Nautilus Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Rochester Area Community Foundation

Purpose
Provide scholarship assistance to Monroe County high school seniors who plan to pursue degrees or programs in architecture, construction, construction management, related technical fields, a trades program, or teacher certification in a STEM discipline.

Application period
Applications accepted December 1 through February 28.

Award amounts and distribution
- One renewable undergraduate scholarship totaling $4,000, intended for students entering a two- or four-year professional degree program. This is awarded as $1,000 per academic year for up to four consecutive undergraduate years. Each annual $1,000 installment is disbursed in the Fall and allocated equally between the Fall and Spring semesters (i.e., $500 per semester).
- One non-renewable trades award of $1,000, issued as a single payment.

Permitted use of funds
Scholarship money may cover tuition, fees, textbooks, and other education-related costs.

Who is eligible
Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who reside in Monroe County and meet all of the following:
- Plan to study architecture, construction, construction management, trades, or an education field that supports growth in those areas (for example, mathematics, science, or technology);
- Intend to enroll at a two-year or four-year college/university or at a vocational/technical school;
- Have at least a 2.0 GPA;
- Demonstrate financial need; and
- Plan to work in Monroe County after completing their college or vocational training.
Preference may be given to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

How to apply
This scholarship is part of the Community Foundation’s Consolidated Scholarship Application. Submit your materials through that system — applying here will also consider you for other scholarships for which you qualify.

Selection committee
A Nautilus Scholarship selection committee made up of representatives from architecture, construction, and education fields evaluates applications, selects recipient(s), and relays its decision to the Community Foundation.

Notification and disbursement process
- Recipients will receive an email notification with claiming instructions from the Community Foundation in April.
- Initial release: To receive the first disbursement, upload the required documentation — including your class schedule and tuition bill — to the Consolidated Scholarship Application between July 1 and August 15 to verify Fall enrollment.
- Subsequent disbursements: For later semester payments, upload the requested materials (such as an official or unofficial transcript) to the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Portal between July 1 and August 15 to confirm continued enrollment.
- Payments are mailed directly to the recipient’s institution and posted to the student account in two equal installments for the Fall and Spring semesters. Scholarships not claimed during the assigned semester will be forfeited.

Renewal rules
- The undergraduate scholarship may be renewed up to three times, for a maximum of four consecutive academic years (subject to the verification steps above).
- The trades scholarship is a single, non-renewable award.

Questions
For questions or assistance, email scholarships@racf.org.