SYF’s Scholarship Program is part of the national Simon Supports Education initiative.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 15, 2018) – Today, Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national nonprofit committed to helping students graduate, is pleased to announce that the application period for its nationally competitive scholarship program is now open.
Since the inception of SYF in 1998, shoppers at Simon Malls, Mills, and Premium Outlets have been among SYF’s most ardent supporters, contributing millions of dollars to support SYF’s mission. As a thank you to these loyal supporters, SYF is proud to once again help deserving graduating seniors living in a Simon mall community pursue a college education.
Scholarship recipients are eligible for a one-time $1,500 scholarship, which may be applied to tuition at an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. Students who will be graduating high school in 2018 and live in a community surrounding a Simon mall, Mills or Premium Outlet are eligible. To locate the Simon Property nearest you, please visit /www.simon.com/mall.
The Simon Youth Community Scholarship program is one facet of the Simon Supports Education initiative. As part of this initiative, visitors at Simon centers can purchase SYF VISA Simon Giftcards, redeemable wherever VISA is accepted. One dollar from the sale of each bright orange, SYF-branded card will go directly to support SYF and its mission.
“At Simon Youth Foundation, we are committed to helping students graduate and pursue their dreams through education,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, President and CEO, SYF. “We strongly believe that cost should not prevent students from furthering their education. With the incredible support of our corporate partner, Simon, and its Simon Supports Education initiative, we are humbled to help eliminate this financial burden through SYF’s scholarship programs.”
In 2018, SYF awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to 250 students in 42 states. Since its founding in 1998, SYF has awarded more than $17 million in scholarships to nearly 4,800 students.
In addition to the community scholarships, 11 regional awards called “Awards of Excellence” will be given to top candidates. The regions eligible are Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, New York, Orange County (CA), Orlando, and Seattle/Tacoma. Additionally, one Award of Excellence will be awarded to an applicant from a Simon Premium Outlet. Students from these areas will have the opportunity to receive a $10,000 award ($2,500 for up to four years).
SYF’s 2019 scholarship recipients will be selected by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS), a third-party partner. Applicants will be evaluated based on academic promise, financial need, written response, work experience as well as community and extracurricular involvement.
The Simon Youth Scholarship application period will remain open from August 15, 2018 through February 20, 2019. For more information, to confirm eligibility and apply for a Simon Youth Community Scholarship, please visit syf.org/scholarships/.
About Simon Youth Foundation
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit committed to helping students who are on the verge of dropping out of high school graduate and pursue post-secondary educational opportunities. SYF works toward this mission by partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon Malls, and by providing Simon Youth Scholarships to Academy graduates and students who live near Simon Malls. Since its inception, SYF has maintained a 90 percent graduation rate at its 35 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, helping more than 17,000 students earn their high school diplomas, and has awarded over $17 million in scholarships. Visit syf.org to learn more.
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