High school students across Adams County will have access to a wide range of scholarship opportunities this year through programs managed by the Adams County Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation oversees more than 100 scholarships designed to support students pursuing postsecondary education, with awards tailored to academic achievement, career interests, family background and other eligibility criteria. The full list of available scholarships, along with detailed requirements, is outlined in the foundation’s 2026 Adams County Community Foundation Scholarship Guide.
Students may begin the application process online. The scholarship application portal for 2026 opened Jan. 1 and can be accessed at www.adamscountydfs.org. The deadline to apply is March 15.
In most cases, students do not need to submit separate applications for each scholarship. The Community Foundation uses a centralized system that matches applicants to the majority of competitive scholarships for which they qualify. Only a small number of awards require additional, separate applications, which are clearly identified by the foundation.
Another change aimed at simplifying the process is the elimination of references and letters of recommendation. Applicants are no longer required to submit recommendation letters as part of their scholarship materials.
Scholarship recipients will be formally announced at the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Award Breakfast, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Two scholarships administered by the foundation do require separate applications.
The Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter Scholarship is open to any descendant of Casper Glattfelder, who was the first member of his family to arrive in the United States in 1743. Applicants are not required to reside in Adams County, and eligible descendants may apply from anywhere in the country.
The Emory H. & Luther D. Snyder Littlestown Foundry, Inc. Scholarship is available to students who are direct descendants of a current full-time employee or an official retiree of Littlestown Foundry, Inc. Students may live outside of Adams County, but owners or family members of Littlestown Foundry stockholders are not eligible for this award.
The Community Foundation encourages students and families to review the scholarship guide carefully and begin the application process well ahead of the March deadline. Additional information, including eligibility criteria and application instructions, is available through the foundation’s website.
Source: Adams County Community Foundation