To Realize Their Education Dreams Aspiring Students Will Be Thrilled To Learn How Grants For College Help Financially
They’re members of the “100,000 Scholarship Club,” according to the Journal News in Dayton, Ohio. High school seniors in the community of Badin – 25 of them – were honored for being awarded $100,000 and more in scholarships. Students elsewhere in the United States have accomplished similar feats.
Shayla Price of Thibodaux, La., and Matthew Lee of Pacolete, S.C., searched and applied for scholarships for college online and also ended up with $100,000 and more. Where Price received scholarships in increments of $100 to $40,000, high school senior Matthew Lee was one of 10 finalists in a Proton Energy Scholarship competition to walk away in May with a single $100,000 scholarship. The scholarship is supported and paid for by Lumber Liquidators founder Tom Sullivan, who owns the global Proton hydrogen energy company, and it recognizes students for their achievements and promise in science and technology. Additional scholarship programs that pay high dividends include:
Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology: High school students participate individually and in teams in this research project competition for a chance at winning up to $100,000 scholarships. The Siemens Foundation each year proffers more than $7 million to support engineering, technology, science and math education initiatives. It’s administered by the College Board, with regional winners moving on to finals at the national level.
Distinguished Young Women (formerly America’s Junior Miss): If there’s any doubt that pageants are scholarship competitions, Distinguished Young Women makes the point clear. The competition provides cash scholarships, as well as college-granted scholarships from nearly 200 colleges and universities. In June 2010, Madison Leonard of Idaho, who plans to pursue journalism studies, claimed the first Distinguished Young Woman of America title and $40,000 in scholarship money. Winning a preliminary talent competition, the reigning Distinguished Young Woman also received an additional $41,000 in cash and scholarships, while her state and local programs provided her $9,100. Total 2010 cash and scholarship winnings: $90,100.
Jack Kent Cook Foundation: Eligible students with financial needs as early as the 8th grade and on into graduate school can receive some form of educational support from this private non-profit foundation. Undergraduates, including transfer students at two-year institutions, earn up to $30,000 a year for three to four years, while graduate students were awarded up to $50,000. Philanthropist Jack Kent Cook established the foundation posthumously in 2000. He had himself turned down an athletic scholarship from a Canadian institution because he helped support his family during the Great Depression and completed only four of five required high school years. He ultimately went on to own a media empire of radio stations and newspapers, as well as New York City’s Chrysler building and sports teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ronald McDonald House Charities: Ronald McDonald House Charities offers regional scholarship programs for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, high school seniors in general and those with an Asian-Pacific heritage. Through these scholarship offerings, students with Ronald McDonald House Charities chapters in their areas might see the chapters provide minimum $1,000 scholarships. In 2008, the Hispanic-American scholarship went nationwide, awarding four high school students throughout the country $25,000 a year for four years of college, university and technical school studies. Scholarship recipients were selected based on academic achievement, financial need and community service.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation: Awards up to $30,000 to full-time students in four-year colleges and universities for graduate or professional school studies that can lead careers in government and other areas of public service. Applicants must be nominated by a faculty representative at the institution where they’re studying. Past Truman Scholars have majored in everything from economics and engineering to environmental science and history. Scholarship recipients are also able to participate in leadership development activities and garner federal government internships and employment.
While high-dollar scholarships for distance learning college programs and traditional institutions might seem appealing, experts recommend applying also for scholarships in the $100 range. These scholarships, along with those that are essay-based, might be less competitive, according to experts. As always, applying early is a large part of an application for any grants possibilities.