RUSSELL F. SILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS
Russell F. Siller was an educator for fifty years who believed in encouraging leadership, inspiring others, the importance of education and living a life of service. The Russell F. Siller Memorial Scholarships strive to honor his memory by finding passionate individuals who share in Russellās love of education and selflessness.
The scholarship seeks to award the children of recipients of the Tunnel to Towers Foundationās In the Line of Duty Home Program who are doing good. Applicants chosen will demonstrate that they are contributing their time and effort to making a difference by spreading awareness to a community-based issue.
The applicant is asked to showcase community service to others by creating a meaningful project/act that is beneficial to spreading awareness to their cause and then creating a clear and concise video of themselves which is no longer than five (5) minutes, detailing:
- What the chosen project/act is and why they chose it
- What method(s) they used to spread awareness for their cause and its effectiveness
- What impact their endeavor had on others
- How this endeavor can be beneficial to them in the future
- How this endeavor helped them develop as a leader
Applicants are asked to focus more on the effort they put into their project and not the overall results of their endeavor. Not everyone has the funding to spend towards helping charities and issues, but everyone has the ability to create awareness towards their chosen community issue. Applicants have the ability to receive up to a $10,000 scholarship.
Who is Eligible:
Applicants must be the child of an accepted Tunnel to Towers Foundation In the Line of Duty Home Program recipient. Applicants must be a High School Junior or Senior preparing for college or vocational college. Homeschooled Students are eligible to apply but must be of equivalent schooling. Applicants must have a GPA grade of 3.0 (B) or higher. There is no age limit necessary for submitting an application. Applicants are required to be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Prior Russell F. Siller Memorial Scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply for a second award.
Read the OFFICIAL RULES.
Deadline for Applications:
Thank you to all who have applied.Ā The application submission period has ended.
Entries for the 2024 Scholarship year began March 14th at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time and end on March 21st at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
Scholarship Selection:
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has a panel of judges to view each video submission and deliberate to select a smaller group of applicants to be selected as finalists. In addition to eligibility, finalists must submit proof of schooling and two (2) letters of recommendation detailing why the applicant would be a fitting candidate for The Russell F. Siller Memorial Scholarships. Finalists will be notified with instructions by April 22, 2024 via email.
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the content and creativity of the projects/acts performed, how well the applicant articulates the importance of their mission, and how the chosen endeavor reflects the overall theme of social advocacy. The number of awards given can vary per year. Scholarship awardees will be notified by May 15, 2024 via email.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the Scholarship video have to be in a specific video format?
No, there is no specific file format for uploading a video through our application process. - Do I need to create a Memory Fox profile to enter a Scholarship submission?
No, you do not need to create a profile. You just need to use the link on the T2T.org website to access the scholarship submission process during the entry period. - Can I view my Scholarship Submission?
You will be able to view your video upload right after uploading it through our video submission tool, which leverages Memory Fox, a third-party technology. You will not be able to change your personal information after moving on from that page. - Will I be able to edit my video after it is submitted?
No, you will only be able to view your video after submitting it. - My video is not visible after uploading. Why is it not available to view?
The upload process might take a few minutes to fully upload due to internet bandwidth and the overall size of the video. - I uploaded the wrong video. What can I do?
Please reach out to education.info@t2t.org during the scholarship entry period if this occurs and we will gladly assist you. - When will I be notified if I am a finalist?
If you are a finalist, you will be notified via email by April 22nd. - How will I receive the scholarship award if I am selected?
All scholarships will be awarded via check. - Who should I contact with any further questions about the scholarship?
Please reach out to education.info@t2t.org during the scholarship entry period and we will assist you.
MORE ABOUT RUSSELL F. SILLER
Russell F. Siller (August 6, 1942 ā November 8, 2019), was a bright, guiding light to his students. Russellās distinguished teaching career spanned 50 years, from teaching orphans at St. Michaelās orphanage to 30 years as a high school teacher at St. Peters Boys High School, Moore High School, St. Agnes High School and at the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Russell was also a poet, a writer, an athlete and a beloved husband, brother, brother-in-law and uncle, who positively impacted the lives of so many people, in particular his students, who often expressed how he changed their lives for the better.
Russell was a guiding force in the lives of his siblings Frank, George, Stephen, Janis, Mary and Regina. Russell and his wife, Jacky, raised his younger brother, Stephen, from the age of 10, after the death of Mae and George Siller. Upon the inception of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, it was Russell who suggested that it have the teaching of St. Francis, āWhile we have time, let us do good,ā as its cornerstone. He has always been the Foundationās spiritual guide and he always will be.
This is Russell F. Sillerās legacy which we will carry forward through financial scholarships to be awarded to the children of accepted Tunnel to Tower Foundation In the Line of Duty Home program recipients who are exemplary high school students preparing for college or vocational college.