Apply CEO Scholarship:

The College Equals Opportunity (CEO) Scholarship Program recognizes college juniors and seniors with $5,000 scholarships. Each May, scholarships will be awarded to deserving students who demonstrate leadership abilities, an understanding of the need for higher education and financial need.

Click here to access our online application

Eligibility Requirements:

• NH Resident, although may attend college out-of-state.
• Achieving 'junior' or 'senior' grade level by fall 2008.
• Attaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher at the time of application.
• Preference will be given to community college transfer students.

• Scholarship Application
• Copy of College Transcript
• Copy of Student Aid Report (from FAFSA application)

Award Criteria:

• Evidence of Leadership - Up to 25 pts.
• Demonstrated Financial Need - Up to 25 pts.
• Quality of Essay Responses - Up to 15 pts.
• Quality of References - Up to 15 pts.
• Community College Transfer - Up to 10 pts.
• Bonus: Compelling Need - Up to 10 pts.

Finalists will be required to interview with the CEO Scholarship Committee.

Deadline for submission of all application materials is March 28, 2008.

CEO Alumni

2008 Scholarship Recipients

Bridget Burke will be a junior at the College of the Holy Cross. Throughout her education, she has enjoyed the subject of mathematics, but participates in diverse activities at Holy Cross including airing her own radio show. Bridget noted that beyond her parents, it was a caring and interested high school teacher who made the most significant and positive impact in her life and helped guide her to Holy Cross. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and hopes to own her own business one day.

Regina Labounty will be a senior at Granite State College majoring in Science and working towards her Teacher Certification. She dedicates much of her time to volunteering within her community in programs such as Sew Much Comfort, a group that collects and alters clothing for veterans; Coats for Kids and the Reading First Program. She is dedicated to helping others in her local community and works to embrace people that need a helping hand. Receiving her degree will allow her to achieve her life aspiration of continuing to, “enable, encourage, empower and enhance our educational delivery system to needy children and their families.”

Khiet Nguyen will be a senior at Dartmouth College. Khiet emigrated from Vietnam and quickly became a strong contributor to her community, regularly assisting with translation for other Vietnamese immigrants. She hopes to someday be an effective leader in her community and be able to dedicate more of her time to serving others. She aspires to be a human rights lawyer to combat human trafficking and fight against the exploitation of human beings. Within these aspirations she hopes to be able, “stand up and defend human dignity for those whose voices are silenced.”

Kayla Shepherd will be a junior at Suffolk University majoring in Public Relations. She actively participates in the Best Buddies program at Suffolk University, working with mentally disabled children. Throughout life, Kayla strives to positively impact the world around her. When asked what she would do with her life if given the opportunity to choose anything, she responded, “My ultimate goal in life is to lobby for higher quality and equal public education. I hope to help revitalize one poor performing school at a time, so that all children have the benefit of a sound education and the opportunities that naturally follow.”

2007 Scholarship Recipients

The CEO Scholarship recipients were recognized at a Scholarship Breakfast held May 15, 2007. The recipients come from various backgrounds and represent a diverse cross section of New Hampshire students. To learn more about these deserving recipients click on their name below.

Samira is a junior at Tufts University where she is majoring in International Relations. She is an active volunteer on the Tufts campus as a Certified Rape Crisis Counselor for the Student Sexual Assault Hotline and as a Writing Fellow for the Tufts Writing Fellow Program. To Samira, a great leader is, “Someone who actively works to create leaders out of others by inspiring and encouraging them to make decisions without relying on orders from above.”  In the future, she plans to attend law school focusing on immigration law.

Katherine is a sophomore at Saint Anselm College where she is majoring in Theology. She has volunteered as Coordinator of the Appalachian Summer Mission in Kentucky since 2005. The experience has taught her about humility, selfless giving and broadened her understanding of the world.  Katherine sees a great leader as someone who has “the ability to fight for a cause that may not always be your own for the good and well-being of those who can’t fight for themselves.”

Hilary is a junior at the University of New Hampshire where she is majoring in Psychology.  In the future, Hilary would like to own her own clinical/counseling practice targeting adolescents in need of behavioral health services. She is an active volunteer working as a math and social studies tutor and with the Special Olympics.  She identifies the following characteristics as being important for a leader to possess, “A leader must be competent, confident, dynamic, positive, have a vision towards the future, and be trustworthy and honest.”

Danielle will begin her junior year majoring in Social Work at Plymouth State University. She will be transferring from New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. She has demonstrated her leadership ability as a middle school girls’ basketball coach, a position she has held since 2005. Through her school work, she has worked with at-risk youth at the Tobey School in Concord and found her passion. “A great leader leads through example, she is not afraid to work hard and guide others through their actions,” Danielle said. “This scholarship is not just for me; indirectly it will also help all those I work with. The CEO Scholarship is my ticket to supporting at-risk youth.”

2006 Scholarship Recipients

Tyler is currently a junior at Saint Anselm College majoring in Criminal Justice. His dream job is to be a K-9 Officer and work with his dog in a SWAT team. He is also very interested in search and rescue and would eventually like to be a Chief of Police or run for political office.

Dennis will be transferring this fall from the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Laconia to Rivier College in Nashua where he will major in Psychology. Dennis says the qualities of a great leader are commitment, passion, hard work and having an open mind to others ideas and goals.

Esma will transfer this fall to Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester where she will study accounting. She is currently attending New Hampshire Community Technical College in Manchester. If she could do anything in her life, Esma would stay in Manchester and help fund and develop a Bosnian Community Service Organization.

Catherine is a junior at the University of New Hampshire majoring in physical education and health. Catherine says her mother is a leader she admires because she is able to juggle so many things at once, with perfect balance. And she keeps the peace in the family, while giving others support and confidence.

2005 Scholarship Recipients

Cheryl is currently a student at NH Technical Institute in Concord and will graduate this spring. She will be transferring in the fall of 2005 to New England College in Henniker where Cheryl plans to major in Political Science and International Relations. Cheryl is a single mother of two children and has extensive leadership experience working with the elderly, homeless and youth populations.

Ryan studied firefighting at the NH Community Technical College in Laconia and transferred in 2004 to Rivier College in Nashua where he is now studying Business Administration full-time. Ryan says a leader is someone who is confident in his choices and not afraid to stand by what he/she does. His ideal job would be a full-time position as a fire-fighter in the city of his choice.

Allison will transfer this fall to Southern NH University in Manchester where she will study business and marketing. She is currently attending NH Community Technical College in Stratham. Allison′s college experience has given her the opportunity to meet former presidential candidate Senator John Edwards and President George W. Bush.

Andrew is a junior at Keene State College majoring in Elementary Education and Geography. He is a member of Keene State′s track and cross-country teams. Andrew will be studying abroad in Eastern Europe for part of the summer.

Nathan's chosen major of Automotive Industrial Design is not available in NH, so he has built his own curriculum. He currently attends the NH Institute of Art in Manchester and has taken supplementary classes, like welding, at NH Community Technical College to round out his degree.