The NHBCUAA Homecoming: The Cruise Scholarship Fund is dedicated to empowering students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), supporting the National Pan-Hellenic Council National Scholarship Program, and assisting students studying music at HBCUs.
To celebrate the inaugural sailing of Homecoming: The Cruise '26, Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) will award more than $200,000 to the educational journeys of deserving students through the following programs:
NATIONAL HBCU ALUMNI ALLIANCE (NHBCUAA)
The HBCU with the highest number of booked alumni and current students on Homecoming: The Cruise '26 will receive scholarship funds that are directly donated to the winning university. When booking your cabin, please indicate the college or university you attended to ensure credit towards this scholarship. Additionally, SCE and the NHBCUAA have established a separate, brand-new scholarship to support students and institutions. The application portal for this scholarship can be found at hbcualumni.org.
NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (DIVINE NINE)
The Divine Nine fraternity and sorority with the highest number of members booked on Homecoming: The Cruise '26 will receive funds designated for a student scholarship. The funds will be sent directly to the national chapters of the winning fraternity and sorority (two scholarships in total) on behalf of the NHBCUAA and Homecoming: The Cruise. When booking your cabin, please indicate your Divine Nine membership to ensure credit towards this scholarship.
SCE EMERGING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship was created by Signature Cruise Experiences to support talented young musicians and singers studying at HBCUs. One recipient will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000 or more to further their musical education, along with the opportunity to perform on Homecoming: The Cruise '26. This experience will offer invaluable exposure and personal growth. Applications will be accepted until June 19, 2025, and the winner will be notified by August 1, 2025.
Eligibility requirements:
Scholarship award:
To celebrate the inaugural sailing of Homecoming: The Cruise '26, Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) will award more than $200,000 to the educational journeys of deserving students through the following programs:
The HBCU with the highest number of booked alumni and current students on Homecoming: The Cruise '26 will receive scholarship funds that are directly donated to the winning university. When booking your cabin, please indicate the college or university you attended to ensure credit towards this scholarship. Additionally, SCE and the NHBCUAA have established a separate, brand-new scholarship to support students and institutions. The application portal for this scholarship can be found at hbcualumni.org.
The Divine Nine fraternity and sorority with the highest number of members booked on Homecoming: The Cruise '26 will receive funds designated for a student scholarship. The funds will be sent directly to the national chapters of the winning fraternity and sorority (two scholarships in total) on behalf of the NHBCUAA and Homecoming: The Cruise. When booking your cabin, please indicate your Divine Nine membership to ensure credit towards this scholarship.
This scholarship was created by Signature Cruise Experiences to support talented young musicians and singers studying at HBCUs. One recipient will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000 or more to further their musical education, along with the opportunity to perform on Homecoming: The Cruise '26. This experience will offer invaluable exposure and personal growth. Applications will be accepted until June 19, 2025, and the winner will be notified by August 1, 2025.
- The applicant must be at least a second-year student enrolled at an HBCU (does not need to be majoring in music).
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to qualify for this scholarship.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- $10,000 scholarship to be paid directly to the winning student.
- A cabin on the cruise for up to two people (valued at $4800).
- Recognition at a special onboard event and a photo opportunity.
- Opportunity to perform with the HBCU Alumni Band on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By applying for the SCE EMERGING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP, you agree to these terms:
You must be a U.S. resident and attend an HBCU located in the United States in order to be considered for and receive this scholarship.
You must meet all eligibility requirements.
Recipient may be required to verify and provide information to confirm eligibility such as proof of HBCU enrollment and full transcripts.
In the event that the recipient is no longer attending an HBCU at the time of the award, SCE reserves the right to relinquish the scholarship.
No more than one (1) SCE EMERGING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP will be awarded in 2025. Scholarship will be delivered to student no later than December 1, 2025.
Recipient will be contacted via email and may also be contacted via mail and phone. If scholarship winner does not reply and accept the award within two weeks of being notified, Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) reserves the right to rescind the offer and may provide the award to another applicant.
Scholarship and cabin on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 are non-transferable and cannot be deferred.
