The EmpowerU fall 2026 scholarship cycle is open — here’s what we’re building and why

We started this with one scholarship. We’re not stopping there.

When EmpowerU awarded its first scholarship in 2021, we didn’t have a playbook. We had a belief: Caribbean students are excellent, the barriers they face are structural, and someone needed to help remove them.

Five years and five scholars later, we’re opening our fall 2026 cycle — and we want to fund more than we ever have before.

What the EmpowerU scholarship actually covers

The EmpowerU Scholars Fund provides financial assistance for:

• Tuition and academic fees

• Textbooks and course materials

• Other documented academic expenses

We don’t care where you study. We don’t care what you study. We care that you show up, that you’re committed to your education, and that you have a connection to the Caribbean community.

Who we’re looking for

Our scholarship is open to Caribbean students — from Sint Maarten, the wider Caribbean, and the diaspora — currently enrolled in or accepted to a tertiary institution anywhere in the world. High school seniors through postgraduate students. All fields.

We review applications based on academic achievement, community connection, future impact potential, financial need, and the quality and authenticity of your essays. We’re not looking for perfect GPAs. We’re looking for real people doing real work.

Why we do this

EmpowerU was founded by Nicole (Harsha) Parchani — a Sint Maartener who grew up watching people from her community succeed despite the system, not because of it. She built EmpowerU to be the organization she wished had existed when she was navigating higher education.

Every scholarship we award is an investment in a Caribbean future. Not a gift. An investment.

How to apply

Applications for the fall 2026 cycle are now open. The deadline is October 31, 2026.

Visit empoweru.online/funding to access the application form and review the eligibility criteria.

Questions? Email us at connect.empoweru@gmail.com.

Apply to the EmpowerU Scholars Fund → empoweru.online/funding