Knights of Columbus Pennsylvania Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Pennsylvania State Council
Introduction
The Pennsylvania State Council of the Knights of Columbus will award ten scholarships to eligible Knights of Columbus members, their sons and daughters, and qualifying members of the Columbian Squires/Squire Rose program. Each scholarship provides up to $4,000, distributed over a maximum six-year period, to help cover costs such as tuition, books, or living expenses at a college or a committee‑approved school of nursing. Receiving one of these awards does not automatically disqualify a recipient from other scholarships they may be awarded, unless those awards contain their own restrictions.
Award Details
- Number of awards: 10
- Maximum amount: $4,000 per scholarship, payable over up to six years
- Allowable uses: tuition, books, and maintenance
- Payment method: funds are paid directly to the college or approved school of nursing, not to the recipient
Eligibility
Applicants must meet one of the following membership-related criteria within the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania:
- Be a current, fully paid member of a Knights of Columbus council; or
- Be a child or stepchild of a current, fully paid member of a Knights of Columbus council (note: grandchildren are not eligible unless the grandfather is the applicant’s legal guardian); or
- Be a child or stepchild of a deceased Knights of Columbus member who was not in arrears at the time of death; or
- Be a qualified Columbian Squire or Squire Rose.
Other Required Qualifications
- Faith: The applicant must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the Holy See.
- Academic status: The applicant must be a candidate for graduation from an accredited four‑year high school or an equivalent home‑school program in the term ending June 2026 (early graduates finishing in January 2026 are also eligible).
- Application: A fully completed application form, with all required signatures, must be submitted to the Scholarship Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Council, Knights of Columbus, no later than December 31, 2025.
- Council reporting: The applicant’s council must have filed Form 185 (Report of Officers Chosen for Term).
- COAL ticket sales requirement:
- The council of the applicant’s father must sell at least 75 Chance of a Lifetime (C.O.A.L.) tickets for the 2025–2026 campaign.
- For Columbian Squires applicants, the sponsoring council or assembly must sell at least 75 C.O.A.L. tickets by or before April 15, 2026.
- These sales figures will be verified against the COAL chairman’s records.
Payment Conditions
To receive scholarship funds, the recipient must be enrolled in a college or a hospital‑affiliated school of nursing. The institution may be Catholic or non‑Catholic, subject to the scholarship committee’s approval. Scholarship disbursements will be made directly to the approved school.