The Terra Scholarship provides financial support to SANY alumni attending accredited colleges and encourages service, leadership, and community engagement. The scholarship provides additional funding to students who have demonstrated long-term participation in Terra and SANY programs after graduating from SANY Schools. The scholarship’s goal is to support strong moral character and continued academic success.
1. SANY Enrollment Requirement
Applicants must have been a student at a SANY Charter School for at least three (3) years during high school.
2. Higher Education Enrollment Requirement
Applicants must be accepted and fully registered at an accredited 2-year (registered at AA, AS, or AAS degree) or 4-year college (registered at BA, BS or equivalent degree) to receive the scholarship. Students are eligible maximum four semesters at a two year and eight semesters at four year college.
3. Application Requirement
Applicants must submit a complete Terra Scholarship application, which includes:
- Personal and academic information
- Proof of SANY enrollment duration (SANY high school transcript)
- Proof of college acceptance and registration
- Required essays or statements
- Required transcript showing college courses
- Proof of Good and Moral Character Approval from their SANY school officials (principal, counselor, or designated administrator
- Any additional documentation requested by Terra
4. GPA Requirements
Students must maintain the following minimum cumulative GPA:- End of High School: 2.75 in college courses
- End of 1st College Semester: 2.90
- End of 2nd College Semester: 3.00
- End of 3rd Semester and Beyond: 3.00
Official transcripts must be submitted each semester. Failure to meet GPA minimums may result in a pause or termination of scholarship funding.
5. Good & Moral Character Approval
A. Base Scholarship
- $500 per year for attending a 2-year or 4-year college or
- $2,500 per year for students enrolled in an approved education/teaching program at a 4-year college (documentation required).
B. Additional Scholarship Opportunities (All additional scholarship add-ons are capped at $1,000 per year combined, and only students at 4-year college are eligible)
1. Volunteer & Work-Based Add-ons- $250 for volunteering at one of the regional Terra events (Fairs, Invention Convention, MakerHall, etc.)
- $250 for working at GENIUS Olympiad (plus stipend separately)
- $250 for assisting with a SANY after-school club for a minimum of 5 weeks (plus stipend separately)
- $250 for assisting with sports coaching for a minimum of 5 weeks (plus stipend separately)
- $250 for tutoring an approved course, including SAT prep for a minimum of 5 weeks (plus stipend separately)
2. Engagement & Outreach Add-ons ($50 for each occurrence)- Participating in SANY marketing video shoots
- Presenting about college or careers at a SANY School (in-person or online, possible multiple occurrence)
- Serve as judges at SANY science fairs, debates, art shows, etc. (possible multiple occurrence)
All scholarship applications—both new and renewal—must be submitted by the deadlines below:
Fall Semester Deadline: September 1
Spring Semester Deadline: February 1
Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible for their intended semester. Earlier submission allows for faster review and earlier issuance of scholarship checks to the applicant’s university. Applications after the set deadlines may be reviewed and approved for the next available semester.
By submitting an application, you certify the following statement: I certify that the information in this application is correct to the best of my knowledge, and in the event I am awarded a scholarship, all funds will be used to further my education.
- Terra may verify all submitted information. Providing false information may result in disqualification and loss of future eligibility.
- Student must be enrolled full-time at a two or four-year college or university during the scholarship semester. Scholarship can be given for a maximum of 8 semesters while students are pursuing an undergraduate degree.
- Scholarship funds may be used for the following eligible expenses: tuition/fees, room and board, and/or books; funds must be applied AFTER other scholarships (Excelsior, college/university, etc.) and grants (Pell, TAP, etc.) have been applied.
- If other scholarships and grants cover all of the student’s eligible expenses, College Achievers Scholarship funds, or any portion that remains, will be returned to Terra Science and Education.
- No cash payments of unused funds will be paid to students.
- The scholarship will be paid directly to the student’s account at the college to be used for tuition, fees, and books.
- The scholarship payment will be made in two installments at the beginning of each fall/spring semester following the receipt of the award. Add-on scholarships will be confirmed by a SANY school official and will be added to the next semester’s payment.
- Scholarships are not automatically renewable. Students must send their official transcript at the end of each semester documenting enrollment and GPA.
- In any case that a student registers and then withdraws, thereby receiving a refund of the Terra Scholarship from the college, these funds are to be returned to Terra Science and Education. If the full-time attendance requirement is not met, regardless of any refund, any future scholarship payments will be forfeited.
- The majority of communication between recipients and the scholarship administrators will take place via email. Recipients are required to have and regularly check their email and notify Terra Science and Education of any changes to their contact information.
- Recipients of Terra scholarships are expected to acknowledge acceptance of the award promptly by signing the Acceptance Form provided by Terra.This form should be filled by NEW APPLICANTS (first time) ONLY.
Renewal of the scholarship requires ONLY the submission of official college transcript, directly sent by your registrar office ([email protected]; 835 West Genesee St. Syracuse NY 13204).
The goal of this scholarship is to promote college readiness of high school students. This program is available only for SANY high school students.
The goal of this scholarship is to challange students to do their best in their ELA and Math classes and prepare better for college.
Students may receive up to $75. This scholarship is available to all 3-8 grade SANY students who perform at a level 3 or 4 on the NYS ELA and Math tests.
There is no application for this scholarship, therefore students do not need to apply for it. Terra will obtain the required information for the eligible candidates from school principles. The scholarship checks will be given at a ceremony in school in October. Please see your school dean for more details.