Application Information | More About Oliver LaGrone and Past Recipients | F.A.Q.
The Oliver LaGrone Scholarship is a unique program administered by the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg and available solely to graduates of the Harrisburg School District. The program awards undergraduate education funding and provides mentorship over the course of an undergraduate career. The 2026 LaGrone Scholar is eligible to receive $16,000 over their academic tenure. The LaGrone Mentor relationship offers opportunities for networking and support, otherwise unavailable to the student.
The 2026-2027 scholarship application window is now closed. Check back in January 2027.
Harrisburg School District Student
Must be a current student of the Harrisburg School District in spring 2026, or have already graduated in 2021 or later. This includes John Harris and SciTech campuses, Cougar Academy, and Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy.
Accredited Educational Institution
Must be an applicant to an accredited post-secondary institution such as a college, business, technical, or trade school.
Financial Need
Must be able to demonstrate financial need, similar to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
Motivation
Demonstrate motivation to continue education despite obstacles with knowledge or skills gained through life experience.
You Click Submit
Your completed application must be submitted by Friday, March 20, 2026 to be considered. Any application received after this date will not be considered for any reason.
Good Thing We Enjoy Reading
A selection panel will thoroughly review all the applications and select a pool of potential LaGrone Scholars. This process can take about a month to complete.
Let’s Meet
Final candidates will be invited to meet with the Selection Panel so we can get to know them and better understand their educational aspirations and motivations.
Congratulations
The selected recipient will be notified and will be informed of next steps, responsibilities, disbursement, etc. All current LaGrone Scholars will be recognized at an Award Ceremony on a Sunday in June 2026 followed by an informal reception.
Gather Your Info
Much like the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA), gathering information makes the completion process smoother.
Talk to Your Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
Part of the application assesses the need for your parent’s financial information. Make sure to speak with your parent(s)/guardian(s) and coordinate completion with them to streamline the process.
Review the Responsibilities
Make sure you understand the requirements of the selected LaGrone Scholar as listed in the FAQs and that you are able to meet the expectations throughout your undergraduate career.
APPLY!
The application is best completed on a desktop and you are able to save your place and come back because breaks are self care.
Harrisburg School District Student
Must be a current student of the Harrisburg School District in spring 2026, or have already graduated in 2021 or later. This includes John Harris and SciTech campuses, Cougar Academy, and Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy.
Accredited Educational Institution
Must be an applicant to an accredited post-secondary institution such as a college, business, technical, or trade school.
Financial Need
Must be able to demonstrate financial need, similar to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
Motivation
Demonstrate motivation to continue education despite obstacles with knowledge or skills gained through life experience.
You Click Submit
Your completed application must be submitted by Friday, March 20, 2026 to be considered. Any application received after this date will not be considered for any reason.
Good Thing We Enjoy Reading
A selection panel will thoroughly review all the applications and select a pool of potential LaGrone Scholars. This process can take about a month to complete.
Let’s Meet
Final candidates will be invited to meet with the Selection Panel so we can get to know them and better understand their educational aspirations and motivations.
Congratulations
The selected recipient will be notified and will be informed of next steps, responsibilities, disbursement, etc. All current LaGrone Scholars will be recognized at an Award Ceremony on a Sunday in June 2026 followed by an informal reception.
Gather Your Info
Much like the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA), gathering information makes the completion process smoother.
Talk to Your Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
Part of the application assesses the need for your parent’s financial information. Make sure to speak with your parent(s)/guardian(s) and coordinate completion with them to streamline the process.
Review the Responsibilities
Make sure you understand the requirements of the selected LaGrone Scholar as listed in the FAQs and that you are able to meet the expectations throughout your undergraduate career.
APPLY!
The application is best completed on a desktop and you are able to save your place and come back because breaks are self care.
The Inspiration
Learn more about Oliver LaGrone and his passion for art, education, and giving back.
Current Recipients
Learn more about the current class of LaGrone scholars that will be tomorrow’s leaders.
Past Recipients
Learn more about the impact of the Scholarship and the lives and careers of our Scholars.
Do I need to complete the application in a single session?
No, you do not need to complete the application in one session. You have the ability to save and continue your work at another time. By toggling forward through the application, you can resume from where you paused.
Do I need to complete my Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) application to apply for this scholarship?
While having a completed FAFSA is not required, it will be of great assistance as the majority of the application follows the FAFSA.
What should gather before I start the application?
The application is in two primary sections. To complete section one, you may need to gather the following documents/information:
- Your legal mailing address
- Three adult references and their contact information
- Name and application status of post-secondary institutions of interest
- Transcripts from at least the past two semesters
- SAT or ACT scores
- In a written essay or other expressive media, describe the greatest challenge you’ve had, how you overcame it, and how the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship funds and support would assist you in accomplishing your goals. You may choose to express yourself however you wish, in writing, through a painting or sculpture, or a recording of your dance, music, or poetry performance.
To complete section two, you may need to gather the following documents/information:
- A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application
- Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents, if you are a dependent student
- Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate (but not including the home in which you live); and business and farm assets for you and for your parents if you are a dependent student.
- Federal tax information, tax documents, or tax returns, including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents, if you are a dependent student:IRS Form 1040
- Foreign tax return or IRS Form 1040-NR
- Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
How do I apply?
