CN SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM

Comité Noviembre has always placed special focus on educational excellence as the key to the future of the Puerto Rican community. To this end, in November of 1996 in celebration of its tenth anniversary of Puerto Rican Heritage Month, the Comité Noviembre Scholarship Awards Program (CNSAP) was established. To date, CNSAP has awarded $158,000 in scholarships. The proceeds from the Comité Noviembre Annual Gala Benefit event support the scholarship program.

To be eligible for the CN scholarship award, applicants must be of Puerto Rican descent; have community service experience and extracurricular activity; be enrolled in an accredited college or university by the fall of each year and have a B average or better. The application process includes an application form, an essay, two-letters of recommendations, academic transcripts, a short biographical sketch and a personal interview for finalists.

CN Scholarship Application deadline date: January 15, 2009
Download Application Form.

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THE RICHIE PEREZ SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

“RICHIE VIVE, LA LUCHA SIGUE”

PURPOSE

In 2004, the Puerto Rican community lost an ally, advocate, community leader and urban warrior. Richie Pérez was a beloved activist and leader in the fight for social justice and human rights. He brought integrity, zeal and unity to many causes to which he was committed. These included the struggle for racial justice and against police brutality, Puerto Rican independence and universal human rights. As a former Young Lord and founding member of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, Richie was our inspiration and conscience. Richie wrote and lectured extensively on the Puerto Rican urban experience and as a professor in the CUNY system taught classes in mass media, US social policy and the history of the labor and civil rights movements. Richie believed greatly in the power and potential of young people to create social change. He personally mentored many youth and believed that the torch of the movement for justice had to be passed on to the next generation.

In his memory, Comité Noviembre established the Richie Pérez Scholarship Award. The award recognizes a Puerto Rican young person for their commitment, activism and achievements in any of the areas of human rights and social justice that Richie held so dear. This annual award will both promote the advancement of new leaders in the movement for peace and justice, and also invest in their continued growth by providing support for their ongoing education and political development. The scholarship winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY

  1. Be of Puerto Rican descent
  2. Document a minimum of one-year active participation and organizing work in a social justice or human rights issue.
  3. Be enrolled in an accredited college or university by the fall of each year or at the time of the scholarship award
  4. Be between the ages of 19 and 25.

Comité Noviembre will be awarding 2 scholarships this year from the application it receives by September 29, 2008.

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