Announcement:  The Prince Henry Society's New Bedford chapter is now accepting applications for this year's scholarship program. Eligible candidates would be any graduating senior of Portuguese descent seeking an undergraduate or associate degree from an accredited college or university and who is a resident of the greater New Bedford area.

Applications are available at the guidance department of each high school. They can also be downloaded from this web site or by calling Scholarship Committee Chairman, Bob Gaspar at 508-998-2012. Deadline for the return of all applications is April 8th.

In 1980 the New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society was established as an organization whose primary goal was to promote the cultural, economic, educational and social betterment of persons of Portuguese descent.  Along with its involvement in many community services, the Prince Henry Society has also used the vehicle of educational scholarships to achieve this objective.

Each year the Scholarship Committee of the Prince Henry Society distributes scholarship applications to all of the local high schools in the greater New Bedford area:  New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, Old Rochester Regional, Apponequet Regional, Wareham, Bishop Stang and Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School.

Upon reception of the application, a screening committee takes on the task of scrutinizing each submitted application and carefully weighs the merits of each candidate based on the criteria of scholastic achievement, financial need, one's overall involvement in student activities, and general impression of the application itself.

Those youngsters whose applications demonstrate a strong potential in these areas, are then notified of their selection as a scholarship finalist.  A personal interview is then conducted and the final phase of selecting our recipients begins.  It is at this interview that the committee has its most difficult task.  All, at this time are worthy of recognition, unfortunately only several can be chosen as winners.  Those who demonstrate a desire to do well and a potential to bring recognition to their heritage will be honored.

Our scholarship program is not bound by the parameters of a budget. As chairman of the scholarship program, I feel a deep commitment and challenge to maximize the number of dollars we as a Society can offer each year in the name of scholarships.  In our early years, the Prince Henry Society would annually budget a total sum of $2000 to be distributed in the amount of four $500.00 scholarships.  As the cost of education escalated, we found ourselves inundated with an increased number of applications seeking financial assistance.  Frustrated by the demand on our limited resources, we accepted the challenge and began to pursue outside sources for funding.

Over the years I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of many individuals who each year offer to fund a $1000 scholarship in the memory of a loved one.  In addition our program has been blessed by friends in the business community who recognize the importance of our program and honor us with grants specifically designated for scholarships.  Our Society has also accepted the challenge by annually hosting a as a means of supplementing our funds.  This event is truly a labor of love where the membership comes together in support of such a worthy cause.

Our scholarship program concludes in the month of June with our annual scholarship brunch.  It is at this affair where we have the privilege of paying tribute to an outstanding group of students from the greater New Bedford area and recognizing their scholastic achievements with the awarding of our educational scholarships.  This has always been a very special event for our organization as it affords our membership with the opportunity to reflect with deep pride in our Portuguese heritage in addition to sensing a feeling of accomplishment at what has been achieved.

We hope to make a difference.  The objective of our program has always been to assist youngsters of Portuguese descent with their education with hope that they in turn will use their gift of education wisely to give back to society, help others, improve life and while doing so bring recognition to their heritage as well.

We have come a long way in the twenty five years that our organization has been in existence.  In 1992 we were able to establish The Prince Henry Scholarship Foundation. This was established as an entity separate from our Society. We have visions that income generated from the Foundation will be sufficient to help support with the total funding of scholarships.  This is our goal and will someday happen.