Summary
If you are the son or daughter of a "member of the Bar of Allegheny County" and are accepted at either Yale University or at the University of Paris, you are eligible to receive a grant from this trust. Although the amounts will vary from year to year, the grant will continue as long as you continue to attend the school. The definition of the term "member of the Bar..." has changed somewhat since the original will was written, and so you should be aware of this qualification and the required documentation. However, its meaning is fairly straightforward.
History
The Kennedy T. Friend Scholarship Fund was established in 1929 by the will of Kennedy T. Friend, a distinguished member of the Bar of Allegheny County. The terms of Mr. Friend's will state that the balance of the income of the trust "shall be devoted to the education at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. or the University of Paris, France of such child, or children of the members of the Bar of Allegheny County aforesaid, as may be designated by the said trustees, or their successors." Mr. Friend specified that the Trustees named in the will include:
- The president of the Allegheny County Bar Association
- The president of the Pittsburgh Yale Club
- One permanent Trustee - initially Mr. David A. Reed - currently Mr. James D. Darby, Jr.
- PNC Institutional Investments - permanent trustee and corporate fiduciary.
Basic grant information
The basic grant is awarded without respect to financial need or academic performance. The trustees have the duty to decide the amount of the grants, and historically, these amounts have varied according to the number of qualifying students in conjunction with the amount of income earned by the trust. For the last few years, grants have ranged between $9,000 and $11,000 for Yale undergraduates. Yale graduate students and University of Paris students received different amounts, based on cost.
The University of Paris student must enroll in and pursue a prescribed course of study leading to credits acceptable in an American college or university. Where students enroll at the University of Paris as part of their regular studies at an American college or university, the trustees rely on the American educational institution to see that the proper scholastic requirements are met. On the other hand, when students at the University of Paris are in graduate programs, the trustees require more information in the nature of a full report of the student's annual program.
Application procedures
Who qualifies:
The meaning of the term "member of the Bar" has changed somewhat since the 1920s when Mr. Friend drafted his will. During his life, each county in Pennsylvania had its own rules for admission to practice law before the court. Since then we have gone to statewide qualification to practice law, requiring a reinterpretation of the rules by the Trustees. Now, the requirement is that the attorney must have his/her principal practice in Allegheny County. The required certification is the submission of a copy of the Attorney's Annual Fee Report that is sent to Harrisburg each year, stating among other things, the location of the individual's principal practice.
The application itself is one page long and easily filled out. For further information regarding the KTF grants, you should contact:
Trust Administrator, PNC Institutional Investments
Kennedy T Friend
2 PNC Plaza - 7th Floor
620 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 1-888-231-6082 for information/applications
Applications must be received prior to May 1. The application package should include the one page scholarship application and a copy of the attorney's annual fee report. Once you have submitted your application, we will track the process of your acceptance by Yale. If you are attending the University of Paris, you will go either through the University itself or through a program under the auspices of an American college or university. Each has different requirements, which PNC will provide on request.