Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship Opportunities for Incoming Freshmen: To be considered Please indicate Your intent to apply on The Admission application.

Sancta Crux Scholarship

$5,000 a year for 4 years of high school

The Academy of the Holy Cross invites incoming freshmen with exceptional academic achievement and potential to become Sancta Crux Scholars. During this four-year program, Holy Cross will foster the intellectual growth of these extraordinary young women and help embrace and develop their gifts. Scholars must take three honors-equivalent classes each semester and maintain a 3.5 weighted grade point average throughout the program.

Sancta Crux Scholarship Criteria

Sancta Crux Scholarship Criteria

Academic performance in 7^th and 8^th grade
All Sancta Crux scholarship applicants will be required to complete a Pursuit of Scholarship Submission, see guidelines below
Pursuit of Scholarship Submission; due Monday, January 8, 2024

Scholarship Submissions Guidelines

You may upload your scholarship submission into your admissions portal or email it to the Admissions Office at admissions@academyoftheholycross.org.

The Gillespie STEM Scholarship

$5,000 a year for 4 years of high school

The Academy of the Holy Cross invites qualified incoming freshmen who have demonstrated an aptitude for science and math with a sincere interest in the field of engineering to apply for the Gillespie STEM Scholarship.

The Gillespie STEM Scholarship is a special distinction within the Sancta Crux Scholars Program. By applying for the Gillespie STEM Scholarship, applicants will be automatically considered for the Sancta Crux Scholars program and may qualify for Sancta Crux even if they do not qualify for STEM.

GILLESPIE STEM Criteria
More About the Gillespie STEM Scholarship

GILLESPIE STEM Criteria

Academic performance in 7^th and 8^th grades, with a focus on math and science
Successful completion of Algebra I
Candidate Interview, which will take place in February 2024.
Pursuit of Scholarship Submission; due Monday, January 8, 2024

Scholarship Submissions Guidelines
You may upload your scholarship submission into your admissions portal or email it to the Admissions Office at admissions@academyoftheholycross.org.

Please note Gillespie STEM Scholarship workshop will take place in-person on Saturday February 3, 2024. All candidates who have successfully submitted a Pursuit of Scholarship Submission will be invited to register. Workshop schedule will be sent January 2024.

Gillespie scholars must take one of the Project Lead the Way engineering courses by the end of sophomore year.

More About the Gillespie STEM Scholarship

As the American foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Mother Angela Gillespie, C.S.C. strongly believed in full educational rights for women, and championed the introduction of advanced courses in science and higher mathematics during her tenure as provincial superior.

In her honor, the Academy will award STEM Scholarships to qualified incoming freshmen who have demonstrated an aptitude for science and math, and a sincere interest in the field of engineering.

Fine Arts Scholarships

$2,500 a year for 4 years of high school

All incoming freshmen may audition or present a visual arts portfolio for one of the scholarships listed below.

Performing Arts Scholarship Criteria
Visual Arts Scholarship Criteria

Performing Arts Scholarship Criteria

All Performing Arts Scholarship auditions will take place in-person on Saturday, February 3, 2024. All candidates who indicate intent to apply will be required to audition for consideration. Audition schedule will be sent to applicants in January 2024.

Dance
One piece, in any style, of no more than two minutes. Wear appropriate dance attire and footwear.

Instrumental Music
Prepared piece no more than two minutes in length, either solo or accompanied.

Theatre
Two contrasting monologues (comedic/dramatic) no more than one minute each. Must be memorized.

-OR- One monologue (no more than one minute), and one excerpt of a music theatre song (no more than one minute). Both must be memorized.

Vocal Music
Prepared vocal audition piece no more than two minutes in length, either solo or accompanied.

Visual Arts Scholarship Criteria

Visual Arts candidates must submit a digital portfolio of 4-5 pieces of artwork. Preferably the selections should be created from at least two different mediums, (for example: acrylic, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, clay, mixed media, sculpture, etc.).

All visual arts applicants must submit their portfolios to the Admissions Office via email admissions@academyoftheholycross.org.

All portfolios are due Saturday, February 3, 2024 before 3:00pm.

If you have any questions please contact the Arts Department Chair, Laura Van Duzer, lvanduzer@academyoftheholycross.org.

Applicants may apply for either the Sancta Crux Scholarship OR the Gillespie STEM Scholarship but not both.

Applicants may apply for either the Performing Arts Scholarship OR the Visual Arts Scholarship but not both.

Applicants may apply for one academic scholarship (Sancta Crux or STEM) and one arts (Performing or Visual) scholarship if interested.

Scholarship applicants will be contacted in January 2024 for their scholarship evaluation.

Scholarship recipients will be notified of their scholarship award in their Admissions acceptance letters at the end of February 2024.

Questions? Contact our Admissions Office
Email Us | 301-929-6442

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Scholarship Opportunities