Scholarship Opportunities for Students

The Community Foundation administers a number of scholarship funds to eligible graduating high school seniors.

Dates
February 1 Applications open via online portal
April 15 Applications are due at 12:00pm
June 9 Decisions emailed
July 30 Payments mailed

Available Scholarships

The William F. Johnson Jr. Scholarship was originally established by Mr. Johnson when he was the Principal of John Witherspoon Middle School which is currently the Princeton Middle School. Major gifts for this fund came through the school PTO from an anonymous donor. Mr. Johnson retired in June 2010 after 32 years of service. The scholarship was established to support one or more students with ancillary college expenses (i.e., books, a computer, etc.).

Eligibility:

  1. Student must be a graduating senior from Princeton High School
  2. Student must have attended Princeton Middle School (formerly known as John Witherspoon Middle School)
  3. Student must be accepted in a college or vocational school
  4. Student must exhibit scholarship, leadership, and community service

Award:

  • Up to 3 awards at approximately $3,000 each

Mary’s grandparents went to Idaho in a covered wagon and settled on a ranch where they raised sheep. She spent many summer there, learning at an early age that education was important — lamb prices were fickle!

An honors graduate of Stanford University, where she also played field hockey, Mary moved to Princeton, when she married Edwin Wislar. Her six children all benefited from good educations, with three receiving Master’s degrees. She dedicated much of her adult life to insuring that learning opportunities were available to young people.

Much of Mary’s free time was devoted to supporting her children’s schools, especially the Newgrange School, which her youngest daughter attended and where Mary served as Board President from 1982 to 1984. Following her untimely and unexpected death in 1987, at age 57, Newgrange established the Mary Elliott Wislar Library Collection to encourage reading.

Eligibility:

  • Mercer County resident
  • Demonstrated leadership in school, extra-curricular and/or community activities in preparation for making a positive contribution to their future communities.

Award:

  • Two years of study at a four-year college or university, two-year college or vocational school

Lion L. Woodward embodied the mission of Rotary – “Service Above Self.” He was a charter member of the Trenton Rotary Club in 1914, President in 1920, and District Governor two years later.

Lion graduated from trade school in Lancaster, Pa., came to Trenton in 1901 and secured a menial job at the Fitzgibbon and Crisp Wagon and Carriage Company. He became president of the company 13 years later and transformed it into an auto body manufacturer.

He served as President of the Trenton Chamber of Commerce, director of a local bank, Financial Chairman of the YMCA, and President of the Trenton Country Club. In the year before his death, he was elected President of the Auto Car Company, a growing truck manufacturer. His career was ended by his untimely death at the age of 48 in 1927. “He will be remembered,” declared the Trenton Times, “as a man of keen mind, unselfish spirit, and indomitable zeal.”

Trenton Rotary established the Lion Woodward Educational Fund in 1928 as a memorial to assist worthy students in achieving their educational goals. The Fund is now held at the Princeton Area Community Foundation, and overseen by a committee of five current Rotarians.

Eligibility:

  • Student at a high school in Trenton, or in the greater Mercer or Buck counties area
  • Maintain a C (2.0 GPA) or better for the term of the scholarship.
  • Must report progress in person at a Trenton Rotary meeting once per year to continue eligibility for years 2, 3 and 4 of the scholarship.
  • Financial need, academic achievement, exemplary community service, and leadership are among the factors considered.

Award:

  • Up to $4,000 per year, for up to four years of full-time study ($16,000 total)
  • Up to four years of full-time study at an accredited college, university, trade, or vocational school

Past Recipients

For more information or support, please contact:

Nelida Valentin
Vice President, Grants, Programs, and Community Relations
Email Nelida Valentin

Myriam Padro
Philanthropy Services Associate
Email Myriam Padro