Scholarships

James F. Swift Scholarship

2026 Scholarship Application Dates: TBD

The Scranton Area Community Foundation has established the James F. Swift Scholarship to assist students from Lackawanna County high schools who plan to continue their education in a college or university program. This $6,000 scholarship, renewable for a total of 4 years, is offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice. 20 students will be selected annually for this award.

Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a degree is earned, whichever occurs first. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance (as determined by the school) in a full-time course of study. Students attending a two-year school and planning to enroll in a four-year school (including four-year schools outside of Lackawanna County) may receive a total of three renewals based on satisfactory academic performance (as determined by the school) and full-time enrollment.

The James F. Swift Scholarship Fund has awarded over $5.5 million since 2008, benefitting 360 local students.

Created in 2002 through a gift by Mr. James F. Swift to the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund provides support for higher education for students graduating from high schools in Lackawanna County. Following Mr. Swift’s death in 2006, the Scranton Area Community Foundation gratefully received a significant gift from his estate to the scholarship fund which has allowed a great number of students from Lackawanna County the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional goals through higher education.

For more information on the Scranton Area Foundation and the James F. Swift Scholarship Fund, please contact us at grants@safdn.org

Eligibility

Max Amount:   $6,000/yr for up to 4 years

Students must be:

  • Graduating high school seniors from one of the following schools:
    • Abington Heights High School
    • Carbondale Area High School
    • Dunmore High School
    • Holy Cross High School
    • Lakeland Jr/Sr High School
    • Mid Valley High School
    • Milton Eisner Yeshiva High School
    • North Pocono High School
    • Old Forge High School
    • Riverside Jr/Sr High School
    • Scranton High School
    • Scranton Preparatory High School
    • Summit Christian Academy
    • The Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
    • Triboro Christian Academy
    • Valley View High School
    • West Scranton High School

AND

  • Planning to enroll for the first time in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, preferably one of the following Lackawanna County schools:
    • Clarks Summit University
    • Johnson College
    • Keystone College
    • Lackawanna College
    • Marywood University
    • Penn State Scranton
    • University of Scranton

If you meet these requirements, you may be eligible. The Scranton Area Community Foundation invites you to apply for a scholarship.

All applications for the James F. Swift Scholarship will be completed through the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Universal Scholarship application.

NOTE: Approximately 75% of the recipients chosen will be attending one of the above schools.

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