Attention Pembroke High School students: You are eligible to apply for our scholarships while your school is under reorganization for the CoVid-19 Virus. Be sure to select "apply" to each scholarship now available to you.
Your Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars chapter (DFS) was established in the Pembroke school district in 2008. It incorporated and expanded the previously established Alumni Scholarship started in the mid-1950's. Like minded alumni and community members joined together to create an organization that would be able to promote and support college and trade school graduates who desired to continue educational studies. During its existence, your DFS chapter has grown and flourished with the financial support of numerous out of town alumni. Additionally, local individuals wishing to establish endowed scholarships as memorials for family members have been included over the last 14 years. Here are a few of the accomplishments that have occurred under the executive leadership of the organization to date.
- 1.) Corfu DFS CHAPTER HAS PROVIDED 172 PEMBROKE SCHOLARS MONETARY AWARDS.
- 2.) Corfu DFS CHAPTER HAS PROVIDED $125,550 FOR GRADUATING PEMBROKE SENIORS.
- 3.) THE CORFU-PEMBROKE DFS IS A TOTALLY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.
- 4.) CURRENTLY, WE ANNUALLY AWARD 24 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING PEMBROKE SCHOLARS.
- 5.) CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 4 TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY AVAILABLE.
- 6.) OUR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS RANGE FROM $200 TO $4000.
- 7.) CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 11 AWARDS WORTH OVER $1,000 EACH.
- 8.) 100 % OF EACH DONATION GOES TO THE STUDENT'S AWARD.
- 9.) ALL DONATIONS ARE FULLY FEDERALLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
- 10.) CURRENTLY, THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IS APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THIS YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS. THAT MEANS THAT THE CHANCES OF WINNING A SCHOLARSHIP IS 1 IN 4 OR 25%.
The original financial seed money was invested in the mutual funds market. The majority of the money for each monetary award comes from earnings realized from our investment portfolio. Over most of our existence, market earnings have ranged between 8% to 12% per annum providing a reserve cushion for possible lean market years. Recently, market conditions have become more challenging and some of our reserves are currently being utilized to help fund some of our scholarship accounts. We currently have sufficient future reserves to sustain our accounts for a couple of academic years before we will need to begin tapping into the original seed money. We DO NOT WISH to reduce either the number of awards, or the amount of the award. Funds to run our organization DO NOT COME FROM THE PEMBROKE COMMUNITY but from outside sources. With all these facts in mind we would like you and your family to consider attending the 7th Annual DENNY'S FUND-RAISING EVENT this year. We INVITE you to help us provide college funds by purchasing a meal at Denny's on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 located at the Flying J truck stop in Pembroke. Denny's has graciously agreed to award 20% of each meal ticket between 4:00 and 10:00 pm to our organization for college scholarships. If you value education, care about children or are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college someday this event is for you and your family. We hope you and your family will attend this fundraiser by sharing a meal with us and other like-minded Pembroke community residents. Remember, 100% of every donation to Dollars for Scholars goes to scholarships for future graduates of the Pembroke School District!
Who May Apply for a Scholarship?
Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars believes any sincere and determined student should have the opportunity to continue his or her education after graduation. Scholarships can be for two-year, four-year, or vocational and technical colleges. Students graduating from Pembroke High school (or who have earned their GED) are eligible to apply.
Applications for This Year Scholarships
The 2023-2024 application process is open as of October 31st, 2023. Applications are DUE BY MARCH 31, 2024. To ensure you meet the deadline, we recommend submitting your transcripts and letters of recommendation early. Please do not wait until the last minute as the process to submit these components has additional processing time. (Only online applications will be accepted.)
2023-24 Board Calendars of Events
- August 08, 2023, Dollars for Scholars Board & Friends Picnic
- September 17, 2023, KIWANIS Car Cruise-In Booth
- September 27, 2023, DENNY'S Scholarship Fundraiser
- October 31st, 2023, Online Applications Open
- October 24, 2023, Board Meeting - Review & Realign Goals
- March 7, 2024, Board Meeting - Senior Applications Tweek
- March 31, 2024, DEADLINE-scholarship application close
- April 1-26, 2024 Scholarship Scoring & Evaluation-Scholarship Committee
- April 23, 2024, Scholarship Assignments & Match
- May 1, 2024, Deadline to accept scholarship.
- June Banquet, 2024 Senior Scholarship Reception
- Scholarship checks mailed to institutions.
The Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars was Chartered on June 12th, 2008. Charter members: Doc (Art) Mruczek -Pres; Linda Rindell - V-Pres; Jack Waggoner - Treasurer; 'Berneda Scoins - Secretary; Toby Beahan & Keith Palmer - Awards Committee; Joseph Fenton, Michele Fingerlow + Gemma Rarich- Fund Raising; Sandra Maurer, Kate Reigel, and Katleen Dethier. As a guideline, in October we review current Awards Policy and Invested scholarship Money to determine the number of scholarships to awarded. April Student applications due and in May develop Awards Ceremony Material. June is Annual PHS Awards Banquet. We send award to the institution on record for students who have 'acknowledged' their award and provide enrollment and academic verification for continued education. We are locally operated and supported, non-profit, 501(C)3 tax exempt scholarship foundation. Our Volunteer Board has a mission to offer scholarship opportunities to Pembroke High School Graduating seniors who demonstrate the desire and academic ability to succeed in pursuing a post-secondary education.
Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars Inc.
Corfu-Pembroke Chapter
Post Office Box 72
Corfu, NY 14036
