The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has been building its scholarship program since its inception in 1992. The Scholarship Program was established from private donations and fundraising efforts of the college. The annual LECOM Auction is a major source of funding for the LECOM Scholarship Program. Individual donors, as well as local businesses and organizations have also established special awards and scholarships to be presented annually to graduating students.

There are two basic types of scholarships currently available: Academic performance scholarships and financial need-based scholarships. Scholarships are awarded each academic year and are applied to tuition and fee charges. Recipients are selected from applicants who complete and submit an official scholarship application (unless otherwise noted), meet scholarship criteria and are recommended by the Scholarship Committee.

Currently enrolled students interested in applying for various scholarships must complete a separate scholarship application for academic scholarships and for the Financial Needs Scholarship. Students need to complete the LECOM Scholarship Application for academic scholarships (Academic Excellence, LECOM and Ambassador Scholarships). Students need to complete the Exceptional Financial Needs Scholarship application for the Financial Needs Scholarship. Scholarship applications must include any supporting documentation required by the scholarship program. All scholarship applicants must attach a brief one-page essay describing his or her commitment to Osteopathic Medicine or Pharmacy and/or to LECOM and the community, as well as provide a list of his or her service and volunteer activities.

Click here to download the LECOM Scholarship Application (pdf).

Click here to download the Exceptional Financial Needs Scholarship Application (pdf).

As a reminder, total loan amounts borrowed and scholarships received from all sources cannot exceed the cost of education at LECOM. If students receive any additional awards (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) after his or her financial aid has been processed, the second disbursement of the loan(s) may need to be reduced to prevent a financial aid over award.

The following information offers a brief description of various awards and scholarships available for students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Pharmacy programs.

Exceptional Financial Need Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to medical and pharmacy students who have exceptional financial need, which is based on the federal need analysis performed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and completion of the LECOM financial needs statement. Scholarship funds may only be applied to tuition and fees. Recipients must be making satisfactory academic progress.

Academic Excellence Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to medical and pharmacy students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and leadership. Applicants must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or above, demonstrate a commitment to LECOM, the osteopathic profession or the pharmacy profession and service to the community. Scholarship funds may only be applied to tuition and fees.

LECOM Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated leadership and/or teamwork abilities and provide service to a student club or organization. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Scholarship funds may only be applied to tuition and fees.

LECOM Ambassadors Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to students who serve as LECOM Ambassadors, or medical students who are members of Sigma Sigma Phi who serve as LECOM Ambassadors. Ambassadors will be selected for a scholarship based on their exceptional commitment to the Ambassador Program and their academic performance. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Scholarship funds may only be applied to tuition and fees.

Academic Sports League Scholarship
This scholarship is applicable only to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. The Academic Sports League Scholarship is awarded to accepted students who participated in the Academic Sports League Program with the City of Erie School District. The $40,000 scholarship is awarded over the four-year period of the medical program. An award of $10,000 is applied annually to tuition and fee charges. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have participated in the Academic Sports League with the City of Erie School District and meet the criteria of the Academic Sports League Scholarship. Prior to matriculation, applicants must submit the completed Academic Sports League Scholarship Application, a letter from the Academic Sports League verifying his or her participation in the program and a letter of recommendation from his or her high school guidance counselor or science teacher to the Office of Financial Aid. The student must maintain a GPA of 3.5 for each year of the scholarship to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.

Alice J. Coppola Internal Medicine Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is applicable only to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program. The Alice J. Coppola Scholarship may be awarded to a third-year medical student who is a resident of the Erie area, in good academic standing and demonstrates an interest in internal medicine. Interested students must submit an application and a short essay or statement indicating future plans for a career in internal medicine. The award is applied to tuition and fee charges.

The Orris C. Hirtzel and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation Scholarship
The scholarship is applicable only to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. The Orris C. Hirtzel and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation Scholarship and Merit Awards are presented annually at the end of each academic year. The scholarship and merit awards are presented to the student in each class with the highest academic standing at the end of each of the four years of study. The scholarship is divided into two categories: a $500 merit award and a $4,500 need based award. The Hirtzel Foundation Scholarships are awarded by the college at the end of each academic year.

