Portland Foundation Scholarship Opportunities- Due no later than 5:00 pm on 2/21/25
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The Portland Foundation is a community foundation whose mission is to help Jay County be a strong and vital community. One way the Foundation seeks to achieve this is by administering a scholarship program for higher education so that people will have a greater likelihood of reaching their potential. The Portland Foundation offers over 130 scholarship opportunities to Jay County students. Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation has scholarships available to students of every age, income level, academic ability, and athletic aim. All Jay County Seniors graduating by June 2024 and who are pursuing higher education at an accredited university, college, or trade school, part-time or full-time, are eligible to apply for scholarships. To date, The Portland Foundation has awarded more than $7.3 million in scholarships to more than 3,468 students.
College financial aid directors suggest that families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), preferable by March 1, to determine eligibility for assistance through federal, state, and/or institution funded programs. By completing the forms early in 2025, you are more apt to meet the variety of college and university filing deadlines, and you will receive notification of financial aid eligibility in time for your family to make decisions regarding the school your student will attend.
The deadline for Portland Foundation scholarship applications to be submitted is: February 21, 2025. The applications can be accessed within the links included below. The Foundation also recommends your student complete the FAFSA early in order to include along with the scholarship application.
This scholarship application is good for over 100 of the Scholarships held by The Portland Foundation! Scholarship awards go anywhere from $100 to $10,000.
Be a graduating high school student from Jay County Jr-Sr High School, Jay County, Indiana or from a high school in King County, Washington
Have had at least one parent pass away
This scholarship awards $5,000, payable $1,000 for year’s one through three and $2,000 for year four as long as the student is still enrolled in college.
The Lance Corporal Andrew F. Whitacre Memorial Scholarship is for Jay County High School graduates that have enlisted in any branch of the military. The scholarship is intended to help offset the cost of uniforms or travel for the new recruit.
This application is for the following scholarship funds:
• Marilee & Gayle Gaunt Memorial Scholarship
Established in 2007 as a fund of The Dunkirk Foundation, after the passing of Betty L. Gaunt, in memory of her daughters Marilee Gaunt and Gayle Gaunt who were tragically killed in July 1966. The fund is to provide scholarships to individuals seeking educational and vocational training at a post-secondary institution. The recipients shall be residents of Dunkirk or reside within two miles of the corporate boundary of Dunkirk. The fund was transferred to The Portland Foundation in 2023 when The Dunkirk Foundation merged with The Portland Foundation.
• Dr. H. L. Shroyer Christian Love Scholarship
Established in 1970 as a fund of The Dunkirk Foundation by Dr. Shroyer and his wife Carolyn Shroyer. The fund is to provide scholarships to high school graduates from either Jay County, Niles Township in Delaware County and/or Jackson Township in Blackford County to the student(s) who most exemplifies Christ’s love in their daily life. The fund was transferred to The Portland Foundation in 2023 when The Dunkirk Foundation merged with The Portland Foundation. Per Dr. Shroyer's direction the application process has always required each applicant to submit an essay written on the topic "What Christ and his Love mean to me."
• Ella & Irene Cunningham Scholarship
Established in 1995 as a fund of The Dunkirk Foundation through the Will of Miss Ella Cunningham, a long time teacher in the Dunkirk schools. The fund is to provide scholarships to students of the Dunkirk area, later defined to be applicants living within the city limits of Dunkirk. Applicants may be either high school seniors or non-traditional students and must reside in the 47336 zip code. Preference is given to students seeking higher education in either business or education. Further preference is given to female applicants. The fund was transferred to The Portland Foundation in 2023 when The Dunkirk Foundation merged with The Portland Foundation.
