2026-2027 Scholarship Application is Now Open!
Apply Here
Each year the HCC Foundation offers over 165 scholarship awards
Who Can Apply?
- Current Students
- Incoming Students
- Transfer Students
How to Apply?
- Complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA Application at studentaid.gov and save your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)
- Start the scholarship application here
- Upload your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) and write your scholarship essay
- Complete and submit your application by March 13, 2026
Scholarship Resources
How can I access the scholarship application?
The application can be accessed here. Sign in with your HCC email address and password
Can I apply if I don't have an HCC email address?
Applicants must be an accepted or current student with an HCC email address
GENERAL
Who is eligible for an HCC Foundation scholarship?
Any current or accepted HCC student who has an HCC email address.
How many applications do I need to fill out?
There is one simple online application to fill out. AwardSpring will then automatically apply you to all the scholarship opportunities for which you qualify.
Can I save my application and come back later?
Yes! AwardSpring automatically saves your progress in the application, so you can always log back in to complete it.
How will I receive my scholarship award?
Scholarship awards will be split and automatically applied to recipient’s student accounts. For transfer students, awards will be sent directly to their college or university.
When will I know if I have or have not received a scholarship award?
All students will receive notification whether or not they have received an award by the end of the semester.
Can international students apply?
Yes! All HCC students are encouraged to apply!
What if I don't qualify for financial aid?
If you don't qualify for financial aid, attach a copy of the first two pages of the most recent head of household tax return.
What if I am transferring?
There are a number of scholarships available to support transfer students.
What if I am a part-time student?
We have many scholarships with varying qualifications, some of which have no minimum credit requirement.
Scholarship Essay
As part of the scholarship application, students are required to write an essay. The essay should be between 250-500 words, using one of the following prompts:
- What are your academic goals?
- Share a time when you demonstrated leadership that you are proud of
- Think of a time you face a significant challenge
Can I apply for a scholarship every year?
Yes! Receiving a scholarship does not prevent you from applying again next year.
New and continuing HCC students are encouraged to complete the most recent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. You can find the application here. HCC's school code is 002170. For questions about the FAFSA application, please visit Financial Aid.
How do I find my FAFSA Submission Summary?
- Log into your StudentAid.gov account Dashboard
- Click on your name in the top right corner and choose "My Activity" from the drop down
- Select your processed 2026-2027 FAFSA submission. You will be directed to your FAFSA Form page
- Scroll down the page and click on the blue button "FAFSA Submission Summary"
Learn more about the FAFSA Submission Summary here
As part of the scholarship application, students are required to write an essay. The essay should be between 250-500 words, using one of the following prompts:
- What are your academic goals? How will these goals and accomplishments help you achieve your career goals? How will this scholarship help you be successful in both of these areas?
- Share a time when you demonstrated leadership that you are proud of. What impact did it have on those around you? What impact did it have on you?
- Think of a time you faced a significant challenge. What steps did you take to overcome this challenge? How did that challenge help you grow? What did you learn from the steps you took to overcome it? What would you do differently if you could do it differently?
If you need help with writing your essay, please visit the Writing Center.
A thoughtful thank-you note shows donors how much their support is appreciated. Your message helps them see the impact of their gift and reminds them why they chose to give, often encouraging continued support for future students.
include in your thank-you
- Express your appreciation for the scholarship and the impact it has had on you and your family
- Add a personal statement - give the donor a sense of who you are, what you have overcome to attend college, your personal and/or professional goals, etc.
- Be genuine and speak from your heart!
- Check spelling and grammar after you have completed your thank-you note
The following are some sample letters. Do not copy them word for word – use them only as examples, and remember to make your thank-you personal.
Aidan Whitely, recipient of the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship
To the generous donors responsible for the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship, I am more grateful than you will ever know. As a young man growing up I've always had one dream to one day work in the medical field with kinesiology and I will continue to push and follow my dreams every day. Words can't express how grateful I am to be able to receive this award, especially growing up with my younger sister and my mother being our primary caregiver. I can't wait to tell my mother that I've been chosen to receive this ward and that all my handwork is starting to pay off. Once again thank you to the donors of the Shirley and John Fallon Scholarship for allowing students like me to follow their dreams, help them with our financial needs, and I will make sure to make the absolute best out of this opportunity and work towards my ultimate goal of being a kinesiologist in the future.
Emma Czarniecki, recipient of the Patricia L. Bonnet '82 Scholarship
To the donors of the Patricia L. Bonnet '82 Scholarship, I wish to express my utmost gratitude. I greatly appreciate your support towards furthering my education. I truly feel blessed to be given such an amazing opportunity to continue my education at such a giving, supportive college. I wish to thank the generous donor for their support in getting me to the next step in my life. I cannot wait to begin this next chapter, and your support puts me so much closer to achieving my dreams. I will make sure to make the most out of this wonderful opportunity and I will not forget your kindness and support. Thank you again for your generosity and I look forward to beginning this next step of my life where I can help others as you have helped me.
