To Realize Their Education Dreams Prospective Students Will Be Thrilled To Learn How Scholarships And Grants Help Financially
A group of 25 Badin, Ohio, high school students recently earned six figure scholarships. Referred to by the Journal News in Dayton as members of the “100,000 Scholarship Club,” the seniors in this mid-western community were honored in May for being awarded $100,000 and more in scholarships. They happen to be in good company.
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): Idaho’s Madison Leonard, Miss Distinguished Young Woman of America, was crowned in June 2010 and was provided with a bit over $90,000 in cash, scholarship money and prizes. The breakdown: $40,000 in pageant scholarship money, $41,000 in cash and scholarships for winning a preliminary talent competition and $9,100 in state and local program prizes. In addition to competition-provided cash scholarships, nearly 200 colleges and universities contribute scholarships that can be applied to their institutions.
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: A national scholarship program for Hispanic high school students in 2008 awarded recipients $25,000 a year for four years. Ronald McDonald House Charities also offers local scholarship programs for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, high school seniors in general and students with an Asian-Pacific heritage in instances where chapters are located in the areas where they live. Local chapters provide minimum $1,000 scholarships, according to the Ronald McDonald House Charities website.
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 online school 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 scholarships and grants possibilities.
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