Blue River Community Foundation opens winter scholarship application cycle

Blue River Community Foundation’s winter scholarship application cycle is now open at blueriverfoundation.com.

Scholarships awarded during this cycle will be distributed during the summer of 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2026.

High school students on track to graduate by June 30, 2026, as well as current college students, graduate students, and nontraditional students pursuing post-secondary credentials, are encouraged to apply. A unique feature of BRCF’s application process is that applicants complete one application to be considered for all scholarships for which they qualify.

Specific criteria, requirements, and application instructions, as well as a list of scholarships, can be found in the BRCF Scholarship Resource Guide for students located under the Scholarships tab on the foundation’s website.

Current high school seniors who completed an application during BRCF’s summer application cycle do not have to reapply during this cycle to be considered for BRCF scholarships for which they are eligible. However, as outlined in the application process, completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.

All applicants, regardless of the cycle in which they applied, must submit their Student Aid Index (SAI) number to BRCF by Jan. 15, 2026. Instructions on completing this requirement vary by application cycle and are provided within the application.

Since 1994, BRCF has invested over $8.5 million in students pursuing post-secondary education. This amount represents over $2.8 million awarded to Shelby County’s 44 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients, made possible by the Lilly Endowment Inc. as well as, $5.7 million awarded to students form BRCF Scholarship Funds.

This past spring, 232 scholarships were claimed by 149 recipients totaling over $480,000 from 118 active scholarship funds administered by BRCF. With several new scholarship funds established at BRCF in 2024, the total award pool for the 2026 cohort has increased to over $500,000.

These scholarship funds are made possible through the generosity of our donors who recognize the importance of reducing financial barriers to higher education.

For more information about BRCF’s scholarship application process, contact Julie Alvis, Communications and Scholarship Director, at 317-392-7955, ext. 102 or jalvis@blueriverfoundation.com.

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