Angelica Gavrilov, recipient of the Panitch Family Scholarship
To the donors of the Panitch Family Scholarship, I wholeheartedly express my gratitude for being selected as a recipient of your scholarship! I am so grateful; this is a huge blessing to me. I grew up in a first generation, low-SES immigrant family and on top of that don't have my parents support in my educational journey. I don't receive financial support from them: so to be financially supported by the Panitch family brings warmth and a grin to my face. It means a lot and I can assure you, by investing into me, you are investing into the world bringing it one step closer to wholeness. Thank you for being the supportive family that I need! God bless you and may your giving always bring you much reward and delight.
The following is a list of resources to assist you in your search for scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Please be advised that these scholarship websites are not associated with the Holyoke Community College or the Holyoke Community College Foundation.
Accredited Schools Online: A free guidebook resource dedicated to helping minority students navigate the often-challenging issues of financial aid, scholarships, and college affordability.
Big Y Scholarship Program - In tribute to both its employees and customers, Big Y offers an annual scholarship program. Established in 1981, the program includes a series of scholarships that honor the late Paul H. and Gerald E. D'Amour, brothers who founded Big Y in 1936
College Board: Connect student profiles to a database containing over 2,300 scholarships, internships, and loans.
Community Foundation of Western MA - The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts strives to provide some financial assistance to students living in Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties to help them achieve their goal of graduating from college. We have over 160 different scholarship funds, and each year we give away over 1,000 individual scholarship awards.
Community College Nursing Scholarship Program: The Community College Nursing Scholarship program is designed to attract, incentivize, and encourage a diverse population of students to enroll in and complete a postsecondary credential or degree in the nursing profession at a Massachusetts community college.
Chronicle of Higher Education - The scholarship is part of The Chronicle’s commitment to helping foster the next generation of journalists and bringing more diverse voices into the industry. It is an effort to ensure that diversity is a critical part of journalism excellence, now and in the generations to come.
Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program - For children or grandchildren of living Elk who joined the order on or before April 1, 2023, or a charter member of a Lodge that was instituted on or after April 1, 2023.
www.finaid.org: A comprehensive site that has information on loans, scholarships, and saving plans. It even includes interactive calculators to help project what your child's college costs will be and how much you should be stashing away.
Fast Web: Matches student profiles to a database containing over 600,000 scholarships. Also, alert students to application deadlines or when new scholarships are added.
MCSW Scholarship Program - The MCSW will award 5 individuals with a scholarship of $5,000 each for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applicants must currently be enrolled in or committed to an accredited degree or certificate program in a Massachusetts Public High Education Institution.
NETA Annual Scholarships - Each year the New England Transfer Association awards up to six $1000 scholarships to regional transfer students.
The Horace Smith Fund: Since 1899 The Horace Smith Fund has helped local students finance their education through four distinct scholarship programs. The Fund was established to provide students with financial support for these scholarship opportunities.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships - Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and The Sallie Mae Fund are proud to offer financial assistance to outstanding students attending an accredited post-secondary institution.
Varsity Tutors: Varsity Tutors holds a monthly $200 college scholarship contest where students write an essay responding to a monthly prompt. Visitors to the Varsity Tutors scholarship webpage can vote via social media for submitted entries. Varsity Tutors review the top five entries with the most votes at the end of the month and one winner is subsequently chosen to receive the $200 college scholarship.
Scholarships.com: Scholarship database of 3,000 sources worth up to $3 billion.
*Please note the HCC Foundation is not responsible for the overall reliability or accuracy of the above sites. Additionally, we can't guarantee that you'll receive a scholarship(s) from the organizations found on the above sites. (Updated 1/20/2026)
- Apply to become a MassTeach Scholar before you transfer
- Take the MTEL and earn your Bachelor's degree in STEM at a state university
- Teach for at least four years at a local high school
As a MassTeach Scholar, you will access a defined transfer pathway for a teaching concentration at Westfield State University. You will be accepted as a STEM major leading to an initial teaching license, and then you will receive a $20,000 stipend for your junior and senior years of college as you complete a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
Funded through the National Science Foundation's Robert F. Noyce Scholarship program.
Coming Soon!
Growing up in a less privileged community has helped me realize the value of a college education. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies more & grow as an individual."
– Tyler Wool, recipient of the Kenneth J. Murphy Scholarship
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SHARE GRATITUDE
Students who received scholarships from the HCC Foundation in 2020 share what receiving a scholarship meant to them.
