Kathleen Reilly Tri-State Scholarship | Eligibility, Award & Application Guide

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The Kathleen Reilly Tri-State Scholarship is a competitive award for high school seniors. Each year, the scholarship committee selects two graduating seniors from member schools of the Tri-State Consortium to receive $2,500 each. This award honors students who show exceptional leadership, community service, and character.

The Tri-State Consortium is an alliance of public school districts in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. It was founded to support collaboration and educational excellence across these states. The Kathleen Reilly Scholarship is one of its initiatives, created to recognize and encourage young leaders who contribute to their schools and communities.

Scholarship Overview

Award Amount: $2,500 (two awards annually)
Eligible States: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York
Administered by: Tri-State Consortium in partnership with local schools
Application Submission: Through your high school’s guidance office (no central website)
Selection Basis: Leadership, character, and community involvement

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must meet the following three requirements:

Be a graduating high school senior.
Attend a member school of the Tri-State Consortium.
Demonstrate leadership and service, both inside and outside of school.

Application Timeline

While deadlines vary by school, the general cycle is:

February – March: Schools distribute applications and set internal deadlines.
March – April: Schools review and nominate one student for consideration.
May: Consortium committee announces scholarship recipients.

Tip: Confirm the exact deadline with your high school guidance office, as it may differ by district.

Required Application Materials

Applicants are typically asked to submit:

Official application form (from your guidance department).
Personal essay, video, or audio submission (max 500 words or 3 minutes) responding to the prompt:
“How are you a ‘social connector’ who brings others together in service to your community?”
High school transcript (official).
Resume or activity list highlighting leadership roles, clubs, athletics, community service, or work experience.

How to Strengthen Your Application

To stand out, keep these strategies in mind:

Be measurable: Replace vague claims with specific results (e.g., “organized 3 fundraisers raising $5,200” instead of “helped with fundraising”).
Show real impact: Describe how your actions brought people together, solved problems, or strengthened your school/community.
Use storytelling: Instead of listing roles, tell a short, clear story showing how you acted as a leader or connector.
Plan early: Allow 3–4 weeks for drafting your essay and gathering documents so your application is polished.

Award Details and Announcement

Number of Awards: Two
Amount: $2,500 each
Disbursement: Funds are applied directly to the recipient’s higher education expenses.
Announcement: Typically in May, after review by the Tri-State Consortium scholarship committee.

How to Apply

There is no central website for the Kathleen Reilly Tri-State Scholarship. To apply:

Visit your school’s guidance office to confirm if your school is a Tri-State Consortium member.
Request the official application form and instructions.
Submit your completed application, essay, transcript, and activity list to your guidance counselor by your school’s internal deadline.
Wait for school-level review and nomination. The consortium will make the final selection.