On this page, we have attempted to categorize and answer most of the questions that have arisen since we started the scholarship. As new issues arise, we add them to this extensive list of questions and answers. If you have a question and cannot find the answer on this page, email The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation ([email protected]), and we will promptly provide an answer. If your concern is something that can benefit others, we will add it to this Frequently Asked Questions page. We also suggest that the News and Updates page of our website be checked for additional information on our scholarships.
You can scroll down and read all the questions and their answers. However, to find a specific answer, scroll down through the list of questions below and “left click” your mouse on your particular question, and you will be taken directly to the answer for that question. After you have read the answer to your question, you can “left click” on “return to questions“, and you will automatically be returned to the beginning of the section containing your question.
The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation
- Who are Thomas and Elsie Deeley?
- What is The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation?
- How did The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation come into being?
The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation Scholarship
- What is The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation Scholarship?
- How many scholarships are given out each year?
- If I enroll in a program that requires more than four years to complete, will the scholarship continue beyond four years?
- What is the college graduation rate of the scholarship recipients?
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- What are the criteria for being eligible for the scholarship?
- Does a student have to be a citizen of the United States to receive the scholarship?
- Are there any plans to expand this scholarship to other high schools?
- Are these scholarships targeted more at the high achieving academic student or is it more for someone needing financial aid?
The Scholarship Application Process
- How many students usually apply for the scholarship?
- Does the faculty or staff at St. Paul’s High School or Kolbe Cathedral High School play any role in the selection process?
- Why does the application have four essays?
- Why do I have to list my first choice of college and the other colleges I applied to?
- If I fail to submit a FAFSA form, am I still eligible for the scholarship?
- What happens after I submit my application?
- When will I hear whether I’ve won a scholarship?
The Interview Process
- Does everybody who applies for the scholarship get to have an interview?
- How long does the interview last?
- What happens if I want to change my first choice of college after I submit my scholarship application or after the interview process?
- Do I need to do any special preparation for the interview?
Relationships With Colleges and Universities
- Why was the scholarship expanded to include other colleges and universities?
- Are there any limitations on which college/university I can apply to?
- Why was the scholarship expanded to include two-year colleges?
- Does the scholarship for students attending two-year colleges also cover the costs when those students continue to a four-year college or university?
- Does the Deeley Foundation have matching dollar-for-dollar partnership agreements with colleges and universities?
- How does the Deeley Foundation decide which colleges and universities to try to establish partnerships with?
- Why doesn’t the Deeley Foundation have a partnership with UConn?
- Does the Deeley Foundation still award scholarships to students wishing to attend UConn?
Deeley Foundation Financial Information
- Where does The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation get its money for the scholarships?
- Does a MATCHING scholarship mean the Deeley Foundation pays for all the costs of attending college?
- What are the amounts of the scholarships to colleges that are not partners with The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation?
- If I win the scholarship how do I get the money?
- Does the Deeley Foundation pay all the money at once or is half of it paid each semester?
- How many scholarships have been awarded each year since 1996?
- How much money has the Deeley Foundation awarded since 1996?
Additional Information
- Can I use the scholarship if I want to spend a semester abroad?
- If I decide to transfer from one college to another, will I still be able to keep my scholarship?
- What happens if I take a year off from school and then wish to continue after a year?
- Does the Deeley Foundation cover the cost of graduate school?
- Does the scholarship cover the cost of summer school?
- What happens if I graduate in fewer than four years?
- Is the recipient of the scholarship required to maintain a specific academic standing while in college?
- How do scholarship recipients demonstrate their financial need?
- Does the Deeley Foundation provide any assistance other than financial aid to recipients?
WHO ARE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY?
They were Waterbury residents. Mr. Deeley worked as a tool setter for Scovill Manufacturing Company, and Mrs. Deeley was a part-time worker and full-time wife and mother. While they worked tirelessly to ensure their children could attend college, they also found time to participate in numerous community and volunteer activities.
