School & Mental Health Counseling Scholarships

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Scholarship

Patrick P. Lee Scholarship for the Canisius University Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

The Patrick P. Lee Scholarship for the Canisius University Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is a program for full-time graduate students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program who are committed to addressing the local mental health workforce shortage in Western New York. 

The scholarship will award $20,000 toward the 60-credit hour master’s program; $10,000 will be awarded at the start of the program followed by an additional $10,000 at the completion of approximately 30 credits. 

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation, a private family foundation based in Buffalo, NY, focuses its investments on mental health and education. The Lee Foundation is committed to ensuring the Western New York community is well-informed on mental health, inclusive of people living with mental illness and served by high quality, accessible mental health services. In education, the Foundation's investments support post-secondary scholarships in mental health and other high demand fields that lead to job realization. Learn more about the Patrick P. Lee Foundation.

Deadline for Fall 2024: Sunday, April 14, 2024

Eligibility and Requirements
● Be a U.S. citizen.
● Be a current resident of one of the eight counties of Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming).
● Have at least a 3.3 GPA when accepted into the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
● Financial need of each scholarship candidate will be considered. 
● Be a full-time student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
● Earn  a 3.5 minimum GPA to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.
● Pledge to live and work as a mental health counselor in in Western New York for five continuous years following the completion of training.

Application Instructions
● Most current version of your resume.
● Personal Statement of 300-400 words explaining why you have applied to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
● Essay of 500-600 words using the following prompt: Each scholarship recipient will sign a pledge to live and work within the eight counties of Western New York for five continuous years upon completion of their training. Please write an essay that identifies at least two mental health needs in the Western New York area and how you might address those needs as a mental health counselor.

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School & Mental Health Counseling Scholarships

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

A memorial scholarship for a long-time member of the NAACP, Agnes Jones
Jackson. Applicants at the graduate level should:
● Have at least a 3.0 GPA;
● Be a full or part time student;
● Be a US citizen;
● Be a member of the NAACP;
● Must not be over the age of 25;
● Must demonstrate financial need.
Maximum scholarship amount is $2,000.
Applications open in April, with winners announced over the following summer.

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Chi Sigma Iota & CACREP Leadership Essay Contest

Applicants should:
● Be a member of Chi Sigma Iota;
● Not have won first place in the contest in the past;
● Submit a themed essay, not to exceed 1,000 words;
● Read the entire list of eligibility requirements on the above link.
Scholarship amount is $500 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third
place. Winners also get a free one-year renewal of their CSI membership, and their essays
will be published.
Applications must be submitted by Nov 15.

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Davis-Putter Scholarship

For students active in movements for economic and social justice, with financial
need. Applicants should:
● Write a personal statement of no more than 1000 words, describing your
commitment to economic and social justice;
● Provide two letters of recommendation;
● Provide copy of Student Aid Report or FAFSA, to demonstrate financial need;
● Fully read eligibility requirements for the scholarship at the link listed above.
Scholarship amount is up to $15,000 yearly.
Applications open in January, and must be submitted by April 1 yearly. 

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Hispanic Scholarship Fund

A scholarship created specifically for students of Hispanic descent.
Applicants at the graduate level should:
● Have at least ¼ Hispanic heritage;
● Be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA;
● Have a minimum GPA of 2.5;
● May have to submit FAFSA forms.
Scholarship amounts range from $500-5000.
Applications open Jan 1; applications due by Feb; selection in June; awards in Oct-Dec.

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Grungo Colarulo Giving Back to the Community Scholarship

This scholarship exists to celebrate those serving their communities.
Applicants should:
● Be currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school;
● Be in good academic standing, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0;
● Provide a 750-word essay on what giving back to the community means to you,
as well as your detailed community service experience.
This scholarship is worth $750.
The deadline is Nov 22 for 2022.

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Learn.com Scholarship

This scholarship specifically aims to provide assistance to those in counseling-related
programs.
Applicants should:
● Be a full-time student enrolled in a counseling program.
Financial need is not considered. Academic history, extracurriculars, and employment
history will be considered.
The scholarship is worth $500.
Applicants must apply by April 1st yearly; the next round of applications will be
decided in 2023.

