Donald and Itasker Thorton Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Thornton Sisters Foundation, Inc.
Introduction
The Thornton Sisters Foundation, Inc. is a faith-based nonprofit organization that awards annual, one-year scholarships to deserving young women of color. Scholarships are intended to assist with first-year college expenses—principally tuition and/or books—based on the amount of funding available to the Foundation in that fiscal year.
Eligibility
- Must be a current senior at a public high school in New Jersey.
- Must identify as a female of color (examples include African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino-American, Caribbean-American, Native American, Asian-American, etc.).
- Must have a minimum high school grade point average of C+.
Required Application Materials
1. Official high school transcript.
2. Three (3) letters of recommendation that meet all of the following:
- Each should come from a teacher or other faculty member who has instructed the applicant.
- Each letter must state how the recommender knows the applicant and the length of that relationship.
- Each letter must be signed by the author and submitted in a sealed envelope with the author’s signature written across the seal.
3. The most recent parental income tax statement or equivalent documentation demonstrating parents’ income (individual W-2 forms will not be accepted).
4. A completed personal statement section of the application, including:
- A 500-word essay that fully answers every question posed in the application.
- A passport-size photograph of the applicant attached to the application.
Enrollment and Award Disbursement
- Applicants must be planning to enroll in a four-year accredited college or university.
- Official proof of college acceptance is required before any award funds are released. Scholarship payments will be made directly to the recipient’s college or university.
Recipient Obligation
- Any Finalist* who fails to complete her first year of college must repay the Foundation all scholarship funds she received, plus any legal costs the Foundation incurs to obtain that reimbursement.
*The term “Finalist” refers to applicants who have been chosen by the Foundation as finalists for the scholarship award.