Holy Trinity Church has been blessed with a number of scholarship opportunities. Each has a specific set of critera and requirements, however there is a uniform online application .
The Vlahakis ("My Sister Penny") Scholarship
About the Vlahakis Scholarship
The Holy Trinity Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the creation of The Vlahakis Scholarship (“My Sister Penny Award”). The Award, intended to memorialize Penny Vlahakis Cherpes and her long held values, including education, will be given out annually in July for the ensuing academic year beginning in the Fall. The award was established by Nick & Kimi Vlahakis in January, 2022
About Penny
(By Nick Vlahakis) My sister, Penny Vlahakis Cherpes, passed away in 2020 at the age of 81. She was a smart, beautiful, funny, and caring sister who had a huge influence on my life and whatever success I may have achieved. Our dad died in 1952…I was 4, my other sister, Georgia, was 6, and Penny was 13. Penny helped our mom maintain during those difficult years, with all the family needs with 3 young children, even though she was only in her first year as a teenager. I will never forget that!
About the Award
This Scholarship (administered through Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Pittsburgh, PA) is intended to memorialize her and to advance many of her strongly held values, particularly regarding education. The Scholarship will be awarded annually in July for the ensuing academic calendar in the fall of that same year in the amount of $2,500.
Application Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a high school senior entering college freshman year or a college freshman entering college sophomore year.
- Have a current high school or college GPA of 2.75 or greater.
- Be a member in good standing of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Pittsburgh, PA, for a minimum of 2 years.
- Complete an essay (400 words minimum, 500 maximum) addressing the following prompt: Write a reflection on the positive and specific personal impacts that your family and the Orthodox Church have had on your life.
How to Apply
For an online application, click .
Application Deadline
Application form and all related documents must be submitted by June 15 each year.
The Agape Scholarship
About the Agape Scholarship
The Holy Trinity Agape Fund was created in obedience to the Holy Gospel’s exhortation to reach out to all people in need and as part of implementing the Mission Statement unanimously adopted by the Holy Trinity Parish General Assembly on November 19, 1999, which includes “An outreach ministry which fulfills the command of Jesus Christ to reach out to the sick and needy, to serve the least of our brethren, and to spread the Gospel both locally and throughout the world.” The Agape Scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated their dedication to and involvement in this form of Christ-centered, action-based love ("Agape") and service to others.
Focus of Application
1) INFORMATION PROMPT: List two or more types of philanthropic activities you have been involved in during your high school and/or college years that embody the spirit of the Gospel and the Agape Fund as described above. Provide dates, a description of the activities, the host organizations and contact information for a supervisors who can verify your involvement. In the event of an activity that was not formally sponsored, please provide contact information of someone who can verify the activity.
2) ESSAY PROMPT: What response did you encounter from those you were serving in the activities listed here? What is the most memorable thing you experienced? How have those activities and encounters inspired or affected you as an Orthodox Christian?
About the Award
- Open to graduating seniors and all years of enrolled undergraduate college students who are active members of Holy Trinity Church
- Amount: THREE (3) annual awards of $2,000 (two-thousand dollars) each
- Payment: Payable directly to the students via check
How to Apply
For an online application, click .
Application Deadline
Application form and all related documents must be submitted by June 15 each year.
The William C. & Irene K Petredis Holy Trinity Scholarship
Focus of application
How has your Orthodox faith at Holy Trinity shaped the person you are becoming? Reflect on a challenge, decision, or experience that strengthened your relationship with God and influenced your values, character, or future goals.
Eligibility
- High school senior entering freshman year OR current college freshman entering sophomore year
- Member in good standing of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for at least 2 years. Sunday school registration and GOYA membership qualify as a membership.
- Applicants must be affiliated with the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church parish of Pittsburgh, PA
How to Apply
For an online application, click .
Application Deadline
Application form and all related documents must be submitted by June 15 each year.
