Apply Online!
Applications are password-protected.
Passwords are available through the New Milford High School Career Center.
Applications are due April 1.
Interviews will be Saturday, May 3.
Please contact us if you have questions.
Scholarships
The John Pettibone Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. scholarship is available online only. Scholarships must be completed in full to be submitted.
Online applications are password-protected. Passwords are available through the NMHS’s Career Center.
All graduating New Milford High School students eligible for college, associate degrees, and trade school are encouraged to apply.
Scholarships are need-based and awarded at New Milford High School’s Scholarship Night. Once you have completed and submitted an application, you will be contacted with a date and time for a roundtable interview with our Board of Trustees. We generally give financial awards to two-thirds or more of all students granted an interview. Our interviews are casual and friendly, but we recommend you read the list below for how to prepare best. We hope to see you soon!
Some FAQs
Do I need to be a New Milford High School student?
Right now, yes. We may open our application to other soon-to-be graduates in the future, but right now, we only accept applications from NMHS seniors.Do I need to be a resident of New Milford?
Yes, applicants must be from the greater New Milford area and eligible to attend New Milford High School.Do I need to have attended Pettibone school?
No! The Pettibone Scholarship and the Pettibone Community Center (formerly a school fondly remembered by us old folks) were named after the same man, John Pettibone, the former superintendent of New Milford Schools and an educator here for forty-two years. The scholarship and center (school) have nothing to do with each other (besides, we now have our scholarship interviews at their facility).Are these scholarships only for four-year college degrees?
No! We award for college, trade school, and associate degree programs.How do you decide who gets a scholarship?
We decide based on financial need. And need exists in many ways. We urge everyone to apply.How does the interview work?
There are about 14 very lovely board members, including teachers, NMHS graduates, and local residents. We know it can feel intimidating to walk into a room full of that many adults, but I promise we’re excited to meet you and genuinely want to support your continued education. Interviews last only a few minutes each, which is why it’s important to complete your application as fully as possible and prepare to share your successes and goals.Check out this list of possible interview questions to prepare.
How to Stand Out
Preparing for your interview with the JPMSF Board of Trustees is simple.
Make sure your application is complete before submitting and keep a copy of the details for yourself to bring with you to your interview.
Get your financial ducks in a row. How much does one year of school cost to attend your chosen college or program (even if you’re undecided when you apply, have that info ready for your interview)? How much do you have secured to pay for school? How much do you need to cover the difference (this is where your high school math skills kick in)? And how will you make up the difference (work, student loans, plant a money tree)?
Make a mental (or written) list of your accomplishments to let us get to know you better. Did you train to run a 5K recently? Played varsity for four years? Volunteered at your church every weekend? Or do you love to sew, hike, fix cars, or create nonprofit start-ups? Maybe you’re an Eagle Scout or were part of NMHS’s theater productions. Whatever it is that makes you, you, we want to know (and you only get a few minutes to chat, so keep the bullet list concise to what matters most to you).
Family — we want to know anything that will help us make a decision. Do you have three siblings in college already (financial strain)? Are you the first to go to college in your family? Was a parent recently laid-off or switch jobs? It’s sometimes hard to share personal information, but it helps us decide our need-based scholarships.
Be on time, but prepared to wait. We try to keep everyone timed perfectly, but sometimes life happens. Please try your best to be on time, and contact us if you’re running late. And please understand if we’re running a few minutes behind. We’ll contact you if anything significant changes in the schedule (we call cell phones and will email when necessary).
Tips for Your First Year Away
Create a Budget
Speak with your parents about who is paying for what and how. Keep in mind the cost of splurging on take-out or groceries that may spoil in a dorm room. And the added cost of gas, if you have a car.
Learn from Mistakes
We all make them. Don't beat yourself up. Figure out what went wrong, fix it when possible, and move on.
Set Up Personal Accounts
Set up a personal checking and savings account and master the art of keeping your accounts balanced. Look for accounts with no fees (most require that you maintain a minimum balance). And be cautious — Venmo makes it very easy to lose track.
Work Part-Time
Working teaches responsibility and money management, but if academics are overwhelming, you might want to delay employment your first year.
Practice with Plastic
Credit cards are not necessary, but when used responsibly, for emergencies, and paid in full each month, you can build a healthy credit history. Discuss how to keep your credit safe with a parent or trusted adult.
Get Involved
Meet new people. Try new things. Join clubs. You will be surrounded by interesting people, with different ideas, from all walks of life. Get to know them and you’ll learn more about yourself too.