WHAT IS THE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY FOUNDATION?
In 1996, their son, Ted, his wife, Gayle, and his sister, Donna, established The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation to continue their parents’ legacy of providing a helping hand. The Foundation is recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation by the IRS.
Donations to the Deeley Foundation are subject to IRS guidelines and are tax-deductible, much like contributions to other charities are tax-deductible. The Deeley Foundation’s primary objective is to award college scholarships to exceptionally deserving high school seniors in the greater Connecticut area.
HOW DID THE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY FOUNDATION COME INTO BEING?
It was founded in 1996 to foster the Deeleys’ beliefs (1) that education is one of the most important means of improving one’s life and (2) that an individual has an obligation to give something back to the community.
The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation is administered by the Deeleys’ children, their spouses, and the Deeleys’ grandchildren.
WHAT IS THE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?
It began as an award given jointly by Fairfield University and The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation to a senior at Sacred Heart High School. The first scholarship was awarded in 1996 and was originally for four years, at $20,000 per year, to be applied towards the cost of tuition at Fairfield University. The $20,000 award consisted of $10,000 from the Deeley Foundation and a $10,000 matching scholarship from Fairfield University. It was increased to $24,000 beginning in 1999 and consisted of $12,000 from the Deeley Foundation and $12,000 from Fairfield University.
In 2002, in an attempt to provide financial assistance to a greater number of Sacred Heart High School graduates, the scholarship was expanded to include students who applied to any four-year college or university. In 2004, a matching partnership was formed with the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation. In 2014, the scholarship was again expanded to include students attending two-year colleges and planning to transfer to a four-year institution after their first two years. In 2015, FULL TUITION scholarships with Fairfield University and Quinnipiac University were established.
In 2017 The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation began expanding the number of colleges and universities in its partnership portfolio. They ultimately were able to expand their partnerships with colleges and universities and continue seeking new partners and modifying existing partnerships to better benefit our scholarship recipients.
In 2021, the Archdiocese of Hartford closed Sacred Heart High School, a school that provided 99 years of quality education to students in the Waterbury area. Former Sacred Heart students wishing to continue their Catholic education transferred to Holy Cross High School, St. Paul’s High School, or elsewhere. After careful and thoughtful consideration, The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation decided to continue awarding college scholarships to deserving students by affiliating with St. Paul’s High School in Bristol, CT.
The Deeley Foundation continued to honor its original commitment to former undergraduate students from Sacred Heart High School by permitting them to continue to apply for one of its scholarships, regardless of where they decided to complete their high school education.
In 2025, the Deeley Foundation expanded its high school affiliations to include Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, CT.
HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GIVEN OUT EACH YEAR?
Since its inception, the Deeley Foundation has awarded an average of three or four scholarships per year. In some years, a single scholarship was awarded, and in other years, more than four scholarships were awarded. With the addition of Kolbe Cathedral High School, we expect these numbers to double.
IF I ENROLL IN A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE, WILL THE SCHOLARSHIP CONTINUE BEYOND FOUR YEARS?
No.
The scholarship award is good for four years. Any studies beyond four years, for either undergraduate or graduate studies, are the responsibility of the student.
WHAT IS THE COLLEGE GRADUATION RATE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS?
The current graduation rate of our scholarship recipients is 97%, a figure that the Deeley Foundation is extremely proud of and a rate that exceeds the graduation rate at most colleges and universities.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP?
An applicant must:
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- be an undergraduate student at Saint Paul’s High School or Kolbe Cathedral High School,
- be in good academic standing,
- have an acceptance at a college or university,
- demonstrate a need for financial aid, and,
- complete and submit an application to the Deeley Foundation by December 31st.
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Once an applicant meets these basic criteria, the Deeley Foundation applies additional criteria and evaluations to determine who will receive the award. Our ideal candidate is someone who is a good student, is active in school and the community, has a part-time job, and, overall, is someone who would derive a great deal of benefit from being awarded the scholarship.