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Lullelia W. Harrison Scholarship in Counseling

Applicants should:
● Submit three letters of recommendation, from college professor,
minister/community leader, and miscellaneous;
● Submit official transcripts;
● Submit a copy of W-2;
● Include documentation of community service;
● Submit a 150-word essay on themselves, community service activities, educational
goals, and aspirations.
Scholarship amount is $500-1000.
Applications accepted between Feb 1 and Sep 1 annually; winners announced by Aug
15.

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Military Scholarship (NBCC)

Applicants should:
● Be veterans, active-duty members of the US military, or spouses of a veteran or
active-duty member of the US military;
● Demonstrate knowledge and experience with military personnel and families;
●Commit to applying to become board-certified by the NBCC prior to graduation;
●Commit to providing mental health services to service members and/or veterans
within one year of graduation, and for two years post-graduation;
● Read full eligibility requirements found at the link above.
The NBCC has confirmed that this scholarship is also available for school counseling
students. They have the same requirements, and must just provide school counseling
services instead.
Scholarship amount is up to $8,000.
Applications open in May.

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Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC)

This scholarship supports students committed to serving underserved communities,
child/adolescent and geriatric groups, minorities in inner cities and in rural areas, and
veterans or military families.
Applicants should:
● Be a current student in good standing;
● Demonstrate knowledge of and experience with underserved minority
populations, and other populations listed above;
● Commit to teach, administer services, conduct research, and/or provide direct
mental health counseling to one of the above-listed populations within one year of
graduation, and for two years post-graduation;
● Commit to securing an internship that deals directly with one of the
aforementioned populations;
● Commit to applying to become board-certified by the NBCC prior to graduation; 
● Attend NBCC’s Bridging the Gap Symposium, and up to two other training
events during the year;
● Read the full list of eligibility requirements at the link above.
Priority is given to minority applicants.
Scholarship amount is up to $10,000.
Applications open in September of 2022

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Rural Scholarship (NBCC)

Applicants should:
● Reside in a rural area, as defined by HRSA;
● Commit to applying to become board-certified by the NBCC prior to graduation;
● Commit to providing mental health services in a rural area within one year of graduation,
and for two years following graduation;
● Read the entire list of eligibility requirements at the link above.
• The NBCC has confirmed that this scholarship is also available for school counseling
students. They have the same requirements, and must just provide school counseling
services instead.
Scholarship amount is up to $8,000.
Applications will open in May.

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Tomorrow’s Counselors Essay Competition

● Recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding
about the counseling profession and the work of professional counselors in mental health,
private practice, community agency, agency, organization or related counseling settings.
● First prize is $1000, second prize is $750, third prize is $500.
● Applicants should:
○ Be a member of the ACA;
○ Be enrolled in the present semester;
○ Read full eligibility rules to ensure qualification.
● Applications are open through the end of January yearly.

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Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship (research grant)

A scholarship for work relating to the stigma of mental illness.
Applicants should:
● Be in good standing at an accredited university;
● Demonstrate commitment to issues of stigma related to mental illness;
● Provide a CV, letter of recommendation, and budget, justification, and proposed
plan of project relating to stigma.
This scholarship is worth $1,000.
Applications open through May 15.

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School Counseling-Specific Scholarships

ACA Future School Counselors Essay Competition

Applicants should:
● Be a student member of the ACA;
● Certify that they are working towards a career as a professional school counselor;
● Submit a 500-word or less essay on a yearly theme.
Scholarship amount is $2000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third
place. Winners will also be invited to attend the yearly ACA conference.
Opens early in the beginning of January; check yearly, as the submission deadline
changes.

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Mental Health Counseling-Specific Scholarships

The Melanie Foundation Scholarship

A memorial scholarship created for Melanie Merola O’Donnell, awarding students who
exemplify compassion, generosity, respect, and honesty.
Applicants should:
● Provide evidence of past involvement in extracurricular, volunteer, research,
and/or career-related activities;
● Include a curriculum vitae, along with email address;
● Provide unofficial transcripts;
● Produce two letters of recommendation;
● Provide a two-page essay on how your experiences in the mental health field have
shaped your life, and how you will use your education to shape communities. Applicants
should read full eligibility and requirements on the foundation website. Scholarship
amount is $2,500.
Applications close March 5, and a winner will be announced by June 30.

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