What Aid is Available?

Merit Scholarships and Awards

Merit Scholarships. The following are awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding, first time freshmen using grade point average, SAT, and class rank. Students who receive these scholarships are NOT eligible to receive some High School Partnership Awards (BASE, PACE, Bernardine Heritage and Commuter Outreach).

• Trustee's Scholarship. This scholarship is in honor of our Board of Trustees who serve as the governing board of Alvernia College. To be awarded this $7,500 scholarship, the recipient must have an SAT of 1050, 3.2 GPA, and be in the top 25% of the class.

• Veronica Founder's Scholarship. This scholarship is in honor of Mother Veronica, the foundress of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, the sponsoring congregation of Alvernia College. To be awarded this $5,000 scholarship, the recipient must have an SAT of 1000, 3.0 GPA, and be in the top 30% of the class.

Merit Awards. The following are awarded on a competitive basis to first time freshmen using grade point average, SAT, class rank and other criteria as noted below. The amount of the awards vary and are renewable for four years of attendance.

• Presidential Award. Recipients are generally in the top 30% of the high school class.

• Dean's Award. Recipients must demonstrate academic promise, leadership, involvement in school/church activities and/or service to the community.

• Alvernia College Scholarship. Recipients must demonstrate academic worthiness and have not demonstrated financial need.

• Principal's Community Service Award. Principals nominate one student from each Partnership High School (For PACE recipients: Allentown and Harrisburg Diocese schools only). The amount of this award varies, is based on academics, and the recipient must demonstrate past participation and future commitment to community service.

High School Partnerships/Church Awards. The following are awarded to first time freshmen based upon the student's high school or parish/church. Partnership awards are given to students who enter Alvernia within one year of high school graduation.

• BASE (Berks & Alvernia Supporting Education). This $3,500 award is given to students who graduate from a Berks County high school.
• PACE (PArtners in Catholic Education). This $4,000 award is given to students who graduate from a Catholic high school.
• Bernardine Heritage Award. This $4,000 is award is given to students who graduate from a high school founded by the Bernardine Sisters. This includes St. Pius X High School in Pottstown, PA.
• Commuter Outreach Award. This $3,000 award is given to students who graduate from a high school outside Berks County but within commuting distance from Alvernia College. Students do not have to commute to receive this award. Selected schools are Blue Mountain, Coatesville, Cocalico, Conestoga Valley, ELCO, Ephrata, Garden Spot, Lancaster Mennonite, Owen J. Roberts, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Spring Ford, and Manheim Township School District.
• Parish Award. The Pastors of each Catholic Church in the Allentown and Harrisburg Diocese may nominate students in their parish who are in good standing to receive this award for $500.

Special Awards. The following special awards are awarded to all accepted, first-time freshmen who have participated in these service activities and are all $1,000 per award.

ROTC Scholarship. Alvernia College is in collaboration with Lehigh University's ROTC program. Army ROTC scholarships are merit based and provide money for tuition, books and other expenses. Alvernia College provides free room and board for high school winners of three and four-year advance Tier I scholarship recipients.

Transfer Scholarships. The following are given to first-time transfer students accepted in the day program for their remaining years at Alvernia College.

• Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. This $2,500 scholarship is given to transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa and possess a 3.5 grade point average or higher.

• ARC (Alvernia and RACC Connection) Scholarship. This $2,500 scholarship is given to students who have a 3.0 grade point average and transfer with at least 24 accepted credits from Reading Area Community College.

• ACT (Alvernia Connects with Transfers) Scholarship. This $2,500 scholarship is given to students who have 3.0 grade point average and transfer with at least 24 accepted credits from an accredited community college.

• Transfer Scholarship. This $2,500 scholarship is given to students who have a 3.0 grade point average and transfer with at least 24 accepted credits from an accredited 4-year institution.

Updated: March 20, 2007

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