To be considered for the scholarship, each student is required to complete an application that includes several essay questions. These applications are then evaluated by the Board of Directors of The Thomas and Elsie Foundation, and the highest-rated applicants are selected to be interviewed. Members of the Deeley family conduct personal interviews with these selected applicants in the spring.
DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP?
No.
All students are eligible for The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation Scholarship. However, students who are not citizens are not eligible for any federal aid (Pell Grants, work-study programs, and student loans).
Students who are not citizens remain eligible for direct institutional aid from the college or university. This aid can take the form of grants, need-based scholarships, and merit-based scholarships.
It is worth noting that some of the past recipients of the Deeley Foundation Scholarship were not citizens of the United States.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO EXPAND THIS SCHOLARSHIP TO OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS?
Yes.
We are always looking for ways to expand our scholarship offerings, both with our partners and by looking for ways to help other students who have significant financial needs. We feel St. Paul’s High School is a special place for learning. We are especially impressed with the quality of the students who attend this school. We feel that all our scholarship recipients have the potential to “make a difference” in our society.
In 2025, we began an affiliation with Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, CT. This new affiliation will not impact our relationship with St. Paul’s High School. We plan to double the number and amount of our scholarships.
ARE THESE SCHOLARSHIPS TARGETED MORE AT THE HIGH ACHIEVING ACADEMIC STUDENT OR IS IT MORE FOR SOMEONE NEEDING FINANCIAL AID?
Neither and both.
The award is based on the application and the interviews. We let colleges and universities make the admission decisions and evaluate the financial aid requirements. Although academic achievement is a factor, it is not an overriding one. Historically, only about a third of our scholarship recipients have been in the top 10% of their class. Our ideal candidate is a good student, is active in school and the community, has a part-time job, and most likely is the first person in his/her family to attend college. We are looking for someone who is focused, hardworking, and has a sense of community.
HOW MANY STUDENTS USUALLY APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP?
Since the scholarship was expanded to include all colleges and universities, we have had between 50 and 70 applicants each year. This means that an applicant has a very good chance of being the recipient of a full or partial scholarship. The odds are certainly far more favorable than with most other scholarships!
We encourage every graduating senior who wishes to attend college to consider applying for our scholarship.
DOES THE FACULTY OR STAFF AT ST. PAUL’S HIGH SCHOOL OR KOLBE CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL PLAY ANY ROLE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS?
No.
The selection is made solely by The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation. The staff at St. Paul’s High School and Kolbe Cathedral High School help publicize the scholarship, encourage students to apply, schedule interviews, and provide transcripts and recommendations, but have no role in determining which students are selected for an interview or who is awarded a scholarship.
WHY DOES THE APPLICATION HAVE FOUR ESSAYS?
The four essays are designed to give the Deeley Foundation some insight into how the applicants think, what their future plans and aspirations are, and what might be some good conversation topics for the face-to-face interviews. In short, it allows us to “get to know” the applicant.
WHY DO I HAVE TO LIST MY FIRST CHOICE OF COLLEGE AND THE OTHER COLLEGES I APPLIED TO?
We use the first choice of college and an applicant’s financial aid award for planning purposes.
We ask for this information so we can get a sense of the college that the students are hoping to attend and the aid they received. We are not allowed to award more aid, which, when combined with aid provided by the college, exceeds the Cost of Attendance
It also helps us estimate the number of scholarships we can plan to award. For example, if most students select one of our partner schools as their first choice, then we would expect to award both more and larger scholarships than if most students selected other, non-partner colleges as their first choice.
IF I FAIL TO SUBMIT A FAFSA FORM, AM I STILL ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP?
All of the scholarships with our college partners require that a FAFSA Form be submitted. Applicants without a FAFSA on file remain eligible only for those scholarships where no specific financial need is required to receive the scholarship.
