Scholarship Packet & Guide

2014

Local, regional, state, and national level scholarships featured, as well as application tips and strategies. Made possible by the Scholarship Access Network on Facebook. Questions or comments? Please contact Daniel Chen on Facebook.

Ten Things you need to Know about Getting Scholarships

1. Make an account with www.cappex.com; this is by far the most useful and comprehensive online scholarship search engine. 2. Make a word document with all of your extracurricular activities and awards. Many scholarships will ask for a list of extracurriculars, and even a description of the work you did in each. See following pages for an example document and template. 3. Archive all of your college and scholarship essays; many scholarship applications ask and look for the same buzz words and points. 4. Create your rsum; see following pages for an example rsum/template 5. Visit the Career Center for local scholarship opportunities and additional information; local scholarships have the smallest applicant pool. 6. Use a spreadsheet or calendar to keep track of deadlines and be realistic about the amount of scholarships you can finish by said deadlines. 7. Research each scholarships sponsoring institution before applying. Many foundations and organizations offering scholarships have a specific student-type or topic-focus; with this information in mind, tailor your essay and activities to reflect what each scholarship committee is looking for. 8. Dont just ask your teacher for a recommendation; follow up recommendation requests by supplying your teacher recommender with a rsum and including a cover letter stating what specific points you want in your recommendation (if applicable). Also, consider asking for a generic recommendation that your teacher can simply edit the scholarships name if you will be applying to numerous scholarships using his or her recommendation. 9. Obtain and archive your current high school transcript, any generic recommendations, SAT and/or ACT scores, AP and/or IB test scores, and FAFSA SAR form; every major scholarship application will ask for these items. 10. Like and share the Scholarship Access Network on Facebook and keep up with our daily posts! Feel free to contact Daniel Chen on Facebook with additional inquiries.

Example of Extracurriculars and Awards Document

(Name of extracurricular activity)-(year/dates participated in)-(position) (description of involvement) JV/Varsity Indoor Track-(10th)-Sprinter Participated in every practice and regular season meet. W.E.B. Du Bois Honor Society-(11th and 12th)-Vice President The W.E.B. Du Bois Honor Society is a student-run organization; we conduct our own community service projects and in-school functions. "Soaring Hawks" Reading Program-(03/20/12 05/03/12, 11th)-Youth Mentor Youth-influence reading program partnered by Hanover High School Football Program and Kersey Creek Elementary to promote male readership and foster youth development through role-model interactions. Discussed comprehension and themes of Matt Christopher's book, Football Fugitive, with Mrs. Eshlers 4th grade boys. Hanover County Top Chef Competition Charity Cook-off-(02/14/13 02/20/13, 12th)-Competition Cook Competition cook for Hanover High I.B. Program Team. Cooked Taiwanese-style pork belly. Won best overall, appetizer, and entre; 40% of proceeds were donated to Heifer International. (Name of award)-(date/grade received)-(sponsoring institution) (description of award) Hanover High School Academic Award-received in 11th grade-Hanover High School The Hanover High School Academic Award is awarded to students who have maintained a 3.0 GPA or above. Rensselaer Medal-received on 06/06/2012 (11th grade)-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute The Rensselaer Medal is awarded to promising secondary school students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. One student in the junior class is faculty selected to receive this merit based scholarship, which has a minimum value of $15,000 per year should the student enroll at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Please note: your actual activities and awards document should span multiple pages

(Name) 9999 Template Rd. Mechanicsville VA 23116 804-804-8812 (mobile)

OBJECTIVE Use this space to list your educational objectives (such as which colleges you have applied to or plan to attend and why you are seeking scholarship aid)

SKILLS SUMMARY (Skill): Use this space to provide a description of how you obtained and/or applied this skill. Management: Managing of part-time employees at work.

