Looking for insight from NYCDOE Jose P. Scholarship recipients

Hi! I am currently a second year grad student and have been a recipient of the NYCDOE Jose P. scholarship since the start of my program. It has been so hard to find people who have been recipients of the scholarship and have actually seen the funds to pay their tuition. The scholarship office isn’t helpful at all and always tells me that it’s a “contract thing”. I ended up using a loan to cover the first semester (which I knew I had to do) but it’s building interest and I have no idea when I’ll see the funds. I spoke to one person who graduated a year ago and now her school calls her asking for money. Kinda flipping out and not sure what to do. Should I seek legal help? TYIA