All applicants are encouraged to submit a FAFSA form to the colleges they applied to so they can maximize the amount of financial aid they might receive. Students failing to complete a FAFSA Form make it difficult to determine their financial need and diminish their chances of being considered for a scholarship from the Deeley Foundation.
Without a FAFSA Form, students cannot be considered for Pell Grants, work-study programs, and student loans. They will remain eligible only for merit and other institutional aid provided directly by the colleges
We also use this FAFSA information to ensure that, when we award a scholarship, we do not exceed the Cost of Attendance (COA). If by awarding a Deeley Scholarship to a student, the Cost of Attendance would be exceeded, then we would reduce the amount of our scholarship so that the total financial aid a student receives equals the Cost of Attendance.
A situation where a student receives so much financial aid that the COA is exceeded is very rare. In some cases, students receive one-time financial awards from local organizations that create a situation where their COA is exceeded for just one year. When that situation arises, the Deeley Foundation attempts to reallocate whatever reduction was made to our scholarship for that year by increasing our scholarship award in subsequent academic years, when the one-time awards are no longer available.
Other situations we have encountered are with students who, after we award a scholarship, then decide to commute to college for a year or two rather than become resident students. When this occurs, their college costs are significantly reduced. If, as a result, we are required to reduce the amount of our scholarship for their commuter schooling, we then try to increase the size of their scholarship later when/if they do become a resident student.
In all cases, we are guided by what is the best way to help a student be successful.
The requirement to provide FAFSA award information to the Deeley Foundation continues every year until a student graduates or the scholarship is terminated.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
Every application is read by each member of the review committee, resulting in each application being read multiple times. These reviewers represent a wide range of business and educational experiences. After an application is read, it is given a score, and the highest average scores of the reviews are used to determine who will be granted an interview.
WHEN WILL I HEAR WHETHER I’VE WON A SCHOLARSHIP?
Notification is usually made 1-2 weeks after the interviews. We try to make the decision as soon as possible because we know how nerve-racking it can be not to know where you stand. Delays are usually the result of having so many highly qualified candidates; this makes the selection process much more difficult and a bit more time-consuming.
DOES EVERYBODY WHO APPLIES FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP GET TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW?
No.
The interviews usually take place in March or early April. This allows applicants to obtain information about their acceptances and financial aid packages before the interview. Regrettably, time limitations allow us to interview only the most impressive applicants. This means that just 15-18 applicants are selected to be interviewed. The review committee bases the selection of the students being interviewed on the reviewers’ ranking of the written applications.
Until 2020, the interviews were conducted on-site. The COVID-19 pandemic caused us to alter our regular on-site interviews. This approach worked so well that we decided to conduct all interviews remotely. Since 2020, interviews have been conducted remotely with available video software.
This new approach to interviewing provides everyone with greater flexibility. Our interviewers no longer have to coordinate schedules, spend three days traveling and interviewing, spend two nights in hotels, and be subject to flight delays or cancellations due to inclement weather. Students can still be interviewed at school or in their homes in the event of inclement weather.
We use SignUpGenius to allow students to schedule their preferred interview times. Once the schedule is finalized, we use Microsoft TEAMS to conduct video interviews.
HOW LONG DOES THE INTERVIEW LAST?
Three or four interviewers interview every applicant. Each interview lasts about 20-25 minutes, making a total of one to one and a half hours of interviews for each student. The interviewers then rank each candidate and submit these rankings to the rest of the selection committee for final review, discussion, and scholarship decisions.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I WANT TO CHANGE MY FIRST CHOICE OF COLLEGE AFTER I SUBMIT MY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION OR AFTER THE INTERVIEW PROCESS?
We understand that at the time the scholarship applications are submitted, students don’t necessarily know if they’ve been accepted or are still interested in attending some or all of the colleges to which they have applied.
During the interview, we review the list that students provided in their application and confirm whether they were accepted or not, and the amount of financial aid they received.
