The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) is now accepting applications for its 2021 National Scholarship Program.
For the fourth consecutive year, the NPRDP will award 100 scholarships valued at $2,000 each, for a total $200,000, to exceptional students of Puerto Rican descent that are making a difference in their communities. Applicants must be high school seniors or full-time college/university students in their freshman through junior years in college.
“We are excited to launch the 2021 NPRDP Scholarship Program, as we continue supporting the students in our community in their pursuit of higher education,” said Louis Maldonado, NPRDP Board Chair. “Last year, we received applicants from students representing 16 states and Puerto Rico, and we are working to further broaden participation in 2021.”
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be of Puerto Rican descent;
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, or equivalent high school grade;
- Be a high school senior or freshman through junior in college, ages of 17 through 25;
- Be enrolled in an accredited two or four-year college/university, for college students;
- Have a track record of doing volunteer work or community service;
- Participate in an interview with a member(s) of the scholarship selection committee.
Scholarship winners from prior years are eligible to re-apply, given that they comply with all other eligibility criteria.
Applications are available for download at www.nprdpinc.org.
NPRDP Scholarship application packages must include: a completed application form; an essay; a written biography; two letters of recommendation, of which one letter of recommendation must be from the site where the student performs his/her volunteer work; official academic transcripts and a head shot photo. Letters of recommendation should be requested from teachers, professors, counselors, mentors, clergy, community leaders, etc. Letters should speak to the applicant’s community service, length of the relationship with the candidate, and any specific contributions the applicant has made to the community.
For more information about other NPRDP programs, the public can visit www.nprdpinc.org.