Polk County Community Foundation Scholarships
Offered by Polk County Community Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Polk County Community Foundation has served the small communities of Polk County, North Carolina — Tryon, Columbus, and Saluda — since 1975. Increased donor gifts now allow the foundation to award over $500,000 in scholarships each year to qualified graduating high school seniors and to adults going back to school.
All scholarships are a minimum of $1,000 and are awarded based on criteria established by donors and the foundation's Board of Directors to recognize the unique needs, interests, and accomplishments of local students. Because the pool is limited to one county, applicants face far less competition than with national programs.
Unusually for a community foundation, the main application for graduating seniors runs in the fall: the Class of 2027 application deadline is September 28, 2026 at 5:00 pm. The current application is posted on the foundation's scholarships page, and staff can answer questions about individual funds.
Eligibility
- Graduating high school seniors from Polk County, North Carolina (Class of 2027 for the current cycle)
- Adults from the county going back to school may qualify for select funds
- Criteria set by donors and the foundation's board vary by fund
- All scholarships are a minimum of $1,000
How To Apply
- Download the Class of 2027 scholarship application posted at polkccf.org/scholarships
- Complete the application and gather any required transcripts and recommendations
- Submit by September 28, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Polk County Community Foundation scholarship deadline?
The Class of 2027 application deadline is September 28, 2026 by 5:00 pm — the foundation runs its senior scholarship cycle in the fall, earlier than most community foundations.