We ask all students whether their first choice of college has changed and note any changes. We use this information to communicate and coordinate with colleges to make decisions about the amount of financial aid we intend to award to students.
If, after we decide to award a student a scholarship, the recipient changes his/her college selection, we cannot guarantee that an award will be made. By then, the Deeley Foundation, colleges, and universities have already finalized their financial aid allocations and no longer have as much flexibility. We will, however, make our best efforts to accommodate a student’s change, but we cannot guarantee students will receive the same dollar amount of scholarship for their new choice of school.
For example, if a student receives a scholarship to Stonehill College valued at $20,000 and then decides to go to a college that doesn’t partner with us, like UConn, we would make the best effort to provide a scholarship award to attend UConn, but it would not be in the amount of the $20,000 scholarship to attend Stonehill. Another example would be if we award a scholarship for $5,000 to a student wishing to attend UConn and, after the award is made, the student then decides he/she wants to attend Stonehill College, the student would not be entitled to receive more than our original award to UConn.
The amount of any adjustments to scholarship awards made in these situations would depend on specific circumstances at the time and would be made using the sole discretion of The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation Board of Directors.
DO I NEED TO DO ANY SPECIAL PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW?
You should be prepared to discuss your essays and any activities like club memberships, jobs, or other information you list on your application.
All students receiving interviews should also be prepared to discuss their acceptance and financial aid status for each of the colleges listed on their scholarship application.
WHY WAS THE SCHOLARSHIP EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?
For two reasons. The first was that there was a pool of really terrific seniors who were not eligible for the scholarship because it was initially restricted to someone only interested in attending Fairfield University. The second was that we wanted the opportunity to explore the possibility of expanding the concept of matching our awards with other colleges and universities.
ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON WHICH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY I CAN APPLY TO?
No.
Applicants are free to choose any college or university. If you look at the Summary of Scholarship Awards and Colleges Attended page of the website, you will see that most students seem to prefer attending schools in the State of Connecticut. In addition, several recipients elected to attend schools in Massachusetts. Recipients have also attended schools in New York, Rhode Island, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Vermont, and Virginia.
WHY WAS THE SCHOLARSHIP EXPANDED TO INCLUDE TWO-YEAR COLLEGES?
The cost of a college education has increased dramatically since the Deeley Foundation began awarding scholarships. Many families, even with a generous financial award from a four-year institution, still cannot afford the costs. For an increasing number of students, attending a two-year college and then transferring to a four-year college/university is a more realistic option. As more and more students opt for this alternative, the Deeley Foundation wanted to be in a position to lend assistance and encouragement to these students as well.
DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO-YEAR COLLEGES ALSO COVER THE COSTS WHEN THOSE STUDENTS CONTINUE ON TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?
Yes. All our scholarships are for four years.
For example, if a student receives a full scholarship award and elects to attend a Community College for the first two years, then the Deeley Foundation would pay the full annual tuition for the first two academic years. If the student subsequently transfers to Southern Connecticut State University for the final two years, the Deeley Foundation would increase the award to cover up to the annual tuition costs for the student’s last two academic years.
DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION HAVE DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCHING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?
Yes. We currently have dollar-matching partnerships with several colleges and universities. In all cases, these dollar-matching partnerships provide financial aid over and above any original financial aid awards made by a college or university.
These agreements allow The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation to leverage the use of our funds. They provide the Deeley Foundation with an opportunity to award both more and larger scholarships to students attending one of these partnering schools. Whenever a student receives a scholarship to one of these partnering colleges/universities, the Deeley Foundation is then able to redirect more of its own money to fund scholarships for other students.
The net effect on the student is that he/she can receive a scholarship from the Deeley Foundation, and that scholarship award is funded jointly by the Deeley Foundation and the participating university. This matching or partnering process is transparent to the student and is administered by the Deeley Foundation.
These scholarships are available to students without regard to any specific financial need criteria.
HOW DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION DECIDE WHICH COLLEGES TO TRY TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH?
