The Portuguese Foundation, Inc.

Scholarship Program

In 1992, the Portuguese Foundation's Scholarship Program began assisting students of Portuguese Ancestry in financial need who excelled in their academic studies.  The Foundation believes that education is the most important element in achieving one's full potential in life.

The Portuguese Foundation is the only organization in the State of Connecticut that awards scholarships to students of Portuguese Ancestry on a statewide basis. Applicants are not limited by participation and/or membership in certain organizations, nor geographic limitations, other than being a resident of the State of Connecticut. As such, the Foundation awards its scholarships to the best Portuguese-American students in the State of Connecticut who have demonstrated both classroom excellence and an economic need for assistance with his or her higher education.

2010 marks the Foundation’s 19th scholarship banquet and it is proud to award $5,000.00 in scholarships to four deserving students. The Scholarship Committee, consisting of Jose P. Bravado “Zak,” Manuela Freitas, and Gabriel R. Serrano, had the most difficult task of sorting through several stellar applications to select this year’s four recipients. The Foundation received applications this year from all corners of the State of Connecticut including the following municipalities: Watertown, South Glastonbury, Newington, East Hartford, and West Haven.

As the Foundation celebrates its twentieth year of existence, it remains, as ever, committed to assisting students of Portuguese Ancestry on a statewide level. Including this year's recipients, there have been 122 awards totaling over $167,000.00: 65 from the Greater Hartford area, 24 from the Greater Waterbury area, 15 from the Greater Bridgeport area, 7 from the Greater Danbury area, 4 from the New Haven area, 4 from the Stonington area, and 3 from the Wallingford area.

The Portuguese Foundation has its scholarship application form online at its website, http://www.pfict.org/  Along with the application, the student must submit a number of documents to insure a fair and unbiased evaluation is made, including: Essays describing financial need and interest in the Portuguese Language and Culture; Proof of Portuguese Ancestry; Two letters of recommendation; High school and/or College transcripts; Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or a copy of most recent Federal Income Tax return for parents and student; and Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT) Report.

The Portuguese Foundation, Inc. is proud to incorporate two new scholarship awards starting this year. The first is the Fernando Madeira Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to a student majoring in musical studies. The second is the Convivio Caldense Scholarship which is awarded to a student who traces his or her ancestry to the Conselho de Caldas da Rainha.

The requirements of the scholarship program are as follows: Portuguese Ancestry; U.S. Citizenship or a Permanent Residency; Connecticut Residency; Be applying for, or currently in College; Be a full time student in an undergraduate degree conferring program or a part time student in a Master's or Doctorate Program; and Cannot have previously received more than four Foundation scholarships.

The scholarship committee evaluates all of the submitted materials with emphasis given to financial need and student academic performance. Eighty percent (80%) of the total potential score is decided on an objective basis through the use of pre-established rating criteria approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors. The remaining twenty percent (20%) is scored on a more subjective basis. This is where a student’s application is vital to the selection process.  Often the determining factor or factors in awarding a scholarship is found in the dissection of the application. The Committee discusses these factors and a scholarship may be awarded on the basis of a student’s overall academic excellence or on the student’s acute financial needs.

Financial need is determined by income level.  Transcript scores are based on grade point average. These two factors carry the greatest weight in the evaluation process.  The SAT scores are given the second highest consideration.  The items scored on a subjective basis are the essays, the preparation of the application form, and finally the two letters of recommendation.  Incomplete applications are not evaluated.

The Portuguese Foundation congratulates this year’s winners and wishes them continued success in the pursuit of scholastic excellence in their undergraduate studies.