The Chamber Foundation, Inc. was established to promote education and training programs for area youth and professionals with the goal of enhancing the future of economic growth in the Hudson Valley region.
The Foundation's mission is to provide educational opportunities for youth and the workforce, to build and strengthen personal and business capacity, develop leadership skills and foster a commitment to community service.
One of the educational missions of The Chamber Foundation, Inc. is to provide scholarships for students attending local area schools. The Chamber Foundation, Inc. currently offers 11 different scholarship opportunities:
| Athena High School Scholarship |
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| Established to encourage increased leadership roles for women in our community, this scholarship is available to any female high school senior who is a resident of Dutchess County, and who is pursuing education at an accredited Mid-Hudson Valley College, University or trade school or through an accredited online educational program in the Fall. (Mid-Hudson is defined as Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange and Ulster counties.) The minimum scholarship award is $1,000. The scholarship is a one-time award, and is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Cosimo DiBrizzi Memorial Scholarship |
| Established by the family of Cosimo DiBrizzi and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor his memory, this scholarship is available to any resident of the Hudson Valley who is pursuing a career at the Culinary Institute of America. Scholarship award minimum is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| James T. Hammond Athletic Leadership Scholarship |
| Established by the Hudson Valley Region Empire State Games organizing committee and Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce in honor of the leadership that Jim Hammond has demonstrated throughout the Hudson Valley and in particular to honor his vision and dedication to bringing the Empire State Games to the Valley in 2005. This scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior residing in Dutchess, Orange, or Ulster counties in the Hudson Valley and who is pursuing a degree at a college located in New York State. Ulster counties in the Hudson Valley and who is pursuing a degree at a college located in New York State. The scholarship amount is $2,000 per year and is renewable for up to an additional three (3) years. Candidates will: |
| HVYP “Next Generation” Scholarship |
| This scholarship is available to any Mid-Hudson Valley resident (counties of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange and Ulster) attending a college/university in the Hudson Valley who shows proven leadership in the community, is dedicated to community service, and is pursuing an undergraduate degree in business. Applicants must be age 25 or younger by September 1, 2012 to be eligible. Scholarship award is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Eileen Hickey Nursing Scholarship |
| Established by the family of Eileen Hickey and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor her memory, this scholarship is available to any resident of the Hudson Valley who is pursuing a career in nursing at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. Scholarship award is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Juan Lafuente Memorial Scholarship |
| Established by the family of Juan Lafuente and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor his memory, this scholarship is available to any resident of Dutchess County who is pursuing a career in an engineering or technological field. Scholarship award is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Manufacturing & Trade Scholarship |
| Established by the Manufacturing and Trade Committee of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturing & Trade Scholarship is designed to give mid-Hudson Valley residents, age 17 or older, who possess or are working towards a High School or General Equivalency Diploma, the opportunity to continue and/or complete their educational needs in manufacturing or trade* profession. Scholarship monies will be given directly to the educational institution. The scholarship maximum is $2,000.00 per student. Funds may be used for tuition, materials or textbooks, as necessary components to a Manufacturing or Trade course. Materials may include industry specific electronics (not including personal computers), measuring tools, calculators and other educational devices. The scholarship is not renewable. The individual must: |
| Audrey Morgenstern Memorial Scholarship |
| Established by the family of Audrey Morgenstern and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor her memory, this scholarship is available to any resident of Dutchess County who is pursuing a career in journalism or communications at Marist College. Scholarship award minimum is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Richard W. Mitchell Memorial Scholarship |
| Established by the family of Richard W. Mitchell and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor his memory, this scholarship is available to any resident of Dutchess County who is faced with significant economic, physical, developmental or emotional barrier(s) while advancing his or her education. Scholarship award minimum is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Charles S. North Scholarship for Music |
| Established by the Foundation and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to honor Chamber President Charlie North and his love of music and to encourage the pursuit of music in education; this scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior who is a resident of Dutchess County who is pursuing a college degree in music performance or music education at an accredited college or university in the United States. Scholarship award minimum is $1,000. The scholarship is not renewable. Candidates will be judged on: |
| Norman and Rita Nussbickel Memorial Scholarship |
| The history of the Norman Nussbickel Scholarship Award dates back to the Wappingers Falls Chamber of Commerce – one of the original partners in the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce. Norman Nussbickel served as president of that Chamber for ten years until his death in 1983. It was under Mr. Nussbickel's leadership that the Chamber membership grew from 40 to more than 200 area businesses. And because of Mr. Nussbickel's commitment not only to the Chamber, but to the Dutchess County community, the scholarship was established by both his family and the Chamber to honor his legacy by investing in our youth—the leaders and communities of tomorrow. This scholarship enables graduating high school seniors from Arlington, Beacon, John Jay and Roy C. Ketcham high schools who have demonstrated leadership qualities in academics, athletics and community to pursue educational opportunities after their four years in high school. Students who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement are selected to interview with the Norman and Rita Nussbickel Memorial Scholarship Committee. Each of the four award recipients will receive a scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00 which will be sent to their college. Scholarship Criteria: |