Mount Carmel High School Scholarships

TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In August 2017, with bipartisan support, the House and Senate passed a comprehensive education funding bill that was signed into law by the governor. The law includes a provision for tax credit scholarships, which provide strong incentives for donors to support non-public school scholarships for low-income students in the state. Illinois students from low-income families may use these new scholarships to attend a non-public school of their choice.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS

A number of awards are available to currently enrolled students each year by application beginning in January. Selections are determined through essay competition and/or committee review.

The Richard Bertoldi ’54 Memorial Scholarship is awarded to two rising seniors who have demonstrated a strong work ethic and will benefit from financial assistance in their senior year. ($3,000, one time)

The Call Your Mother Scholarship is awarded to a student who has learned what it means to be a Man of Carmel as raised by a single parent, or with the responsibility of being the first member of his family to attend college. ($1,000, one time)

The Promise Scholarship recipients are seniors who have been nominated by our principal and president. The recipients of this scholarship are expected to carry the values and legacy of Mount Carmel into the future, and to pay forward the generosity of this award through future contributions of time, talent, and treasure. This award is determined by committee selection. No application is required. (Varies)

The Fr. Aloysius Sieracki, O.Carm Scholarship honors the legacy of Fr. Al by awarding students who have demonstrated excellence in mathematics. This award is determined by committee selection. No application is required. ($2,500, one time)

The Brandon Jackson 2008 Scholarship is awarded to one rising senior who has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence as well as a passion for enhancing the Mount Carmel community through a variety of extra-curricular contributions. ($2,000, one time)

Financial Aid
Registration Open

Scholarships for incoming Freshmen Class of 2025

The following scholarships are for incoming freshmen and are awarded based on criteria specified in applications.

Cost Certain Scholarships (No application required)

The Fr. David Dillon, O.Carm. ‘57 Scholarship - All students who score in the 98th or 99th percentile on the HSPT will receive a full-tuition scholarship for all four years, based on continued strength in academics and commitment to Caravan Values.
$12,800 renewable, current four year value $51,200

The Nicholas A. Iosue Academic Scholarship - All students who score in the 85th to 97th percentile on the HSPT will receive a tuition reduction scholarship of 25% for all four years, based on continued strength in academics and commitment to Caravan Values.
$3,200 renewable, current four year value $12,800.

The Gilmore Legacy Scholarship– is a renewable award for incoming freshmen whose father, grandfather, or great-grandfather graduated from Mount Carmel.
$1,000 renewable, current four year value $4,000

The Shoulder to Shoulder Scholarship - is an award for families that have multiple students concurrently enrolled at Mount Carmel High School.
$1,500 for the second sibling and $3,000 for the third sibling, renewable

Public Safety First Responder Scholarship – is an award for all students whose parents serve as police officers, firefighters, or paramedics. This award is also available to students who have a parent currently deployed in the U.S. military. Verification is required.
$1,000 renewable, current four year value $4,000.

Order of the Carmelites Catholic School Scholarship – is an award for all students who graduated from a Catholic Grammar School. $1,000 renewable, current four year value $4,000.
Please note: New scholarship beginning with the Class of 2025

Additional Scholarship Awards - Application Required

The James Barda Leadership Award honors Jim Barda who passed away the summer before his anticipated graduation from Mount Carmel. Established by family members and the Class of 1963 friends. Barda Leaders are held to high expectations inside and outside of the classroom.
$2,000 renewable, current four year value $8,000.

B.P.A.C. Scholarship is a need-based award established by members of the Class of 1959 who grew up in the South Shore neighborhood. This scholarship is available to graduates of St. Philip Neri School. There are a limited number of B.P.A.C scholarships available.
($1,000)

The John J. Hrisney ’63 Scholarship is a renewable, need-based scholarship designed to assist students who fit the profile of a Caravan man and are committed to bettering themselves and the Mount Carmel community.
$1,500 renewable, current four year value $6,000.

The Hynan Family Award is a renewable scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen supporting families who have three or more students enrolled in Catholic schools.
$2,000 renewable, current four year value $8,000.

The Michael J. Cummings Memorial Scholarship is a renewable scholarship award available to students at Mount Carmel High School beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who has financial need, lives in a one parent household and completes the application and essay requirements.
$2,500 renewable, current four year value $10,000.