We initially began by contacting colleges where we had a relationship because we were already funding scholarships for students attending the institution.
Once we had some early success, we expanded our scope by looking at the colleges to which most of our scholarship applicants applied. This strategy directed us to contact colleges and universities in Connecticut and nearby states. There is no benefit to forming partnerships with colleges and universities that might not ever be used.
As new opportunities present themselves, we try contacting the college to explore the possibility of forming a partnership. We find that most institutions are receptive to these approaches, and in recent years, we have increased the number of our partnerships.
WHY DOESN’T THE DEELEY FOUNDATION HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH UCONN?
Good question and one that requires a detailed explanation!
We have tried to negotiate a partnership with UConn for several years without success. They are reluctant to form partnerships with outside organizations.
We did make some useful progress towards forming a partnership to provide matching $5,000 awards to our scholarship recipients, but reached an impasse over one of UConn’s financial aid policies. Unfortunately, UConn insisted on applying a “non-stacked” strategy for administering financial aid. This strategy meant that if a student was already receiving at least $5,000 in financial aid from UConn, then UConn would consider that their matching partnership obligation was already met and no additional funding would be made available by UConn. However, The Deeley Foundation would still be obligated to provide its share of the $5,000 match, while UConn contributed nothing more. On the other hand, if a student received little or no financial aid from UConn, only then would UConn provide up to an additional $5,000 in matching funds. This did not meet our understanding of a partnership.
We expected that a partnership should provide financial aid to students ABOVE AND BEYOND the aid they would normally receive if they were not selected for a Deeley Foundation Scholarship. This is how all our existing partnerships are structured.
The impact of the proposed partnership would essentially be no different from the “stand-alone” financial aid the Deeley Foundation is currently providing. The Deeley Foundation funding would be the only additional source of funding that a student with significant financial need would receive. We would still be required to provide $5,000 of funding, even when UConn provided no additional matching funds. We would also lose the flexibility to make scholarship awards of less than $5,000.
We carefully reviewed the implications of the UConn proposal and determined that it was not in the best interests of the Deeley Foundation for us or our scholarship recipients to accept the UConn offer of a partnership.
We are disappointed by this outcome. Despite our disappointment, we will continue to seek a meaningful partnership with UConn, but the terms would have to benefit all of our scholarship recipients, not just financially better-off students.
DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION STILL AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS WISHING TO ATTEND UCONN?
Of course!
Students are free to apply to the colleges of their choosing. In fact, for a recent academic year, the Deeley Foundation provided over $45,000 in scholarships to students attending UConn, a record level for any one school. These scholarship awards were made by the Deeley Foundation without the benefit of any matching partnership with UConn.
UConn is the premier public university in the state and the most popular college among our scholarship recipients. The number of scholarship recipients attending UConn is greater than the number of recipients at our next two most popular colleges, both of which have partnerships with The Deeley Foundation.
WHERE DOES THE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY FOUNDATION GET ITS MONEY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS?
It comes from donations from the Deeley family members. Currently, The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation has enough assets to fulfill all existing commitments made to students and to ensure it will remain self-sustaining for future years.
At present, The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation does not engage in outside fundraising activities.
DOES A MATCHING SCHOLARSHIP MEAN THE DEELEY FOUNDATION PAYS FOR ALL THE COSTS OF ATTENDING COLLEGE?
No!
The maximum award we make to colleges/universities that do not have partnership agreements with the Deeley Foundation is $12,000 per academic year. For those schools that have matching partnerships with the Deeley Foundation, our matching agreements usually restrict the amount of the scholarship, when added to financial aid already awarded by the school, to the cost of tuition and fees.
WHAT ARE THE AMOUNTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGES THAT ARE NOT PARTNERS WITH THE THOMAS AND ELSIE DEELEY FOUNDATION?
