In Memory of Francis A. Wilcox
Mr. Francis A. Wilcox was a decorated U.S. veteran who served in World War II. After serving in the U.S. Army, he became an electrical engineer with General Electric in both Syracuse and Utica. After retirement, he volunteered at the Utica Public Library and the Oneida County Historical Society, where he helped people from all corners of the United States research genealogy.
The Francis A. Wilcox Memorial Presidential and Exceptional Scholarships were established in his memory by his family and are awarded to eligible students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class. Each award provides up to four semesters of full resident tuition, less any aid received from TAP and up to $500 of Pell.
Overview: Presidential vs. Exceptional
The Francis A. Wilcox Memorial Presidential and Exceptional Scholarships recognize outstanding students graduating in the top 10% of their high school class from a New York State high school. While both support academic excellence, they differ in residency eligibility, selection criteria, and application timelines.
Presidential Scholarship (non-competitive)
The Presidential Scholarship is available to Oneida County residents who graduated from a New York State high school, as well as residents of contiguous counties who graduated from an Oneida County high school. Selection for this scholarship is non-competitive, and there is no limit to the number of awards granted each year. The application deadline is the end of the last day of late registration for the student’s initial semester of attendance. Applications must be submitted within one year of high school graduation and are reviewed by the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.
Exceptional Scholarship (competitive)
The Exceptional Scholarship is available to students who are not residents of Oneida County and who graduated from a high school outside of Oneida County. Selection for this scholarship is competitive, and only a limited number of awards are given each year. Applications must be submitted by April 1 and within one year of high school graduation. The MVCC Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and selects a limited number of recipients in April each year.
Award Amount and Duration
The Wilcox Presidential and Exceptional Scholarships cover up to the full cost of MVCC resident tuition, less any aid received from TAP and up to $500 of Pell. Eligibility is limited to four consecutive semesters (fall and spring only). Both scholarships cover resident tuition only and do not cover other expenses such as student fees, housing, meal plans, textbooks, or supplies.
How to Apply
To apply, students must submit a Wilcox Presidential or Exceptional Scholarship application form along with a copy of their unofficial high school transcript and a verification letter from their high school principal or guidance counselor confirming that they rank in the top 10% of their graduating class. All applicants must also complete FAFSA and TAP applications.
Application forms:
Wilcox Presidential Scholarship Application Form
Wilcox Exceptional Scholarship Application Form
Submit Application Materials
You may submit your application and documents in any one of the following ways:
- Email: Send to scholarships@mvcc.edu. Acceptable file formats include: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .jpg, or .jpeg. Email submissions must be received by 11:59pm on the deadline date.
- In-Person: Deliver to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Payne Hall Room 220 (2nd Floor) during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm).
- Mail: Send to MVCC Foundation, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, NY 13501. Mailed submissions must be postmarked by the deadline date.
Requirements to Maintain Scholarship Eligibility
To remain eligible, students must register full-time each semester (12 or more credits) and maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) semester GPA. Those who are on track to graduate on time but do not need 12 credits—for example, due to transfer or dual-enrollment credits—may request special permission to receive the scholarship part-time. Requests must be emailed to the Office of Institutional Advancement before the semester begins and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Students must also complete the FAFSA and TAP applications annually, remain in a degree-seeking (matriculated) program, and must not yet have earned an associate degree.
If eligibility is lost, it may be reinstated within the two-year eligibility period when, after a mini, summer, or subsequent semester (except the fourth), the student completes at least 12 credits with a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Francis A. Wilcox Memorial Presidential and Exceptional Scholarships are funded through the MVCC Foundation, thanks to a generous gift from the family of Francis A. Wilcox in his memory. These are privately funded awards and are not provided through SUNY, New York State, or Oneida County.
You must submit a scholarship application to be considered. The scholarships are not automatically awarded, even if you meet the eligibility requirements.
No. Each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements based on residency and high school location. You should apply for the one that matches your situation.
Yes. You may still apply even if your high school does not share individual class ranks with students. A letter from your high school principal or guidance counselor is required to verify that you graduated in the top 10% of your class. The letter does not need to include your exact ranking but must confirm your top 10% status. It should be printed on official school letterhead and signed by the school official.
Each award covers up to the full cost of MVCC resident tuition, less any aid received from TAP and up to $500 from Pell. For example, if tuition is $2,633 and you receive $1,200 in TAP and $800 in Pell, your scholarship would cover $933. (This example does not reflect your actual aid package.)
The scholarship only covers MVCC resident tuition. It does not pay for student fees, textbooks, supplies, housing, or meal plans.
Yes. You must be registered for at least 12 credit hours during each fall and spring semester. If you are on track to graduate on time but don’t need to take 12 credits (for example, due to transfer or dual-enrollment credits), you may request special permission to receive the scholarship part-time. To request an exception, email the Office of Institutional Advancement at scholarships@mvcc.edu. Requests must be submitted by email before the start of the semester and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Once you are registered full-time (12 or more credits) and your FAFSA and TAP applications have been received by the Financial Aid Office, the Business Office will apply the scholarship to your student account.
Yes. Both applications must be completed each academic year, even if you don’t expect to receive aid. The scholarship cannot be awarded without both applications on file.
You may receive the scholarship for up to four consecutive fall and spring semesters. It cannot be used for summer or winter intersession courses.
You will lose the scholarship for the next semester. However, it may be reinstated within your two-year eligibility period if you later complete 12 or more credits in a semester with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (except during your fourth semester).
No. The scholarship can only be applied toward tuition for MVCC courses. It cannot be used for courses offered or billed by another institution.