EDUCATION International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate, Hanover High School, Mechanicsville, VA, 2013, GPA: (insert GPA here)

ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK Use this space to list any additional coursework (such as programming certification and Financial Fitness Seminars from Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011

WORK EXPERIENCE (Job position), (Company), (Company address) (Dates employed) Use this space to describe your job responsibilities

COMMUNITY SERVICE (activity): (dates involved); (volunteer position) th th Private Tutoring: 06/01/11 present (11 12 ); Spanish/Algebra-Calculus/S.A.T. Tutor

AWARDS AND HONORS (Award), (institution), (date received) Rennselaer Medal Award, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 06/06/2012

REFERENCES (name), (relation to you), (phone number), (email)

The following are scholarship opportunities, brought to you by the Scholarship Access Network
Empower Orphans Annual Scholarship Deadline: January 30th, 2014 (RECEIVED BY) Amount: $1,000 (1st); $500 (2nd); $300 (3rd) Available to people ages 15-19 Upload your photo with you participating in a community service activity. The community service activity may be very small (helping a neighbor) or large. It does not matter! We just want to see that you are passionate about it. Then you and everyone else can vote for your favorite entries, and from those we'll pick three winners! Please note: winner is chosen by public voting system (see link for additional details) http://www.empowerorphans.org/scholarship DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $5,000 savings bond, expenses paid trip to Orlando, and more (1st); $3,000 savings bond, expenses paid trip to Orlando, and more (2nd); $1,000 savings bond, expenses paid trip to Orlando, and more (3rd); $200 savings bond (honorable mentions) Available to grades 7-12 Please note: grades 7-9 make up the junior division and is judged and awarded separately from the senior division (grades 10-12) Write an original 700 to 1,000-word essay created exclusively for The DuPont Challenge on one of the following categories: (1) Together, we can feed the world; (2) Together, we can build a secure energy future; (3) Together, we can protect people and the environment; (4) Together, we can be innovative anywhere. http://thechallenge.dupont.com/students/ Megan Sugrue Scholarship by CengageBrain Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $2,500 Available to high school seniors or currently enrolled undergraduates with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, a minimum SAT of 1260 or 28 composite on the ACT, who are planning to pursue a degree in prehealthcare Submit a one-page personal statement addressing the following issue: Explain the importance of providing a thorough anatomical education for Pre-healthcare students. http://www.cengagebrain.com/blog/apply-for-the-megan-sugrue-scholarship-by-cengagebrain/

Emma Bowen Foundation Scholarship Program Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: hourly salary and matching scholarship funds for college expenses; students work in a variety of functional areas (e.g., marketing, sales, finance, public relations, production, operations, human resources, technology, news, web design, promotion, etc.) and rotate each summer Available to any minority student (African American, Hispanic, Asian or Native American) who is a graduating high school senior or college freshman, has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, is interested in pursuing a career in the media industry, and plans to attend a four-year accredited college or university is eligible to apply to the Emma L. Bowen Foundation work/study program. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents of the United States, and speak and write English fluently to be considered. Your grade transcript, at least two (2) educational references from teachers and/or advisors, and a 500-to-1,000-word essay must accompany the application form. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. CAREFUL REVIEW OF ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION AND POSSIBLE DISQUALIFICATION. PLEASE CHECK THE LIST OF STATES BELOW TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT APPLICATION AND MAILING ADDRESS. See link below for additional information and application instructions: http://www.emmabowenfoundation.com/index.php/application.html Mioy Huynh Scholarship by CengageBrain Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $2,500 Available to high school seniors or currently enrolled undergraduates with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, who are planning to pursue a degree in one of the STEM fields Submit a one-page signed personal statement addressing the following issue: Often, education is confined to the two covers of a book or the four walls of a classroom. In less than 300 words, please describe a way in which you have expanded your undergraduate studies outside of the classroom. This can either be applying what you have learned in a course to an external project, or incorporating information from an external source to aid in your studies. http://www.cengagebrain.com/blog/apply-for-the-mioy-huynh-scholarship-by-cengagebrain/ Power Poetry You Only Write Once (#YOWO) Scholarship Slam Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $1,000 Available to U.S. residents between the ages of 13 and 25 who will be attending college in the U.S. Register to become a Power Poet and submit an original poem about anything at all, and you may win $1,000 to put towards your college education. http://www.powerpoetry.org/poetry-slams/you-only-write-once

