Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Network
Matching Scholarship Program
Each year, the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Network awards partial scholarships to incoming Pitt students from the area. Thanks to network members' donations over the years, we can offer multiple annual scholarships, one of which is matched by the Pitt Alumni Association for three additional years of a student’s enrollment at Pitt. Each summer the Chapter honors the recipients at its Pitt Freshman Send-off.
To Apply:
All admitted, eligible students will receive an email from Pitt that directs them to apply on the PittFundsMe scholarship portal. Every student has access to this portal, which provides a platform through which students who are eligible can apply for multiple scholarships. The application is not intended to be time-consuming. In addition to academic and extracurricular information, previous years' applications have typically included brief free response prompts about the applicant's interest in Pitt and how they hope to use their education after graduating.
Though the recipients are selected by a committee of alumni volunteers, the Pitt Alumni Association and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid manage the scholarships. These offices handle all application materials and status updates.
Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Network
Awards $5,850 to 2024 Scholarship Recipients
The Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Network is pleased to announce and congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients. Note, due to privacy, the names of the award winners will not be shown.
The scholarship awards were made possible through donations to the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Chapter (formerly the Pitt Club). You may contribute to the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund at: giveto.pitt.edu/chesa
Many thanks goes to the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Chapter Scholarship Committee who reviewed close to 100 application essays from very strong candidates. After much thought and deliberation, the Committee submitted its final selections to the University. The Scholarship Committee consisted of Andrew Schall (Chair), Mary Beth Adamchik, Andre Burton, Mary Jo Carden, Pete Ciarrocca, Jason Froehlich, and Beth Hoffman León.
$2,000 Matching Award
Student: S. P.
College: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences | Frederick Honors College
Intended Major: Pre-Dentistry
Dear Pitt's Chesapeake and Potomac Chapter Scholarship Committee,
As a child, I remember being fascinated by the way my dentist transformed my smile. That simple experience ignited a lifelong passion for dentistry. Today, I'm one step closer to realizing that dream thanks to your generous $8,000 scholarship. Your support is not just financial aid but a vote of confidence in my future. With your help, I can focus on my academics without the constant worry of financial burdens. I plan to dedicate the scholarship to my tuition costs at Pitt, allowing me to fully immerse myself in my rigorous biology, math, and chemistry courses. Having to worry less about paying for school, I will take greater advantage of the healthcare research, programs, and internships that Pitt offers. I am excited to engage more deeply in topics such as craniofacial anatomy and gram-positive bacteria through classes and research at Pitt. I am truly grateful for your investment in my education and my future. Thank you for helping me bring smiles to the world.
Sincerely,
SP
$2,000 One-Time Award
Student: E. O.
College: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences | Frederick Honors College
Intended Major: Pre-Medicine
To the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter Scholarship Committee,
I just received the notification that I was awarded the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Scholarship. What a wonderful surprise! Thank you for this honor and generous scholarship. This letter does not fully express how appreciative I am of receiving this honor. As a freshman pursuing premed at the University of Pittsburgh, my goal is to transfer my passion for anatomy and biology into a career in medicine. My plan after graduating Pitt is to attend medical school and train to become an ophthalmologist. Your generosity has put me one step closer to achieving this dream by alleviating some of the financial strain of college. Additionally, this honor has given me more confidence as I start my freshman year in pursuing my academic interests at Pitt. I want to thank the committee again for this great opportunity.
Sincerely,
EO
$1,250 One-Time Award
Student: MN
College: School of Nursing | Frederick Honors College Major: Nursing
Hello,
I am writing to express my gratitude for this spectacular and generous opportunity. I am honored to be the recipient of the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter's Scholarship for 2024. I am very grateful for this award as it will allow me to continue my education with significant aid from Pitt Alumni and the Merit Scholarship. College can be costly, but with this award, I can study abroad and pursue internship opportunities. I am looking forward to a great year and thank you again for the scholarship.
Sincerely,
MN
$600 One-Time Award
Student: DY
College: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences | Frederick Honors College Intended Major: Molecular Biology
Dear Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter’s Scholarship Committee,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter’s 2024 Scholarship you have awarded me. I am incredibly honored to have been selected as the recipient of this award. With this financial support, I'll be able to focus more on my studies and research opportunities, with lesser burden from tuition and other expenses. And as a molecular biology major aspiring to attend medical school, this scholarship will be instrumental in helping me achieve my long-term academic and professional goals. Your investment in my future is deeply appreciated, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity. Thank you again for your generosity and belief in my potential. I am grateful to be a part of the Pitt community and look forward to representing the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter with pride!
