The Robert Keleher Foundation offers three scholarships to Long Island high school seniors.
The Career/Educational Aspirations Scholarship is eligible to Long Island high schoolers who attend a public school in Nassau or Suffolk County.
The Vocational Scholarship is eligible to students enrolled in a BOCES vocational program in Nassau or Suffolk County.
The Citizenship Scholarship is only offered to students at Baldwin and East Islip High Schools.
Click below to learn more about the eligibility and requirements for each scholarship, and to submit your application.
Career/ Educational Aspirations Scholarship $5,000 | February 15, 2026, deadline
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Applicant must be a high school senior who plans to continue their education upon graduation to a 2 or 4-year school.
Applicant must be in good academic standing with a cumulative unweighted between 75%-85% GPA
Applicant must submit a transcript.
Applicant must provide two letters of recommendation from either a teacher, activity leader, club advisor, mentor, employer or clergy member, etc.
Applicant must provide an activity resume that includes honors, awards, scholarships, extracurricular activities, and community service hours.
Applicant must submit a 300-word response to the following prompt: “What are my specific plans after high school and how will this scholarship assist me in making those plans a reality?"
Applicants must complete the application and provide any other information they would like the scholarship committee to consider.
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Each student can only apply to one scholarship from our foundation.
Applications will be reviewed using a rubric, and recipients selected by a committee consisting of the Board Members of the Robert Keleher Private Foundation. Students must complete and submit the below application and all requested materials by the deadline of February 15, 2026.
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Letters of recommendation must be submitted using this link:
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Essay Prompt: “What are my specific plans after high school and how will this scholarship assist me in making those plans a reality?”
Essay must be 300 words (include count on bottom of essay)
Essay must be typed, in 12 point font, double spaced, with normal margins
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Awards recipients will be notified in the spring of 2026.
Vocational Scholarship
$5,000 | February 15, 2026 deadline
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Applicant must be a high school senior on track for graduation in June of 2026.
Applicant must be enrolled in a BOCES Vocational program with an 80 average or above.
Submit BOCES grades from Junior year and first quarter grades of Senior year (if you are enrolled in your first year of the program as a senior submit those grades only)
Applicant must submit a transcript.
Applicant must provide one letters of recommendation from Guidance Counselor confirming eligibility for graduation and one letter of recommendation from either a teacher, activity leader, club advisor, mentor, employer, clergy member, etc. (2 letters total- Guidance Counselor Required)
Applicant must provide an activity resume that includes extracurricular activities, and community service hours along with internship and work experience in your vocation
Applicant must submit a written statement “What are your plans after high school (include vocational school if attending)”
Applicants must complete the 2026 application and provide any other information they would like the scholarship committee to consider.
-
Each student can only apply to one scholarship from our foundation.
Applications will be reviewed using a rubric, and recipients selected by a committee consisting of the Board Members of the Robert Keleher Private Foundation. Students must complete and submit the below application and all requested materials by the deadline of February 15, 2026.
-
Letters of recommendation must be submitted using this link:
-
Applicant must submit a written statement “What are your plans after high school (include vocational school if attending)”
Statement must be typed, in 12 point font, double spaced, with normal margins
-
Awards recipients will be notified in the spring of 2026.
Citizenship Scholarship
$10,000 | February 15, 2026 deadline
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Applicant must attend Baldwin or East Islip High School.
Applicant must be a high school senior who plans to continue their education upon graduation to a 2 or 4-year school.
Applicant must be in good academic standing with a cumulative unweighted GPA of 90% or higher
Applicant must submit a transcript.
Applicant must provide two letters of recommendation from either a teacher, activity leader, club advisor, mentor, employer, clergy member, etc.
Applicant must provide an activity resume that includes honors, awards, scholarships, extracurricular activities, and community service hours.
Applicant must submit a 300-word response to the following prompt: “Leadership is demonstrated in many ways. How do you define leadership? How have you demonstrated leadership within your school, community, and or family? And how has this contributed to the development of your work towards becoming successful?”
Applicants must complete the 2026 application and provide any other information they would like the scholarship committee to consider.
-
Each student can only apply to one scholarship from our foundation.
Applications will be reviewed using a rubric, and recipients selected by a committee consisting of the Board Members of the Robert Keleher Private Foundation. Students must complete and submit the below application and all requested materials by the deadline of February 15, 2026.
-
Letters of recommendation must be submitted using this link:
-
Essay Prompt: “Leadership is demonstrated in many ways. How do you define leadership? How have you demonstrated leadership within your school, community, and or family? And how has this contributed to the development of your work towards becoming successful?”
Essay must be 300 words (include count on bottom of essay)
Essay must be typed, in 12 point font, double spaced, with normal margins
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Awards recipients will be notified at your high school’s Senior Awards ceremony in spring 2026. If granted one of our awards, you will receive an invitation to the event by your high school, and they will announce the recipient(s) at the ceremony.