2026 Electric Worker Scholarship

The Electric Worker Scholarship is for students interested in starting a rewarding career in the energy industry with either an Electrical Construction Maintenance associate degree or an Overhead Electric Line Worker Certificate from Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy, New York. The program aims to increase access to education and career opportunities in the energy industry in upstate New York.

Electric Worker Scholarships are available for up to 10 full-time scholarships of $7,000, or a combination of full-time and part-time scholarships (of $3,500 each) are available for academic expenses including tuition, fees, and books.

Scholarships are eligible for one of two pathways at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy, NY:

1. Electrical Construction Maintenance associate degree

2. Overhead Electric Line Worker certificate

In addition to the scholarship, National Grid will purchase required tool kits for scholars, a $600 value, and pair National Grid employee mentors with scholars.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates, or current college undergraduates with a permanent home residence of New York.

• Applicants must plan to enroll part-time or full-time at HVCC for the upcoming academic year in one of the following programs:

  • Electrical Construction Maintenance AOS degree

  • Overhead Electric Line Worker certificate

• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent)

• Availability to participate in a summer bridge program (up to a week in duration)

• Availability to participate in at least one professional skills development workshop per semester with National Grid and partners

• Availability to participate in one-on-one and group mentoring events with National Grid employees

HVCC Academic Requirements:

• Algebra or 1 unit of academic math with a score of 70 or above

• Note, in order to be successful in these programs, applicants will also have to meet the HVCC Technical Standard: https://www.hvcc.edu/dept-academic/stem/applied-technologies/technical-standards.html

Application Materials Required:

• FAFSA Submission Summary - this requires all applicants to have the FAFSA completed before applying for the scholarship

• Proof of New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award - TAP awards are income-based and can be applied for in conjunction with the FAFSA submission. TAP income eligibility is a requirement for the scholarship, so applicants will have to demonstrate that they have been notified of their TAP award.

• Official high school and college transcripts (for existing college students)

  • For the application, unofficial transcripts will be accepted, but official transcripts are required before any awards are made. It is preferred that official transcripts are submitted with the application.

• Recommendation questionnaire:

  • From the application platform, you will be asked to send out a recommendation questionnaire to two people.

  • You will need their first name, last name, email address, and you will be allowed to send them a short message.

  • The platform will send them a multiple-choice questionnaire for the recommendation; they do not have to write a letter.

  • One person should be a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) instructor.

Income Eligibility:

• Be eligible to receive the minimum NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award under the following eligibility requirements:

  • $125,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

    • If you are a dependent undergraduate student within a household earning under the income limit, or

    • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married or single) with tax dependents, or

    • If you are an undergraduate student who qualified as an orphan, foster child, or ward of the court at any time since the age of 13.

  • $60,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

    • If you are an independent undergraduate student (married) without tax dependents.

  • $30,000 or less net taxable income (NTI):

    • If you are an independent undergraduate student (single) without tax dependents.

Scholarship award determinations will be based on:

• Financial need

• Academic record & work experience

• Demonstrated leadership & participation in school or community events

• Personal statement on why applicant is pursuing an overhead line certificate or electrical construction and maintenance associate degree

Application Timeline:

• Applications Due: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 by 11:59 PM

• Notification Timeframe: Early June 2026

• Award Disbursement Timeframe: Early August 2026

• Public Announcement Timeframe: August 2026