They vary. In the past, they have ranged from $2,000 to $8,000 per year, for a total of $8,000 to $32,000 over four years. Currently, the minimum amount of a scholarship awarded by the Deeley Foundation is $2,000 per academic year. There are no plans to change this minimum amount.
Our scholarships are available to all colleges, regardless of whether they have partnerships with the Deeley Foundation. When a scholarship is made to a student attending a college with a matching partnership with the Deeley Foundation, the college provides a matching amount towards the total amount of the award.
IF I WIN THE SCHOLARSHIP HOW DO I GET THE MONEY?
We never send the money directly to the student. If you receive the scholarship, we will send the money to your college or university, and it will show up as a credit on your invoice for the semester.
DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION PAY ALL THE MONEY AT ONCE OR IS HALF OF IT PAID EACH SEMESTER?
Half is paid each semester. If you fail to complete the first semester, then no payment is made for the second semester.
HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED EACH YEAR SINCE 1996?
We award an average of four scholarships each year. However, in some years only three scholarships were awarded, and in other years a single scholarship was awarded. With the addition of Kolbe Cathedral High School, we expect to double the number of scholarships awarded each year.
More recently, because of the increase in the number of partnerships we have with colleges and universities, we have been awarding more than the average number of scholarships.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAS THE DEELEY FOUNDATION AWARDED SINCE 1996?
Over $2,700,000 in scholarships has been awarded to students. This represents an average award of over $30,000 per scholarship recipient over four years of college.
CAN I USE THE SCHOLARSHIP IF I WANT TO SPEND A SEMESTER ABROAD?
Yes.
We apply the same amount to your costs abroad. We had a student spend her junior year in Japan, where she became fluent in Japanese. More recently, we had students spend a semester in Spain and China. The requirements vary from school to school, and you’ll need to check the specifics with your particular college or university.
IF I DECIDE TO TRANSFER FROM ONE COLLEGE TO ANOTHER, WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO KEEP MY SCHOLARSHIP?
Yes.
We will continue to pay the lesser of the amount of your original scholarship award or the tuition at your new school. It is the responsibility of the student to handle the process of transferring and to notify the Deeley Foundation in advance of the intent to transfer.
Students transferring from a college that has a matching arrangement with the Deeley Foundation to a college that does not partner with The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation will lose the college’s matching portion of any scholarships.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I TAKE A YEAR OFF FROM SCHOOL AND THEN WISH TO CONTINUE AFTER A YEAR?
The scholarship is good for four continuous years. In the past, we have had students interrupt their four-year college experience by taking time off, sometimes for several years, and we have agreed to extend their scholarship beyond four years. We are committed to helping our scholarship recipients become successful.
The Deeley Foundation makes these exceptions on a case-by-case basis, at the sole discretion of the Deeley Foundation.
DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION COVER THE COST OF GRADUATE SCHOOL?
Not usually.
The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation has resources only to assist undergraduates. Once a student graduates from a college or university or completes four years, it becomes his/her option to seek and pay for any graduate degrees or additional coursework required to obtain a degree. It is worth noting that over half of our scholarship recipients have gone on to obtain advanced degrees.
We have had situations where a student’s financial aid from a school was such that the full amount of the Deeley Scholarship Award was not needed to complete his/her undergraduate education. In those special cases, we have sometimes offered to provide a portion of the unspent balance of the original Deeley Scholarship towards graduate school.
These special arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Deeley Foundation.
DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP COVER THE COST OF SUMMER SCHOOL?
No, not usually.
The scholarship is available only for the fall and spring semesters. There have been occasions where students attend summer school to eliminate the need to take a specific course during the regular academic year or because they changed majors and the new major required additional coursework for graduation. In these cases, the students were responsible for paying for their summer school tuition.
We have also had situations where a student’s financial aid from a school is such that the full amount of the Deeley Scholarship Award is not needed to complete his/her undergraduate education. In those special cases, we have sometimes offered to provide a portion of the unspent balance of the original Deeley Scholarship towards summer school.
