Scholarships and Grants
Through the generosity of donors, we are able to offer the following scholarships and grants:
The St. Basil Clergy Family Scholarship
The St. Theosebia Scholarship (need-based)
The St. Gregory of Nyssa Merit Scholarship
The Orthodox Homeschool Co-op Grant
We are grateful to our donors and to God for making these funding opportunities feasible. If you are interested in helping continue the work of this ministry, visit our Support page.
All scholarship applications are reviewed and awarded by our Scholarship Review Board, made up of four homeschooling parents.
Each of these scholarships is named after one of St. Emmelia’s children. As you prepare your scholarship materials, please ask for their intercessions! Please pray also for our review board and donors.
Email us at programs@saintemmelia.com with any questions.
The St. Basil Clergy Scholarship
Open to any priest, deacon, seminarian, or missionary Orthodox families serving in a canonical jurisdiction in communion with Antioch
May ONLY be used for classes at Schole Academy/St. Raphael School and Classical Learning Resource Center (Please note that St. Athanasius Academy has a separate Clergy scholarship.)
Classes through Schole Academy’s Aquinas House or Canterbury House are not covered by the scholarship
Schole Academy’s Great Hall classes that do not have a comparable St. Raphael School class may be covered:
Lower school History
Lower school Reading Skills
Science, including Computer Programming
Mathematics
Logic/Rhetoric
Latin and Modern Languages
Geography
Some electives, including art and literature, that do not have a comparable St. Raphael offering
Tutoring
May also be used for books and materials for classes that fall under the above guidelines. Families may ask for help for materials with approved classes, even if they are not requesting tuition assistance for those classes
As of June 2026 families may apply multiple times for an accumulated total of $3,000 per calendar year.
Families may apply for reimbursement for costs within the most current semester. For example, even if they paid their Spring tuition in October, they could still apply for aid for Spring tuition through the end of the Spring semester.
Families must update us if their plans change and they would like to use the money for something not included in their application
Applications are received on a rolling basis
Clergy families may apply for the St. Theosebia scholarship if they do not meet the requirements for St. Basil.
To apply:
To apply, email programs@saintemmelia.com with a brief introduction of your family and need, including church or affiliated institution (e.g., Saint Vladimir’s), diocese/jurisdiction and bishop, and the educational program the scholarship will be used for. Once approved, families will need to submit proof of enrollment in an educational program.
If your situation fits within our parameters, you will be invited to fill out an application form.
The St. Theosebia Scholarship
Open to any catechumen or Orthodox Christian homeschooling families, including clergy families if their requests do not meet the St. Basil guidelines. Families must attend a canonical parish in communion with the Antiochian Archdiocese.
This scholarship may be used for:
Online class tuition and materials for an online Orthodox Christian school, including St. Athanasius Academy, Classical Learning Resource Center, St. Raphael School, or House of Humane Letters
Tuition for an in-person co-op/hybrid school/a la carte course schedule
Classroom materials, such as curriculum, calculators, lab equipment
In-person or online tutoring
This scholarship may NOT be used for:
5-day tuition, even if other siblings are homeschooled; public school tuition, including dual-credit courses; or college classes
Computers, tablets, or other non-school-specific technology
Field trips
Private lessons or fees for extracurricular activities. We acknowledge these activities are important, but because funds are limited, we are not able to support them at this time.
As of June 2026 families may apply multiple times for an accumulated total of $650 per calendar year.
Families may apply for reimbursement for costs within the current semester. For example, if a family paid for Spring tuition in October, they may still apply for aid for Spring tuition through the end of the Spring semester.
Families must update us if their plans change and they would like to use the money for something not included in their application
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
To apply:
Email programs@saintemmelia.com with an introduction of your family and need. This letter should include your home parish–including jurisdiction–and priest’s name and a brief idea of what the scholarship will be used for (e.g: “CLRC tuition for our four kids”).
Catechumens must also include a description of their catechesis and journey to Orthodoxy. In some cases, we may ask for a letter from your parish priest.
If your situation fits within our parameters, you will be invited to fill out an application form.
The St. Gregory Merit Scholarship
The St. Gregory Merit Scholarship will be awarded to one graduating senior each year (NB: exceptions may be made if there are multiple very strong candidates). It is part of the St. Gregory Scholars program. Read more about the Scholars Program & Scholarship here.
Each year, Saint Emmelia Ministries will award a scholarship of $1,000 to one senior who meets the above qualifications. (NB: The Board may award additional scholarships in the case of very competitive applications) To apply, seniors must submit the following to programs@saintemmelia.com:
A paragraph written by the student demonstrating academic achievements. Because grading measures vary by family, we will not look at grades. Instead, this paragraph should describe particular interests, significant classes taken, major projects, or other note-worthy areas of study.
A letter from parish priest attesting to spiritual maturity and parish life
A letter from the service project supervisor (may be a SOYO leader, parish priest, etc. If the service project was completed through SEM, this letter is not necessary, though the application should note what the service project was for clarity)
A transcript of coursework and extra-curriculars, including participation in Saint Emmelia Ministries
A 300-word paragraph describing the impact that a pilgrimage had on you
The Saint Gregory Scholar Reading Program essay OR involvement in Saint Emmelia teen literature workshops
Applications open annually on May 1st and close May 30th. Scholarships will be awarded by June 30th.
One element of being a St. Gregory Scholar is completing a service project or the Saint Emmelia Ministries Internship Program. Interns can help support our different projects while gaining work experience. Tasks will be assigned based on the intern’s interests, but might include: working on the website, editing lecture/workshop recordings, writing thank yous and other correspondence, and helping plan teen events. The internship is a calendar year and begins in June, with flexibility to accommodate schedules.
The Orthodox Homeschool Co-Op Grant
Open to all explicitly Orthodox homeschool co-ops and hybrid schools that operate through a parish (i.e, can receive money through the parish)
New co-ops and first-time applicants receive priority
Grants may be used for
Curriculum
Supplies
Stipends for Liturgical Arts instructors
Educational field trips, especially pilgrimages
Rent, insurance, etc.
Grants may NOT be used for
Food
Stipends for any teachers besides Liturgical Arts instructors
Grants requesting support for Liturgical Arts programs will receive priority
Co-ops may request up to $1,000. Number of grants awarded varies by year based on funds available.
Applications open annually on March 1st (unless otherwise stated) and close on June 30th. Grants will be awarded on July 15th. Co-ops must return their financial reports by June 1st of the following year.
Applicants must update us if their plans change and they would like to use the money for something not included in their application
To apply:
Read over the grant information and look through the Starting a Co-Op handbook
Send a brief proposal, including your parish and jurisdiction, to programs@saintemmelia.com to receive a formal invitation to apply
Once you’ve received an invitation to apply, email your application materials to programs@saintemmelia.com
