Scholarship Funds

 
 

Spring 2025

Durham Promise Scholarship

  • Award amount: $3,000

  • Eligibility: all graduating DPS seniors, 2.5 GPA

  • Description: The Durham Promise is a community-funded scholarship program based on the belief that every DPS student deserves a debt-free college education. All students who apply for a scholarship through DPS Foundation are automatically entered into consideration for a Durham Promise award. The Durham Promise will be awarded to a graduating senior in each traditional senior high school in the Durham Public Schools System in the amount of $3,000. Eligible students must be graduating seniors who expect to enroll in a post-secondary institution in the fall. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required.

Christopher Furr Scholarship - Northern High School Students

  • Award amount: $2500

  • Eligibility: graduating seniors at Northern High School, 2.5 GPA, acceptance into an accredited college or university

  • Description: Friends and family established the Christopher Furr Scholarship to honor his memory in 1987. The applicant must be a graduating senior from Northern High School who has demonstrated citizenship and responsibility in the school and community and been involved in extra-curricular activities. Requires 2.5 GPA and acceptance into an accredited college or university.

City of Medicine Academy Scholarship - CMA Students

  • Award amount: One (1) scholarship of $2,500

  • Eligibility: graduating seniors at City of Medicine Academy, 2.75 GPA, acceptance into an accredited college

  • Description: In 2009 the City of Medicine Academy Scholarship was established from a grant from the Durham Chamber of Commerce for seniors graduating from the Academy. 

First Generation Scholarship - All DPS Students

  • Award amount: $2,500 (non-renewable)

  • Eligibility: all graduating first generation DPS seniors, 2.5 GPA, acceptance into an accredited college or university

  • The First Generation Scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 to one DPS senior who meets the “first generation” college student criterion (the student is the first in their family to attend college). 

John T. Smith Memorial Scholarship - Southern School of Energy and Sustainability Students

  • Award amount: $2,500

  • Eligibility: graduating seniors at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, 2.5 GPA, demonstrated academic and leadership qualities

  • Description: In 1988, former Southern High School students established the John T. Smith Memorial Scholarship to honor the impact that he made in the lives of his students.

Norma Russell Scholarship - Northern High School Students

  • Award amount: $2,500

  • Eligibility: graduating seniors at Northern High School, 2.5 GPA, acceptance into an accredited college, demonstrated citizenship and responsibility in school and community, involvement in extracurricular activities

  • Description: Each year, Northern High School awards the Norma Russell Memorial Scholarship in memory of Norma, who was an NHS student. Norma gained the respect and admiration of her peers and teachers through her warm and friendly personality and her active involvement in the school and community. Friends and family established the scholarship to honor her memory in 1986.

Contributing to Scholarship Funds

Support DPS students through scholarships by making a gift to any of these scholarship funds at: bit.ly/scholarshipgiving. 

Gifts to the Durham Promise Fund will be used for the DPSF Scholarship program which awards scholarships to Durham high school graduates annually. Appropriate stewardship fees will be charged to the Durham Promise Fund and named scholarship funds on an annual basis. Questions? Please contact scholarships@bullcityschools.org.