an additional review process; (5) applicant fails to provide high school/college transcripts, two letters of recommendation, essay, written bio, and head shot photo. Applications can be downloaded from our website or requested via email. Thank you for your assistance in publicizing this information and identifying students from your High School/ College that meet our criteria to receive one of these scholarships. Please email applications to: NPRDP.Scholars@gmail.com<mailto:NPRDP.Scholars@gmail.com>, mail letter of recommendations and official transcripts to P. O. Box 975, New York, NY 10272. Thank you, NPRDP Scholarship Program Committee