The Vernon R. Moore Scholarship
This scholarship is applicable only to the Doctor of Pharmacy program. The Vernon R. Moore scholarship is awarded annually at the end of each academic year. The scholarship is presented to the student in the School of Pharmacy who demonstrates financial need and is committed to providing pharmaceutical care in a community pharmacy practice.

In addition to the LECOM Scholarship Program, there are several funded awards presented annually at the Annual Commencement Awards Ceremony. There is no application process for these awards. The Commencement Awards Committee selects the recipients for these awards.

The Deans' Award
An award is presented to a member of the osteopathic medicine graduating class and a member of the pharmacy graduating class who, in the opinion of the Dean of the College of Medicine and in the opinion of the Dean of the School of Pharmacy, exemplifies the unique combination of character, moral, academic and ethical behavior expected of a LECOM student.

LECOM Student Leadership Award
Awarded to the members of the osteopathic medicine graduating class and the pharmacy graduating class who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to the mission of the college through service as an officer in a student club or organization.

The Award for Exceptional Community Service
An award is presented to the members of the osteopathic medicine graduating class and the pharmacy graduating class who demonstrated, by word and deed, the desire to offer noteworthy assistance to members of the college community.

The LECOM Ambassador Award
Awarded to those students in the graduating class of the College of Medicine and of the School of Pharmacy who have exemplified the ideals of the osteopathic profession and pharmacy profession and presented a positive image and attitude about the profession and LECOM to prospective students, visitors and members of the community while serving as LECOM Ambassadors.

The following awards are presented at the Annual Commencement Awards Ceremony to students receiving the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. There is no application process for these awards. The Commencement Awards Committee selects the recipients for these awards.

The Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Outstanding Student Award
The POMA Outstanding Student Award is presented to that member of the osteopathic medicine graduating class who has represented the high ideals of the osteopathic profession with a demonstrated desire to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the practice of medicine.

The Mary and Vincent Fierro, Sr. Award for Excellence in Gastroenterology
The Mary and Vincen Fierro,,Sr. Award for Excellence in Gastroenterology Award is presented to a member of the College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating class who has demonstrated clinical expertise in the field of gastroenterology.

The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Award
An award is presented to a member of the College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating class who has demonstrated acumen in the use of osteopathic philosophy and osteopathic manipulative therapy.

The Dedication to Primary Care Award
An award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has upheld the ideals of the osteopathic profession and who has demonstrated desire and an ability to become a primary care physician as exemplified by interest in obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine and/or family medicine.

The Award for Excellence in Pharmacology and Internal Medicine An award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated exceptional acumen in the field of pharmacology and internal medicine.

The International Osteopathic Awareness Award
An award presented to a member of the osteopathic medicine graduating class who has served as an ambassador of LECOM and the osteopathic profession while abroad.

The LECOM Excellence in Surgery Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has upheld the ideals of the osteopathic profession and has demonstrated outstanding performance in surgery while on surgical service at Millcreek Community Hospital.

The LECOM Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has upheld the ideals of the osteopathic profession and demonstrated clinical expertise in the field of emergency medicine.

Military Service Leadership Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the college and to the country through his or her commitment to the armed services of the United States.

The Excellence in Research Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated continued efforts in the areas of clinical or basic science research and who has contributed to overall biomedical knowledge.

The Medical Literary Achievement Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated excellence in investigational medical writing.

The Dr. Richard Stevens Memorial Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who possesses the personal attributes that emulate the late Dr. Richard Stevens, who was a caring, concerned, compassionate doctor and a loving spouse and parent.

The Marilyn A. Schaffner Award
Awarded to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the qualities valued in an osteopathic physician, presented by James A. Schaffner, in memory of his wife, Marilyn Schaffner, whose career in nursing was devoted to the health and well-being of the Erie community.