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Undergraduates

The Harvard College Financial Aid Office distributes most of the financial aid available to students at Harvard College. If you are interested in learning more about financial aid for Harvard College students, or applying for financial aid, you should contact the Harvard College Financial Aid Office.

The Committee on General Scholarships administers a small number of ancestry-based funds for which Harvard College students may apply. Please review the information and application instructions below for more information.

Ancestry-Based Scholarships

John Austin AMORY Class of 1907 Scholarship Fund

Restricted to descendants of John Austin Amory.

John W. Appel Loan Fund

Restricted to descendants of John W. Appel.

Bright Legacy

Restricted to descendants of Henry Bright, Jr. and Anne Goldstone of Watertown, Massachusetts, who bear the surname Bright.

Charles Downer Scholarship Fund

Restrictions, in order of preference:

  1. Students who bear the surname Downer and who are descendants of Joseph or Robert Downer of Wiltshire, England;
  2. Other students bearing the surname Downer;
  3. Descendants of members of the Harvard Class of 1889.

Albert J. Lynch Scholarship

Restricted to descendants of Governor Thomas Dudley

Calvin and Lucy Ellis Aid

Restricted to descendants of David Ellis and Beulah Newell of Dedham, Massachusetts, or John Ellis and Hannah Ellis of Walpole, Massachusetts.

Baxendale Scholarship

Restrictions, in order of preference:

  1. Descendants of Alan Bedford Hudson;
  2. Students with the name Baxendale or Hudson.

William Pennoyer Bequest

Restricted to descendants of Robert Pennoyer and residents of New Haven, Connecticut.

Ernest Frederick Slater Scholarship

Restricted to descendants by birth or adoption of Edward F. Slater.

1902 World War Memorial Scholarship

Restricted to descendants of members of the Class of 1902.

Incoming or current Harvard College students who are eligible for these scholarships may apply by submitting a letter requesting consideration for the scholarship, including their Harvard College class, a summary of the genealogy that qualifies the applicant, and address, telephone, and email contact information. The letter must be accompanied by a certified genealogy report demonstrating eligibility.

Applicants for the following scholarships must ALSO submit an application for financial aid to the Harvard College Financial Aid Office in order to be considered for these scholarships:

1902 World War Memorial Scholarships
the Ernest Frederick Slater Scholarship
the John W. Appel Scholarship
the Pennoyer Scholarship

Requests for consideration must be submitted by March 1 in order to guarantee consideration for expenses beginning the following September. This deadline includes applications from potential Freshman. The letter should be addressed to:

Committee on General Scholarships
Ancestry-Based Scholarships Program
14 Story Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138

Please contact the Committee on General Scholarships for additional information.