Our application is conveniently online. If you require accommodation or assistance please contact us at olgs@uchbg.org. We’re here to help!
What are the responsibilities of the selected LaGrone Scholar?
The LaGrone Scholar must provide the following items to the LaGrone Scholarship Committee by July 1st and January 1st of each year:
- An official transcript of the LaGrone Scholar’s grades for the semester just ended, showing proof of satisfactory academic progress, and
- Proof of enrollment for the upcoming semester or term.
The LaGrone Scholar will maintain communication with their LaGrone Mentor at least three times a year, from July 1st to June 30th of the following year. It is recommended that the LaGrone Scholar and LaGrone Mentor keep a record of when contact is made.
If the LaGrone Scholar fails to communicate with their LaGrone Mentor or with the LaGrone Scholarship Committee for a period in excess of 365 days, the LaGrone Scholar will forfeit their eligibility to receive any additional disbursements from the LaGrone Scholarship Fund.
If the LaGrone Scholar is not registered for any post-secondary classes or scheduled for any formal lessons or formal assignments within their training curriculum for 730 consecutive days, they will forfeit any additional disbursements from the LaGrone Scholarship Fund. The LaGrone Scholar may appeal to the LaGrone Scholarship Committee but the Committee is not required to reinstate their eligibility to receive undisbursed funds.
If the LaGrone Scholar is found to have falsified or altered any school record or other information submitted to the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship Committee, the LaGrone Scholar will forfeit any funds that have not been disbursed.
Who do I contact if I need help?
If you have any questions about the LaGrone Scholarship, the selection process, or need help applying, you can email us at olgs@uchbg.org or call us at (717) 564-4761 x702 and leave a message.
Am I limited to certain schools or am I eligible if my program is less than four years?
The LaGrone Scholarship is open to applicants to an accredited post-secondary institution such as a college, business school, technical school, school of nursing, or institute of fine arts. The award for any program at an accredited institution that is of less than four years duration might not receive the maximum award. The amount awarded will be decided by the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship Committee.
“Accredited” protects you. It means the program you are considering has been evaluated by authorized experts in a given field of study. To find out if the U.S. institution you are considering is accredited, you can search the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).
No, you do not need to complete the application in one session. You have the ability to save and continue your work at another time. By toggling forward through the application, you can resume from where you paused.
While having a completed FAFSA is not required, it will be of great assistance as the majority of the application follows the FAFSA.
The application is in two primary sections. To complete section one, you may need to gather the following documents/information:
- Your legal mailing address
- Three adult references and their contact information
- Name and application status of post-secondary institutions of interest
- Transcripts from at least the past two semesters
- SAT or ACT scores
- In a written essay or other expressive media, describe the greatest challenge you’ve had, how you overcame it, and how the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship funds and support would assist you in accomplishing your goals. You may choose to express yourself however you wish, in writing, through a painting or sculpture, or a recording of your dance, music, or poetry performance.
To complete section two, you may need to gather the following documents/information:
- A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application
- Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents, if you are a dependent student
- Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate (but not including the home in which you live); and business and farm assets for you and for your parents if you are a dependent student.
- Federal tax information, tax documents, or tax returns, including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents, if you are a dependent student:IRS Form 1040
- Foreign tax return or IRS Form 1040-NR
- Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
Our application is conveniently online. If you require accommodation or assistance please contact us at olgs@uchbg.org. We’re here to help!
The LaGrone Scholar must provide the following items to the LaGrone Scholarship Committee by July 1st and January 1st of each year:
- An official transcript of the LaGrone Scholar’s grades for the semester just ended, showing proof of satisfactory academic progress, and
- Proof of enrollment for the upcoming semester or term.
The LaGrone Scholar will maintain communication with their LaGrone Mentor at least three times a year, from July 1st to June 30th of the following year. It is recommended that the LaGrone Scholar and LaGrone Mentor keep a record of when contact is made.
If the LaGrone Scholar fails to communicate with their LaGrone Mentor or with the LaGrone Scholarship Committee for a period in excess of 365 days, the LaGrone Scholar will forfeit their eligibility to receive any additional disbursements from the LaGrone Scholarship Fund.
If the LaGrone Scholar is not registered for any post-secondary classes or scheduled for any formal lessons or formal assignments within their training curriculum for 730 consecutive days, they will forfeit any additional disbursements from the LaGrone Scholarship Fund. The LaGrone Scholar may appeal to the LaGrone Scholarship Committee but the Committee is not required to reinstate their eligibility to receive undisbursed funds.
If the LaGrone Scholar is found to have falsified or altered any school record or other information submitted to the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship Committee, the LaGrone Scholar will forfeit any funds that have not been disbursed.
If you have any questions about the LaGrone Scholarship, the selection process, or need help applying, you can email us at olgs@uchbg.org or call us at (717) 564-4761 x702 and leave a message.
The LaGrone Scholarship is open to applicants to an accredited post-secondary institution such as a college, business school, technical school, school of nursing, or institute of fine arts. The award for any program at an accredited institution that is of less than four years duration might not receive the maximum award. The amount awarded will be decided by the Oliver LaGrone Scholarship Committee.
“Accredited” protects you. It means the program you are considering has been evaluated by authorized experts in a given field of study. To find out if the U.S. institution you are considering is accredited, you can search the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).