Sincerely,
DY
Past Scholarship and Grant Recipients
2023 $2,000 Matching Award Scholarship
Student:
A. G.
College: School of Public Health/Frederick Honors College
Major: Public Health
To you and all the Pitt committee members who selected me for the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter Scholarship, I give you my absolute gratitude. Although I have not begun my term at Pitt yet, the university has been incredibly welcoming and friendly through the staff and the student body, and I am excited to start my school year with an additional financial award. I hope to use this money to further my education in public health by helping local and international communities that need it most through doing what I love most, which are service projects. In addition to my education, this scholarship money will help me fund other educational opportunities like my passion in music and visual arts. Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity that this scholarship will bring me at the University of
Pittsburgh. Hail to Pitt!
Best,
A. G.
2023 $2,000 One-Time Award Scholarship
Student:
S. P.
College:
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
Intended Major: Political Science
Dear Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter,
I am extremely appreciative of being the recipient of this scholarship, and overwhelmingly grateful! This scholarship means so much to me as it will reduce the amount of financial stress moving forward during my freshman year. I have thankfully received a full tuition scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh, so this money will go towards my room and board. I am very excited for my college experience, this upcoming fall, and I can’t express enough how grateful I am to have some of my strain removed. Once more, thank you so much for awarding me the scholarship the Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Chapter!
Sincerely,
S. P.
2021 Scholarship Winner - S. R.
S. R. (Potomac, MD) received a matching scholarship in which the Chapter will pay $2,000 for the first year and the University will match years 2, 3, and 4. Shoshana plans to study exercise science and was accepted into Pitt's guaranteed admissions program for a doctorate in physical therapy. In high school Shoshana played volleyball and lacrosse and served as president of multiple student organizations. Upon acceptance of her scholarship, Shoshana wrote:
“I am honored to be selected as the recipient of the Chesapeake & Potomac Pitt Alumni Club’s scholarship. I am very excited to attend Pitt and look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead of me in my classes, the experiences at the university, in Pittsburgh, the surrounding areas, and hopefully abroad. This scholarship fund will help me to focus on my studies and pay for books, school supplies, and further my education. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with the members of the club and get to know many of you. Thank you again for this honor.“
2021 Scholarship Winner - A. B.
A. B. (Oxon Hill, MD) received a $2,000 scholarship award for her first year at Pitt. A. B. aims to focus academically on health disparities with a goal of bridging the inequality gap and reducing implicit bias among medical providers. Aaliyah was president and concertmistress of the high school orchestra and a four-year marching band member. She plans to continue musical performance at Pitt. Aaliyah thanked the Chapter in a recent email:
“I am writing this email to thank you all for funding this scholarship. Many of my life goals are centered around three areas: medicine, public health, and music. When I get to Pitt, I plan on participating in opportunities focusing on those three areas. During my time at Pitt, I hope to start tackling cancer and health disparities. I also hope to study abroad and learn more about the world. This scholarship will allow me to dedicate more time to achieving these goals instead of paying for school. It will also allow me to take advantage of the many programs (study abroad, internships, and etc.) that Pitt offers. Once again, I would like to thank you all for investing in me.”
2021 Scholarship Winner - K. P.
K. P. (Bethesda, MD) received a $750 book award. K. P. will major in chemistry with a research interest in early detection of Alzheimer's disease. K. P. has been active in extracurricular STEM events such as participating in the Girls in Technology program and volunteering at the KID Museum. K. P. shared her appreciation with the Chapter:
“I am honored and grateful to accept this scholarship from the Chesapeake & Potomac Pitt Alumni Club. This financial support will undoubtedly contribute to my ability to prioritize my academic endeavors and extracurricular activities in the fall. I have just graduated Walter Johnson High School in Maryland. Throughout High School I enjoyed volunteering for STEM events and organizations such as KID Museum, in addition to participating in career oriented activities like the Girls in Technology Mentorship program. I have found these kinds of commitments to be very rewarding and am looking forward to continuing my involvement in the STEM community while studying Chemistry at Pitt. I am planning to find the best career path for myself through internships and research opportunities in Pittsburgh with the current goal of attending graduate school after Pitt. This scholarship will help me take advantage of these opportunities and for that I would like to sincerely thank the Chesapeake & Potomac Pitt Alumni Club.”