The Burt P. Lewis Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship available to students at Mount Carmel High School beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who has financial need, an interest in entrepreneurial business and completes the application and essay requirements.
$1,500, current four year value $6,000.

The McDonald Family Award is a need-based scholarship awarded to one incoming freshman that has submitted an essay regarding why they have chosen to attend Mount Carmel and how their work ethic can propel them toward their goals.
$1,250 renewable, current four year value $5,000.

The James McHugh Family Scholarship is awarded to one incoming student each year who has a relative that was an MC alum and presents a strong case for how sports or extracurricular has shaped who he is and what he has learned from them.
$1,500 renewable, current four year value $6,000.

The MC President’s Scholarship – This award is given to one incoming freshman who has demonstrated success in the classroom and community. This scholarship is determined by committee selection. No application is required.
$10,000 renewable, current four year value $40,000.

The Stella Myers Scholarship is awarded to one incoming freshman residing in the city of Chicago who has demonstrated a strong work ethic outside of the classroom.
$1,500 renewable, current four year value $6,000.

The Thacker '58 Scholarship is a need based scholarship awarded to students of single parent households.
$1,000, one year.

The Frank Swiderski, Jr. Scholarship is a need-based scholarship awarded to an incoming freshman who has an interest in the arts.
$5,000 renewable, current four year value $20,000.

Thomas E. Cusack '68 Scholarship for Disabled Students.

The Scholarship will be awarded to a student who requires a wheelchair to achieve his daily mobility. The Thomas E. Cusack '68 Scholarship for Disabled Students will be based on financial need. A brief essay and meeting is required. The Cusack scholarship is a four year renewable scholarship. Applications for the Thomas E. Cusack '68 Scholarship for disabled students will be available upon the completion of the elevator installation at Mount Carmel High School.

Families with students in 7^th and 8^th grade should also check with the organizations listed below for potential awards. Many of these scholarship partners have fall deadlines in place, so it is important to plan ahead and make inquiries early!

Big Shoulders- Students who are current recipients of Big Shoulders funding should consult with their principal to determine if the award is valid in high school. The application opens on January, 12, 2021 , at 8:00 am. Mount Carmel will assist with information and applications at the school at 7:00 am. www.bigshouldersfund.org

Chicago Fire Department Gold Badge Society-

All scholarships are available to graduating, qualifying children of active, disabled, retired or deceased firefighters or paramedics of the Chicago Fire Department. Application deadline March 31, 2021.

$2,000, one-time award. www.cfdgoldbadgesociety.org

Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation - $5,000 annually. Application deadline October 2020. www.dmsf.org

Folds of Honor Scholarships - Assistance available to children of fallen or disabled service members. Application open February 1, 2021- March 31, 2021.
www.foldsofhonor.org/scholarships1

High Sight - Awards vary, renewable. Applications will be available in February 2021 for the 2020-2021 school year. Deadline March 15, 2021.
http://highsight.org/apply/

Holy Family Chicago Scholars (HFS) - Number and amount of awards each year varies, renewable.

www.hfschicagoscholars.com

LINK, Unlimited - Awards vary, renewable. Application deadline December 2020. https://linkunlimited.org/

The Quigley Scholars Program - $2,500, renewable. www.quigleyscholars.org/

SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL

All internal scholarship are renewable if the student meets the minimum requirement. Barda, Legacy, Shoulder to Shoulder, McHugh, McDonald and merit scholarships are automatically renewed. For all other scholarships, students must reapply each academic year. All students receiving scholarships have the responsibilities listed below. In addition, each scholarship may have other requirements such as service hours, or higher GPA requirements. Details will be outlined in scholarship notification letters. Minimum requirements for all scholarship recipients are:

To work to achieve his academic potential, and to maintain a minimum GPA of at least 2.0; (**Academic Scholarship requirements vary);
To participate annually in at least one sport or extracurricular activities of the student’s choice;
To cooperate with all school policies and procedures and maintain an excellent discipline record;
To participate in school events and student fundraisers such as the annual walkathon.

For additional information about Scholarships please contact Tara Pink, Director of Scholarships & Annual Giving at tpink@mchs.org.