The Leslie R. Leeds

Memorial Scholarship

Information for Candidates – Open to COSTA Members’ Employees & Dependents

Donate

About the Scholarship

Leslie R. Leeds

This scholarship program was established in 1996 in honor of Leslie R. Leeds who passed away at the young age of 23. Leslie was a very bright, accomplished young woman and a wonderful writer. She was a Burlington, Connecticut native and the valedictorian of the Class of 1991 at Lewis S. Mills High School. Her mother, Robin, served as the Executive Director of COSTA from 1982 to 2004. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students in support of their educational goals.

Eligible Candidates

Employees of a COSTA member or dependents of employees. Note that if the member is a school district, employees must be part of the transportation department.

Qualifications

  • Applicant must be enrolled in or accepted by an accredited institution of higher education (two or four-year college or university).

  • Applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Applicant must submit the completed application form, high school or college transcripts, essay, and two relevant letters of recommendation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Finalists may be invited to an interview.

Donate

The Leslie R. Leeds Memorial Scholarship Program offers support to deserving students in pursuit of higher education. The size of each scholarship is determined by the generosity of our donors. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in the lives of recipients. Please consider making a contribution today.

Deadline

A deadline for the 2025 Leslie R. Leeds Memorial Scholarship has not yet been established. Please check back soon for more information. Thank you.

Apply

Please check back for the 2025 Leslie R. Leeds Memorial Scholarship application form. Thank you.

LESLIE R. LEEDS MEMORIAL

Scholarship Recipients

COSTA is deeply thankful to our generous members and non-members whose donations have made these scholarships a reality. Over the years, these scholarships have supported numerous deserving students, honoring Leslie’s memory in a meaningful way. We look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.

Here are some recent recipients of the scholarship:

2024
AWARDS

The 2024 Leslie R. Leeds Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Taylor Christen, who will be attending SUNY Cobleskill to pursue a degree in Animal Science.

Taylor Christen receiving the 2024 scholarship, accompanied by Stephen Gardner, General Manager at All-Star Transportation.

2023
AWARDS

The 2023 Leslie R. Leeds Memorial Scholarships were awarded to four deserving students: Julian Alvia, Riley Brabant, Ethan Cizauskas, and Jazzlyn Hightower.

QUESTIONS?

Sign Up for Scholarship Updates

First name

Last name

Email*

Subject

How can we help you?