Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship
Offered by Washington Crossing Foundation · Free to apply
The Washington Crossing Foundation awards national and regional scholarships of $1,000 to $10,000 to high school seniors who plan careers in government service at the local, state or federal level. Applicants must be US citizens. The application is entirely on paper: a self-designed cover page, a one-page essay of up to 300 words on why the student plans a government career and any inspiration from George Washington's crossing of the Delaware, a recommendation from the principal or counselor, transcripts and SAT or ACT scores, and a resume, each in three collated copies mailed in one flat envelope. Judges weigh understanding of the career, purpose, preparation, leadership, sincerity and historical perspective, and finalists are interviewed by phone. Twenty-four students from 15 states won in 2026. Regional awards exist for West Coast, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Utah and Southern Maryland residents. Winners must attend an April ceremony in Pennsylvania, with travel paid.
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How hard is the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.
- Estimated odds
- roughly 1 in 207 applicants
- Modelled applicant field
- ~5,000 students
- Awards each cycle
- 24
- Payoff per hour of work
- $4 / hr
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only
- More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school seniors
- Open to U.S. citizens
- Must plan a career in local, state or federal government service
- Winners must attend the awards ceremony in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (travel, food and lodging paid)
- Application must be mailed on paper (three collated copies) and postmarked by the deadline; email is not accepted
- Regional awards for residents of West Coast states, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Utah and Southern Maryland; one is renewable for four years
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
- Essay required, about 300 words.
- 1 letter of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is January 15, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 15 each year. Mail early by Priority Mail; the foundation says some applications took weeks to arrive last year.
- Semifinalists and finalists notified (phone interviews)
- March 2026
- Awards ceremony (attendance required)
- April 24, 2027
- Application postmark deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Winners notified
- By April 1, 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship
How much is the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship worth?
The Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship awards $1,000 to $10,000. 24 awards are made each cycle.
When is the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship deadline?
The current deadline is January 15, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 15 each year. Mail early by Priority Mail; the foundation says some applications took weeks to arrive last year.
Who is eligible for the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors; Open to U.S. citizens.
Does the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay of about 300 words, 1 recommendation, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 6 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 207 applicants, against a modelled field of ~5,000 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. At 6 hrs of work, that is about $4 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Washington Crossing Foundation National Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
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- AFSCME Family Scholarship$2,000/yr, renewable up to 4 years ($8,000) · due December 31, 2026
- APWU E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship$8,000 ($2,000/yr over 4 years) · due May 31, 2027
- Act Six Leadership ScholarshipFull tuition and full demonstrated need at a partner college, renewable for four years · due January 15, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.