CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program
Council of the Great City Schools
The Bernard Harris Scholarship Program is offered by both the CGCS and Dr. Bernard Harris, a former astronaut and the first African American to walk in space. The two believe in the benefits of education, especially in its ability to contribute to the growth and development of society. The scholarship is, thus, an effort by the two to encourage and support students from underrepresented communities to join the STEM field.
The scholarship is open to eligible graduating high school seniors who will pursue STEM courses full-time at accredited two- or four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. Additionally, applicants must be presently studying in a high school that is a member of CGCS. Two Black and two Hispanic students will be selected as the winners.
The Scholarship will award $5,000 each to two male and two female winners. The award can be used to offset academic-related expenses, for example, tuition, in the 2022-23 academic year at the university or college of the winners. A significant advantage of the scholarship is its prestige, which is due to Dr. Bernard Harris’ strong brand.
Scholarship Summary
The Bernard Harris Scholarship Program is offered by both the CGCS and Dr. Bernard Harris, a former astronaut and the first African American to walk in space. The two believe in the benefits of education, especially in its ability to contribute to the growth and development of society. The scholarship is, thus, an effort by the two to encourage and support students from underrepresented communities to join the STEM field.
The scholarship is open to eligible graduating high school seniors who will pursue STEM courses full-time at accredited two- or four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. Additionally, applicants must be presently studying in a high school that is a member of CGCS. Two Black and two Hispanic students will be selected as the winners.
The Scholarship will award $5,000 each to two male and two female winners. The award can be used to offset academic-related expenses, for example, tuition, in the 2022-23 academic year at the university or college of the winners. A significant advantage of the scholarship is its prestige, which is due to Dr. Bernard Harris’ strong brand.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: High School Senior – High School Graduate
- Age: 16 – 18
- Required GPA: 3.0
- Geographic Eligibility: United States
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Black, Hispanic
Key Information of CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program
Study Details
Area of Study
STEM
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
Any
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Essay
- Grade transcript
- Recommendation letters
CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program Timeline
February 1, 2025
Application Open Date
Applications for the 2022 CGCS-Bernard Harris Scholarship Program open.
May 6, 2025
Submission Deadline
Applications submitted online.
June 2025
Award Announcement Date
Scholarship recipients notified.
How to ace the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program
Include all required documents
Your application should have all the required documents for it to be considered by the selection committee. These documents include a list of all STEM courses you have taken so far, two essays, your high school transcript, and two recommendation forms.
Demonstrate a strong interest in STEM
You should demonstrate a strong interest in STEM for your application to be successful. You can achieve this inclination by talking about and showcasing relevant projects that you have completed or are working on.
Write effectively
Your essay responses should be clear, well-written, and structured. Additionally, also ensure that you use statistics and relevant facts to support any claims that you make in your essays.
Seek strong recommenders to write your letters
Present recommendation letters that speak highly of your abilities and dreams. The only way of achieving this goal is by seeking recommenders who know you and your work well.
How the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program is Judged
The scholarship’s main aim is to encourage and support the education of students of color pursuing STEM-related degrees. As such, what the judges will be looking out for is how well you demonstrate your interest in STEM and how your career plans align with the field. These aspects can be brought to life through your essays, recommendation letters, and academic transcripts.
Why We Love the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program
Gender-balanced
The scholarship provides grants to two male and two female students, which ensures that it is gender-balanced.
Scholarship is for minority groups in STEM
People of color, who are the targets of the scholarship, are underrepresented in the STEM field. Thus, it is commendable that this scholarship seeks to address this issue.
Offers significant support
The award is enough to allow students, who may not have had the means to afford their studies, to pursue a STEM major.
5 Facts About the CGCS – Bernard Harris Scholarship Program
CGCS represents urban public schools
CGCS is a national organization that represents the needs of public schools in the country’s urban centers and is based in Washington, D.C.
Applicants must be from a CGCS school
One of the conditions of the Scholarship is that an applicant must be studying in any of the public schools in one of the 76 districts represented by CGCS.
Dr. Bernard Harris is a widely accomplished
Besides being the first African American to walk in space, Dr. Harris is a physician, businessperson, and philanthropist whose non-profit organization, The Harris Foundation, serves disadvantaged communities nationally.
CGCS administers other scholarships
CGCS administers other scholarships for which non-students can apply, for example, the Green-Garner Award and the Queen Smith Award.
Some parties are automatically ineligible
Not everyone is eligible to apply for the scholarship, for example, a person who has won another award administered by CGCS as well as staff and immediate family members of both CGCS and The Harris Foundation.