Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Scholarship
The Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Scholarship Program has been established to assist students at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. The sponsor will be PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, serving as Trustee of the M. Gilliand FBO Scholarship Foundation Trust and the Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Scholarship Trust.
Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Scholarship
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 26 years old or younger.
- Be current undergraduate students at Duquesne University
- Be enrolled full-time for the entire upcoming academic year.
- Have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
- Demonstrate financial need as calculated by Scholarship America.
Awards
The Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Scholarship Program will grant the following two awards:
- Merle E. and Olive Lee Gilliand Award
- Merle E. Gilliand Award
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award amount determined by PNC’s Distribution Committee. Awards are not automatically renewable; however, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
Awards are for undergraduate study only.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic record
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- An online recommendation
Financial need, as calculated by Scholarship America, must be demonstrated.
Scholarship America will evaluate applicants and suggest recipients and award amounts; Sponsor will approve recipients and adjust awards as necessary. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
Notification
Applicants will be notified in June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
Notifications are sent via email. When setting up your account, avoid using a school or work email. Instead, use an active, personal email address that you will continue to have access to.
Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address as safe senders in your email contact list.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of PNC Bank. Payment is made in one installment in August.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than April 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central Time.
Your application is not considered complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.
