Scholarship Program

Scholarship Program

Academic year 2025-2026 is now Open!

For over 20 years, our Foundation has proudly supported higher education, awarding nearly $800,000 USD in scholarships to over 700 college and university students. We're excited to announce our scholarship program for this year, building on our commitment to academic excellence!

Scholarship Awards

This year, we are offering a limited number of scholarships across various levels to recognize outstanding students.

  • Platinum Level Scholarship:
    • One (1) award of $2,500
    • Awarded to the applicant with the highest combined score from their essay and GPA.
  • Gold Level Scholarship:
    • One (1) award of $2,000
    • Awarded to the applicant with the second-highest combined score from their essay and GPA.
  • Silver Level Scholarship:
    • One (1) award of $1,500
    • For the applicant (sophomore, junior, or senior) with the top college GPA.
    • One (1) award of $1,500
    • For the applicant (freshman) with the top high school GPA.
  • Bronze Level Scholarships:
    • Twelve (12) awards up to $1,250 each
    • Awarded to applicants with the top combined scores from their essay and GPA (high school GPA for freshmen, college GPA for sophomores, juniors, and seniors).
    • Note: More Bronze scholarships may be awarded if additional funds are secured.
  • Top University Scholarship:
    • One (1) award of $3,000
    • Awarded once per year to an applicant enrolled in a Top 20 university in the United States.
    • If multiple eligible applicants apply, the student with the highest GPA will receive this award. Other eligible applicants will be considered for general scholarships.

Program Purpose

Our scholarship program aims to incentivize academic excellence and support Circassian students in their pursuit of higher education.

Target Population

This program is specifically for Circassian college students pursuing higher education..

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Circassian heritage.
  • Full-time enrollment as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior during the 2025-2026 academic year.
  • Enrollment in an accredited college or university within the USA.
  • US Citizens, permanent residents, or international students residing in the USA with a valid visa.
  • Demonstrating financial need. Applicants may not be receiving full financial aid or a full scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year from other sources that fully cover their costs. The Foundation reserves the right to request official documentation from your college/university clarifying your financial status.

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Mandatory Online Orientation Meeting:
    • Date: Sunday, September 07, 2025
    • Time: 12:00 Noon EST
    • Requirement: ALL applicants are REQUIRED TO ATTEND. Failure to attend will result in disqualification. No exceptions will be made.
      • Register Here: https://forms.gle/vYPjH4FvmcTDxssg6
      • Registration deadline for Orientation Meeting: Saturday, September 06, 2025
  • Application and Supporting Documents Deadline:
    • Date: Midnight of Monday, October 06, 2025
    • No extensions or exceptions will be made for any reason, including technical difficulties. We strongly advise you to submit your application and all supporting documents as early as possible to avoid disqualification.

Application Procedure

Follow these steps to complete your scholarship application:

  1. Complete the Online Scholarship Application Form.
  2. Submit an Online Essay (minimum 500 words).
    • Choose ONE of the following topics
      • Option 1: Education and its role in empowering individuals and preserving Circassian heritage.

        • Reflect on a personal experience with education that has shaped your understanding of your Circassian identity. How has this experience influenced your desire to give back to your community or society? Propose a specific, education-focused initiative—whether formal or informal—that would address a current societal need while also strengthening Circassian culture. Detail the unique insights from your heritage that would guide your approach.

      • Option 2: The influence of Circassian values on lifelong learning and ethical leadership.

        • Describe a key lesson or ethical principle you've learned outside of a classroom setting that is deeply connected to your Circassian heritage. How does this principle, influence your sense of responsibility to your community or to the wider world? Explain how you will apply this lesson in your future academic or professional life to become a more ethical leader or engaged global citizen.

    • Essays will be scored anonymously by our judges and ranked. Summaries of top essays will be presented at our annual gala, and the CEF Board of Directors will consider implementing top essays as future projects.
    • Essays less than 500 words will be automatically disqualified
  3. Submit Official GPA Scores.
    • High school transcripts for freshmen
    • College/university transcripts for sophomores, juniors, and seniors
    • Important: Transcripts must be official and mailed or emailed directly from your institution to the CEF. Unofficial documents will not be accepted.
    • Email to: submissions@circassianfoundation.org
    • Mail to: Circassian Education Foundation P.O. Box 2276, Wayne, NJ 07470
  4. Submit Proof of Full-Time Enrollment.
    • Provide official transcripts from your accredited college or university in the USA for the 2025-2026 academic year.
    • Important: Transcripts must be official and mailed or emailed directly from your institution to the CEF. Unofficial documents will not be accepted.
    • Email to: submissions@circassianfoundation.org
    • Mail to: Circassian Education Foundation P.O. Box 2276, Wayne, NJ 07470
  5. Understand Application Limits:
    • County/2-year college students: Limited to three (3) scholarship attempts.
    • Four-year college students: Limited to five (5) scholarship attempts

Incomplete Applications

Incomplete applications will be ineligible. Ensure all required items are submitted by the deadline. Applications generally cannot be revised, amended, or supplemented past the Monday, October 06, 2025, deadline, except for the submission of required supporting documents.

PLEASE BE SURE TO COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISQUALIFICATION.

Scholarship Awards Gala

Join us to celebrate and announce our scholarship recipients!

  • Time: 6:00 PM
  • Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
  • Location: The Tides Estates at 1245 Belmont Ave, North Haledon, NJ 07508

Requirements for Recipients

  • Each scholarship recipient is required to sell at least two (2) admission tickets for the gala. Tickets can be obtained from Board members.
  • Scholarship recipients must attend the Scholarship Award Gala and ceremony. Failure to participate will result in forfeiture of the scholarship award.
  • Awards will be announced at the event. Each recipient will receive an acknowledgment certificate and a check payable directly to their college or university.

Fundraising

The CEF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Your donations help us continue supporting students! Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and may be tax-deductible.

Important Timeline & Document Submission Reminders

  • The online scholarship application deadline is Monday, October 06, 2025.
  • All required original and official supporting documents (proof of enrollment, transcripts, and any other requested materials) must be received by the CEF via email (submissions@circassianfoundation.org), OR mail (P.O. Box 2276, Wayne, NJ 07470), or hand delivery to a Director no later than Monday, October 06, 2025.
  • NO EXCEPTIONS will be made for documents submitted after the deadline, regardless of the cause (e.g., delays from your college/university or third-party services).
  • We strongly recommend you regularly check with your college/university and monitor your emails for updates from CEF to ensure all documents are submitted correctly and on time.

The essay must be your own original writing. Copying and plagiarizing essays will result in disqualification from the scholarship. The required word count of the essay is a minimum of 500 words.

Pledge by scholarship applicant

First pledge: Hereby I pledge to give my full support, to the best of my ability, now and in the future, to cause of education of all Circassians. I also pledge to give my full support, to the best of my ability, now and in the future, to the Circassian Education Foundation in its mission and activities to promote education, culture, knowledge and acquisition of modern life skills to all Circassians in the USA and the world. I specifically emphasize the inspiration of children and youth toward higher education. I shall make supporting and participating in charitable work a very important part of my life.

Second pledge: Hereby I pledge that I shall write the required essay and the research paper with my own writing ability without help from anyone else or anything else. I shall not commit plagiarizing from any source. I shall not use the help of artificial intelligence (AI). If I am found to have committed plagiarizing and/or usage of AI, I understand that I will be disqualified from the scholarship.