HONOLULU – As high school seniors and those looking to pursue their goal of a higher education begin the college application process, the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) is also providing the opportunity to support their education by offering more than 200 scholarships to qualified individuals.

HCF, the state’s leading philanthropic institute, began accepting online applications for the 2016-17 scholarship season on Nov. 15, 2016. As the third largest private provider of scholarships in the state, HCF offers thousands of opportunities for students to pursue dreams of receiving a post-secondary education. In 2015, more than $4.5 million was distributed to over 1,200 students.

“More and more people are pursuing a post-secondary education, even in the face of the rising cost of attending college,” said Eric La’a, senior development officer at HCF. “Thanks to the generosity of individuals, families and businesses in our community, Hawaii’s students have the opportunity to pursue their education goals, whether it’s at a college, university or community college, and receive much needed financial support.”

“Often times, scholarships are the difference in whether or not a student from Hawaii can attend school. Our hope is that our community will continue to support our students by making a gift to an existing scholarship fund or creating a fund of their own,” added La’a

To donate to HCF’s Community Scholarship Fund or to establish a scholarship, contact La’a at elaa@hcf-hawaii.org.

To apply for a 2016-17 scholarship, students just need to complete a single application form to be matched to multiple scholarship opportunities based on their eligibility. The deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 at 4 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST). Visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/scholarships to apply or for more information on required supporting materials that are needed for applications. Applicants will be notified between April and July if they have been selected to receive a scholarship.