Eligibility for Stuart J. Drell Scholarship Fund

Renee Drell and her daughters Elana, Jordana and Marissa established a fund to honor their beloved late husband and father Stuart J. Drell. The fund was established in 2001 at Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Now that Renee has relocated to Connecticut, the fund has been transferred to the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven and will award scholarships, for college, to young adults from Jewish households in Connecticut.

• The Scholarship award is for college tuition.

Eligibility

• high school students residing in CT, who are entering their first year of college in the fall of 2025 OR
• are Gap Year students residing in CT entering their first year of college OR
• are individuals entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college
• from Jewish households
• permanent resident of CT

Previous winners of the STUART J. DRELL SCHOLARSHIP are NOT eligible to apply.

Submission Requirements (note, these requirements are very similar to the Friedler and Podoloff scholarships* (due May 30th) and you are encouraged to apply to both.):

1. Parents’ 2024 1040 Tax Return, pages 1 and 2;
2. 750 word essay responding to the questions detailed below; and
3. Submission of both by May 15, 2025* (please note: Friedler and Podoloff college scholarship applications from the Jewish Foundation are due May 30, 2025)
4. A copy of the college acceptance letter describing the college’s financial aid package plus other grants, scholarships and awards received.
5. The awards notification will be made by June 10, 2025.

Please include the following in your 750 word essay (note, these requirements are very similar to the Podoloff scholarship and you are encouraged to apply to both):

1. Tell us about yourself and your family composition.
2. Tell us how you could benefit from receiving a scholarship.
3. What responsibilities have you assumed to assist your family?
4. What challenges (other than financial) have you had and how have you overcome these challenges in life?
5. What paid job(s) have you had during your high school or college experience? What did you learn from this employment?
6. Tell us about any volunteer experiences you’ve had in the past four years and what you’ve learned from the experience(s).
7. What does your Jewish identity mean to you?
8. How have you spent the last three summers? What are your plans for this summer?
9. If you are currently in High School, what are your plans for college? OR If you are currently in college, what plans do you have after graduating from college?