National Puerto Rican Day Parade 2025 Scholarship

Every year, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade awards 100 scholarships valued at $2,000 each, to exceptional students of Puerto Rican descent seeking to make a difference in their communities. We are proud to have awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to date.

Due to the generosity of companies, organizations, and individuals who invest in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and its celebratory activities and scholarship program, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade continues to support deserving students committed to pursuing higher education across Puerto Rico and the states.

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be of Puerto Rican descent;

• Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, or an equivalent high school grade;

• Be a high school senior or freshman through junior in college, ages 17 through 25;

• Be enrolled in an accredited two or four-year college/university, for college students;

• Have a track record of doing volunteer work or community service;

• Participate in an interview with a member(s) of the scholarship selection committee.

Scholarship winners from prior years are eligible to re-apply if they meet the above criteria.

Mandatory Guidelines (Please have all information ready when completing your application):

An application will be considered complete after receiving ALL of the information listed below. The application and letters of recommendation may be submitted in English or Spanish.

• Your biography, including your Puerto Rican descent (500 words or less)

• Two Letters of Recommendation. Letters can be written by teachers, professors, counselors, mentors, clergy, community leaders or other significant people in your life, excluding family members. One of the letters must be from an individual who can speak to your community service. Both letters should describe the length of the relationship and the experience with the applicant.

• Responses to two essay questions (500 words or less per question)

• Transcript

• Headshot

Please note: If you opt to have your recommenders and/or counselor upload their documentation directly on Kaleidoscope, this must be completed by March 16 as well. It is your responsibility to ensure this is completed by the deadline.