These special arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Deeley Foundation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I GRADUATE IN FEWER THAN FOUR YEARS?
We have had students graduate in fewer than four years. In these cases, the scholarship ends. The scholarship is good for four continuous years or until a student graduates, whichever comes first. We also had a student receive a full tuition scholarship in his senior year from his college, and the student notified us that there was no need for us to provide our scholarship for the last year of college.
In some special cases, we have extended the unused portion of the scholarship to cover some of the costs of graduate school. These special arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation.
IS A RECIPIENT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SPECIFIC ACADEMIC STANDING WHILE IN COLLEGE?
Yes.
A scholarship recipient must continue to be a full-time student (a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester).
A recipient is also required to maintain a G.P.A. of at least 2.5, which is the equivalent of a C+/B- average for an entire academic year. In some cases, our partner colleges require that a student maintain a higher G.P.A.
A student is allowed to fall below the required average for any given semester, but by the end of the academic year, the cumulative G.P.A. must be at least 2.5/2.8, or the scholarship can be terminated. At the end of each semester, scholarship recipients are required to provide their semester grades to The Thomas and Elsie Deeley Foundation to demonstrate that they remain in good academic standing.
HOW DO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS DEMONSTRATE THEIR FINANCIAL NEED?
We never ask scholarship applicants for financial information. We assume almost all applicants have some form of financial need.
However, once our decision is made, all Deeley Foundation scholarship recipients are required to provide a copy of their Financial Aid Awards for the colleges they plan to attend and to note any merit scholarships or other aid they have received. Every year, students are required to submit a copy of their college statements showing the costs and the financial aid awards. The Deeley Foundation uses this information both to verify financial need and to tailor the Deeley Foundation Scholarship payments to best meet each student’s needs.
If a recipient receives a separate large financial award for just the first year of college, the Deeley Foundation may reduce the amount it pays for the first year and increase the amount it pays in future years. Our primary focus is always on how best to assist a specific student.
These scholarship modifications usually result from very unusual situations, but we have had them occur. For example, if a student is awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Connecticut Waterbury Branch from the Deeley Foundation, and his/her Financial Aid award is equal to the cost of tuition, then the Deeley Foundation may elect to either reduce or omit any scholarship payments for the first two years and then increase its scholarship award for the third and fourth years if the student is required to live at the Storrs campus. When this increased scholarship award is combined with the FAFSA aid, it is possible that the entire cost of attendance could be provided for the student’s third and fourth years of college.
No scholarship recipient is allowed to receive more than the total Cost of Attendance (COA). If a combination of the FAFSA awards (excluding any loans), other merit scholarships, and the Deeley Foundation Scholarship exceeds the total cost of attendance, the Deeley Foundation award will be reduced to an amount that allows the recipient to cover his/her total Cost of Attendance.
DOES THE DEELEY FOUNDATION PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN FINANCIAL AID TO RECIPIENTS?
Yes. We provide more than just financial assistance.
One of the activities of which we are most proud is our voluntary mentoring program. This program matches new scholarship recipients with former recipients who have either attended the same college or have the same academic major. We attempt to assign at least one mentor to every new scholarship recipient.
Over half of our scholarship recipients have or are currently participating in this mentoring of newer scholarship recipients. More have offered to serve as mentors when and if the need arises. These past recipients are engaged in a wide range of careers and activities, and they have been very helpful to our newer recipients.
We stay in communication with recipients throughout their college years and often offer guidance in course selection, changes in majors, and career choices. We have also helped scholarship students who are about to graduate in preparing their resumes, suggesting possible job opportunities, providing references, writing letters of recommendation, and providing job interviewing tips and techniques. For scholarship recipients who are already in the workplace, we have offered advice in areas ranging from job and career changes to starting their own businesses.
In most cases, we remain in contact with recipients well after they graduate. Look on the Updates On Past And Current Scholarship Recipients page of our website to see what some of our past recipients are doing.