March 5, 2025 — With prices for everything from gas to eggs soaring across the country, finding ways to save a little extra money is critical for many families. PEF offers a variety of scholarships to members and their families to help ease the cost of education.
Scholarships for members
If you are a member attending a college or university or a graduate student, PEF offers a few different avenues through your contract to seek reimbursement and increases in pay once you have a degree in hand.
For women who are currently active members, the Jean DeBow Women in PEF Scholarship offers $1,000 to any active female PEF members who are pursuing accredited Post Secondary education in any field. The application can be found on the PEF website and the deadline for applying is May 1.
Scholarships for dependents of members
Members of PEF Division 231 working at the Capital District Psychiatric Center who have a dependent seeking a college degree are eligible to apply for a PEF Division 231 scholarship.
The division will provide $2,500 to scholarship winners for the current school year and the money will be distributed once winners are selected.
Members of Division 231 must fill out the application before the March 7 deadline and email their completed application to Division 231 Council Leader Donna Sherrycervantes at Donna.Sherrycervantes@pef.org.
PEF Division 343 (Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie, N.Y.) is holding its second annual college scholarship contest. The contest will award one $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must be a child or family member of an active PEF Division 343 member and a high school graduate or soon-to-be graduate enrolled in at an accredited New York State College for the Fall 2025 term as a freshman.
Members of Division 343 must complete the application and email it to Division 343 Secretary Christine Thompson at Namena2@yahoo.com with a copy to Council Leader Kathleen Pepper at RSC90@aol.com. An essay and proof of enrollment must also be submitted with the application. The subject line of the email should read PEF Division 343 Scholarship Fall 2025.
The deadline for the Division 343 Scholarship is July 7. A winner will be chosen and announced on July 21.
The Joseph Scacalossi Scholarship is a statewide PEF scholarship program offered to children, stepchildren or wards of an active, retired or deceased PEF member. It is offered to high school seniors or to college freshman.
Each year, 10 students are awarded $1,000 annually for four years to defray the cost of their education.
The application can be found on the PEF website, and the deadline for applying is March 15.
Editor’s Note: Division councils with scholarship information to publicize are encouraged to email Communicator@pef.og with details. We will share them in The Communicator and on our Scholarship page.