SANTEE — When it comes to tuition costs, every dollar helps.
That’s why a local chapter of the Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) will be awarding $750 scholarships to two worthy high school seniors.
“Our branch hopes to recognize and award students … who may not otherwise afford to continue their education,” said Debbie Reid, president of ICF Branch 449, which was established in 2019 and is based at Guardian Angels Parish in Santee.
“Continuing education is expensive, regardless of the type of school,” she said. “So, if we can make a positive difference in a student’s life, then our scholarship program is a worthy investment.”
The Italian Catholic Federation is a national Roman Catholic fraternal organization composed primarily of persons of Italian ancestry and their spouses. But membership is open to all Catholics, regardless of ethnicity.
ICF Branch 449 will accept scholarship applications until midnight on Monday, April 22.
Applicants must be Roman Catholic, have a total cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 over the past three and a half years, be active in their parish and live within the Diocese of San Diego.
They also must provide a copy of their unofficial school transcript; a list of their extracurricular activities, volunteer service and/or employment; a copy of their acceptance letter or enrollment confirmation from a trade school, community college or four-year university; and a recommendation from a campus counselor.
Applicants are also required to submit a 250- to 500-word essay, reflecting on a time when their faith was challenged and how they resolved it.
“The ideal scholarship recipient would be a well-rounded student, not necessarily a student that has a 4.0-plus GPA,” Reid said.
She said that the various application requirements, including extracurricular activities and community involvement, are intended to give the scholarship committee “a glimmer into the type of adult they may become.”
Scholarship recipients will be notified in May.
For more information or to receive the application form, email Debbie Reid at Dreid@cox.net.
The completed application, in either PDF or Microsoft Word, should be emailed no later than midnight on April 22; the subject line should read “Attn: ICF 2024 Scholarship Committee.”
In addition to ICF Branch 449’s scholarship program, the national ICF organization offers its own scholarships. More information on these can be found at ICF.org.
