Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association annually offers scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to high school seniors who are South End residents and planning to attend college or pursue higher education studies. We also offer a $3,000 Andrew Parthum Scholarship, given to a South End student in recognition of outstanding community achievement. These scholarships can aid with the cost of books, computers and other educational supplies and fees not necessarily covered by financial aid or other scholarships.

The BFSNA Scholarship Fund is the creation of the late Andrew Parthum, a longtime member and leader of BFSNA known to all for his kindness and impassioned concern for this neighborhood and his boundless devotion to the Scholarship Fund and the young people it serves. Thanks to Andrew and the many Scholarship Committee volunteers he led and inspired, the BFSNA Scholarship Committee has raised over $200,000 from the South End community since its inception in the mid-2000s. (A BFSNA community remembrance of Andrew and what he meant to us and the South End can be viewed here. A Boston Sun article about this remembrance is here.)

While the BFSNA Scholarship Fund functions under the BFSNA’s 501(c)(3) status, its mission extends beyond the Blackstone and Franklin Square borders — both committee members and donors alike represent all corners of the South End. The BFSNA Scholarship Fund’s success is based on the generosity of neighbors who are inspired by the potential of the dynamic, diverse, and inspiring young people in our neighborhood. We gratefully welcome donations of any size.

Scholarships are available to students residing or attending school in the South End, as defined by:

• Mass. Pike and Herald Street (East) to Camden Street (West)

• Southwest Corridor (North) to Albany Street (South)

As funds allow, we also consider applications from students who are actively involved in a South End community organization but live outside of the neighborhood boundaries.

The deadline for applications for the 2025 round of scholarships is 11:59 P.M., April 18th, 2025. The application can be submitted using the link above. The scholarship ceremony will take place on May 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM at St. Stephen’s, across from Blackstone Park. South End community members are cordially invited to attend.

Questions about the application process or scholarships? Want to volunteer or donate? Email the Scholarship Committee at BFSNAscholarships@gmail.com.