Sailing on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 is not required in order to receive the scholarship funds.
Cabin award on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 cannot be substituted with a monetary equivalent award.
Cruise award includes: Round-trip cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, all performances, interviews, parties and events presented on the cruise (this does not include any special Artist-Hosted Events which require sign-up and/or a fee or Private Parties), all meals (in the “Included Dining” category, featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in the Ocean View Café and dinners in The Cosmopolitan Dining Room as well as late-night mini-buffets throughout the ship), as part of the Included Dining experience, non-bottled beverages (i.e. coffee, juices, tea) are provided without charge, recreation facilities (such as Fitness Center, Pools, Hot tubs, Sauna, Basketball court, Jogging track and Thalassotherapy Pool), in-room TV and movies (excluding pay-per-view movies), full-service room cleaning. Cruise award does not include: Air and ground transportation to and from the pier in Ft. Lauderdale, ground transportation in ports-of-call, pre- and post-cruise lodging, dining in specialty restaurants (Tuscan Grille, Luminae, Sushi on Five, Jazz Cruises’ Chops House) - there is an upcharge for dining in those restaurants, personal expenditures and purchases (such as photos, souvenirs, excursions, spa services, personal training), gambling, carbonated & alcoholic beverages, bottled water, specialty coffees & teas, fresh-squeezed juice & smoothies, 24-hour room service ($9.95 service charge), travel insurance.
Applicant grants permission to Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) to use applicant’s name and image or other likeness in marketing communications.
Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) reserves the right to change the scholarship offer and or any details, including deadlines, requirements, award amounts, and performance award.
By applying for the SCE EMERGING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP, you agree to these terms:
You must be a U.S. resident and attend an HBCU located in the United States in order to be considered for and receive this scholarship.
You must meet all eligibility requirements.
Recipient may be required to verify and provide information to confirm eligibility such as proof of HBCU enrollment and full transcripts.
In the event that the recipient is no longer attending an HBCU at the time of the award, SCE reserves the right to relinquish the scholarship.
No more than one (1) SCE EMERGING MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP will be awarded in 2025. Scholarship will be delivered to student no later than December 1, 2025.
Recipient will be contacted via email and may also be contacted via mail and phone. If scholarship winner does not reply and accept the award within two weeks of being notified, Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) reserves the right to rescind the offer and may provide the award to another applicant.
Scholarship and cabin on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 are non-transferable and cannot be deferred.
Sailing on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 is not required in order to receive the scholarship funds.
Cabin award on Homecoming: The Cruise 2026 cannot be substituted with a monetary equivalent award.
Cruise award includes: Round-trip cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, all performances, interviews, parties and events presented on the cruise (this does not include any special Artist-Hosted Events which require sign-up and/or a fee or Private Parties), all meals (in the “Included Dining” category, featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in the Ocean View Café and dinners in The Cosmopolitan Dining Room as well as late-night mini-buffets throughout the ship), as part of the Included Dining experience, non-bottled beverages (i.e. coffee, juices, tea) are provided without charge, recreation facilities (such as Fitness Center, Pools, Hot tubs, Sauna, Basketball court, Jogging track and Thalassotherapy Pool), in-room TV and movies (excluding pay-per-view movies), full-service room cleaning. Cruise award does not include: Air and ground transportation to and from the pier in Ft. Lauderdale, ground transportation in ports-of-call, pre- and post-cruise lodging, dining in specialty restaurants (Tuscan Grille, Luminae, Sushi on Five, Jazz Cruises’ Chops House) - there is an upcharge for dining in those restaurants, personal expenditures and purchases (such as photos, souvenirs, excursions, spa services, personal training), gambling, carbonated & alcoholic beverages, bottled water, specialty coffees & teas, fresh-squeezed juice & smoothies, 24-hour room service ($9.95 service charge), travel insurance.
Applicant grants permission to Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) to use applicant’s name and image or other likeness in marketing communications.
Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) reserves the right to change the scholarship offer and or any details, including deadlines, requirements, award amounts, and performance award.
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