The Application period is now open.
Deadline is Friday, March 29
Arlene Shea Stein lived her life for everyone else. She represented the true meaning of altruism, possessed unconditional love and had the fortitude to show forgiveness. Next to her children and grandchildren Arlene's compassion and deep sense of Tikkum Olam is her greatest legacy. Her children Steven, Lisa, Craig and Debbie and grandchildren Melanie, Ariel, Samantha, Lauren, Matthew, Madison, Seth, and Shea, had a special relationship and personal bond with their mother and grandmother. Arlene was their mentor, their friend and passed along her passion for making the world a better place. Every one of Arlene's children and grandchildren live each day honoring her memory of good deeds and a giant heart. In that spirit, the children and grandchildren of Arlene Shea Stein have set up a special fund in her honor. Never completing college because of financial hardship always tugged at Arlene. She possessed a deep love for learning. The Arlene Shea Stein College Scholarship Fund has been set up to express Arlene's belief that higher education should be accessible to all.
2016 Stein Family College Scholarship Recipient, Brett Pomerantz
TJF is now accepting applications for the Stein Family College Scholarship. The prestigious scholarship, created in loving memory of Arlene Stein awards $10,000 per year for four years for a student to pursue a college degree. We recently checked in with 2016 recipient Brett Pomerantz, a Junior Mechanical Engineering major at Virginia Tech. Brett is extremely grateful for the Stein Scholarship because it has helped him focus on his studies without having the pressure of needing a job to help pay tuition and other expenses.
He also has had time to get involved Jewishly on campus, serving on the student Board for Chabad at VTECH. “I go to Shabbat every week, as well as other programs. We help them with the planning, and especially with timing the different events so more students can attend.” Brett also went on Birthright Israel his Freshman year, and then last summer had an internship with Onboard Israel, a company that brings kids from North America to Israel for internships. “I worked for a start up company that made a strip that goes into your shoes that helps kids not walk pigeon toed.”
Brett has really enjoyed his classes at Virginia Tech, and looks forward to volunteering for a professor in robotics laboratory next semester. When he graduates, he wants to work for a year and then go back to graduate school. His goal is to work for a manufacturer that builds toys or robots.
Brett’s advice to all graduating seniors is to apply for the Stein Scholarship and every scholarship you can because that will give you more opportunities in college and beyond. Applications for the Stein Family College Scholarship are due on March 29th. For more information, contact Ann Swindell at Aswindell@ujft.org.
ELIGIBILITY:
Scholarship applicants must be Jewish and be current residents of Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, Hampton, Newport News, and the Peninsula).
- Applicants must be high school graduates entering a degree-granting institution within the United States for the first time as a full-time, degree-seeking student. The institution must participate in theFederal Student Aid Program (Title IV)
- Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Applicant must demonstrate academic ability, concern for school and both the Jewish and general communities through extracurricular activities and volunteer service, and note any unusual circumstances that make the applicant more worthy of consideration.
- Applicant must show substantiated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
To determine need, all students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.com so that the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) may be determined. Students are encouraged to complete this application as soon as possible; federal funds are limited and distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
Click here to understand more about the FAFSA.
Click here to hear about one of the Stein Scholarship recipient's college experience.
If you have any questions regarding the Stein Family College Scholarship, please contact Ann Swindell, Donor Services Coordinator, at aswindell@ujft.org or 757.965.6106
Stein Family Scholarship past winners
Learn more about our past winners.