The Octavius Catto scholarship is an important new anti-poverty initiative designed to put more Philadelphians on the path to success at Community College of Philadelphia. The program aims to make the transformative power of education available to students by providing funding and additional support. Each year about 1,000 scholarships are awarded!
Catto Scholars will receive both tuition support as well as many academic resources and services, such as:
- Support toward the cost of books, food and transportation
- Career coaches and advisors to help them stay on track
- Connection to existing resources like affordable housing, childcare and other services
To become a Catto Scholar, you must be one of the following:
- A new, first-time college student
- A transfer student who has earned a total of 30 credits or less at another college/university
- A former CCP student with a 2.0 GPA, in good academic standing, who is returning to the College to continue your studies after not taking classes for at least one year
To fully qualify, Catto scholars must:
- Have a high school diploma, Commonwealth Diploma or GED
- Attend Community College of Philadelphia full time (12+ credits per term)
- Be a Philadelphia resident for at least 12 months
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year* and document an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $8,000 or less
- Enter college ready or one level below college ready in both English and Math
For more information or to apply visit: https://ccp.edu/catto
Who was Octavius V. Catto?
Octavius V. Catto dedicated his life to equal rights movements, working to have the voices of African Americans heard. On Election Day In 1871, Catto was encouraging African Americans to vote on South Street when two white men who were part of a group responsible for perpetrating violence and intimidating voters in his African-American neighborhood walked by. One of the men turned and shot Catto, without saying a word, in the crowded street. Catto was only 32 years old and was widely mourned. The killer fled, and at his trial six years later, he was acquitted of the murder. Catto is buried in Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, PA. A twelve-foot high bronze statue of Catto, was dedicated at City Hall on September 26, 2017. It is the first public monument in Philadelphia to honor a specific African American.
