Simon Youth Foundation Seeking Applicants For $1 Million In Scholarships

For the 12th year, Simon Youth Foundation will award a college scholarship to one student from every community that is home to a Simon property.

Simon Youth Foundation is a nonprofit spinoff of Simon Property Group, which owns Great Lakes Mall. It provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students

The scholarships can be applied for until Friday, January 11, 2013.

Locally, students can pick up a copy of a scholarship application at the Simon Guest Services Center at Great Lakes Mall. Applications also can be downloaded at the SYF website here or here.

Any student who will be graduating in the class of 2013 and lives within 50 miles of a Simon property is eligible.

The program will award a one-time scholarship of up to $1,400 to students who plan to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.

“Great Lakes Mall is proud to participate in the Simon Youth Foundation scholarship program,” said Renee Lanzara, the director of marketing and business development for Great Lakes Mall.

“We hope local students take advantage of this tremendous opportunity by filling out an application.”

 In 2012, the Simon Youth Scholarships program awarded $1.2 million to 378 students nationwide.  

“Our mission is to ignite hope for a brighter future in students, and our Foundation is proud to partner with Great Lakes Mall to award scholarships that will remove some of the financial obstacles that would otherwise prevent a student from achieving the dream of a college education,” says J. Michael Durnil, the President and CEO of SYF.

The 2013 SYF Community Scholarship recipients will be selected by Scholarship Management Services, a third-party administrator. Students are selected based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities.

Those students who are the first in their family to pursue a post-secondary education will also be given close consideration.

The completed application, along with official school transcripts and parents’ most recently filed tax form, must be sent to Scholarship Management Services by January 11, 2013.