HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College Foundation began accepting scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 academic year on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The application deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025.
Last year, the HCC Foundation awarded 388 scholarships worth about $350,000 to 323 incoming, current, and transferring HCC students. Some students received multiple scholarship awards. The average scholarship award is typically around $900.
“Awarding scholarships to deserving students has been a cornerstone of the work of the HCC Foundation since its founding,” said Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “Scholarships established by donors celebrate academic achievement, community service, and civic engagement, and, most importantly, these funds ensure hundreds of students have the resources they need to complete their college degrees.”
Students must be currently enrolled at HCC or have been accepted for the upcoming academic year to be eligible for scholarships.
“While the recent launch of MassEducate, the state’s free-community-college-for-all program, has made HCC accessible to more individuals, that only means we have a greater responsibility to ensure students make it to the finish line,” Sbriscia said. “Tuition and fees represent only a portion of the cost of being a college student today, and, oftentimes, a donor scholarship can truly change a student’s life.”
Applicants need only to fill out a single online form to be automatically matched with the scholarships they are most qualified to receive. There are scholarships for new students, current students and students transferring to other institutions, scholarships based on financial need, scholarships for students in specific majors, scholarships for residents of certain communities, and scholarships that recognize academic achievement.
To view scholarship opportunities and begin the application process, please go to: www.hcc.edu/scholarships (https://www.hcc.edu/alumni-and-friends/giving-to-hcc/the-hcc-foundation/scholarships).
Last January, HCC opened a dedicated Scholarship Resource Center to help current and incoming students navigate the process of applying for scholarships and filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The office, located on the first floor of the Donahue Building (Room 158), is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The HCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that works to advance the college’s mission, vision, and values. Founded in 1968 as the Friends of Holyoke Community College, in response to a devastating fire that forced the college to rebuild on a new campus, the Foundation now manages assets of more than $20 million, the largest community college foundation endowment in Massachusetts.
Questions should be directed to the HCC Foundation office at 413-552-2182, or by email to scholarships@hcc.edu.

The Commonwealth’s oldest community college, Holyoke Community College opened its doors in 1946 as the first two-year college in Massachusetts. In the decades since, the college has paved the way for generations of learners from western Massachusetts and beyond, a beacon of hope and opportunity for people seeking better lives. Please visit us at hcc.edu.  ■