Dr. Veronie Lawrence-Wright Scholarship by Questia Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $2,500 Available to high school seniors or currently enrolled undergraduates with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, a minimum SAT score of 2100 or ACT score of 31, and are planning to pursue a degree in language and/or communications Submit a one-page signed personal statement describing how the implementation and adoption of technology in education has affected your academic career. http://blog.questia.com/apply-dr-veronie-lawrence-wright-scholarship-questia/ Please note: the Courage to Grow and High School Survey Scholarship offered monthly The Roothbert Fund, Inc., Scholarship Deadline: January 31st, 2014 (Application Download Deadline); 5:00pm Eastern Time, February 1st, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: $2,000 - $3,000 Available to all in the United States regardless of sex, age, color, nationality or religious background. While the Fund does not emphasize any particular form of religious practice or worship, it seeks to provide support to persons motivated by spiritual values. The Fund has awarded grants to persons entering a wide range of careers. However, preference will be given to those who can satisfy high scholastic requirements and are considering careers in education. As a rule, The Roothbert Fund does not make Scholarship Grants EXCEPT to applicants whose current or permanent address is located in one of the following States of the United States and applicants planning to move to one of such States prior to March 1 of the year in which the application is made: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, or North Carolina. It is probably counter-productive to submit an application if you live outside this area. http://www.roothbertfund.org/scholarships.php#process Courage to Grow Scholarship Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $500 Available to high school juniors, seniors, and current college students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher Please explain in 250 words or less why you believe that you should be awarded this scholarship http://couragetogrowscholarship.com/

High School Survey Scholarship Deadline: January 31st, 2014 Amount: $1,000 Available to all current high school students, high school alumni who graduated within the last four years, and the parents of those students or alumni Take a survey on an existing United States high school listed on Niche.com. International students, home schooled students, and students of a school not listed on Niche.com are not eligible to take a survey but can submit an entry Up to three scholarship entries (one entry requires 5 completed survey page submissions) allowed per person per month. A new winner will be chosen every month. Entries are only valid for the month that they are submitted. http://collegeprowler.com/highschoolsurvey/ AXA Achievement Community Scholarship Program Deadline: February 1, 2014, but if 10,000 applications are received before that date, the program will automatically close. Amount: Every AXA Advisors' branch office nationwide distributes up to twelve $2,000 scholarships Available to high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their activities in school, the community or the workplace. http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/community-scholarships.html Dr. Abdus Saleem Family Scholarship Deadline: February 1st, 2014 Amount: five scholarship of $10,000 Available to entering freshmen in college who are Muslim American U.S. citizens with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, who will be majoring in the areas, but not limited to, medical technology, oil and energy, computer science, journalism, or business administration Essay Question: Reflect your personal point of view on the most significant challenge or accomplishment of Muslims in America and its value to your life. http://www.isna.net/saleem-scholarship.html Dr. Abdulmunim A. Shakir Scholarship Deadline: February 1st, 2014 Amount: twenty scholarships of $1,000 Available to entering freshmen in college who are Muslim American U.S. citizens with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Any major or field of study is eligible Essay Question: Please attach a one page description of your commitment to leadership, scholarship and Islam. http://www.isna.net/shakir-scholarship.html

SportsQuest Playing With Purpose Scholarship Deadline: February 1st, 2014 Amount: four awards of $2,000 and 20 awards of either $300 or a $75 SportsQuest Domestic Expedition Award Available to high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, who have maintained a minimum C grade average or higher, is currently a varsity level athlete in one or more high school sanctioned sports, and is a committed follower of Christ who embodies the Playing With Purpose message The PWP message is a message that is beyond this world, a message that encourages us to put others before ourselves, a message of humility with eternity in mind. Christ exemplified the PWP message with His life and Paul describes the message in Philippians 2:3-8. http://www.allamericanaward.org/atp.html John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund for Art Education Deadline: February 1st, 2014 Amount: $5,000 Available to U.S. citizens only, both men and women, single or married, between the ages of 18 and 35 The purpose of the Scholarship, in accordance with the clear stipulation of the Staceys will, is to foster high standard in the study of form, color, drawing, painting, design, and technique, as these are expressed in modes showing patent affinity with the classical tradition of western culture. http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/education/staceyfund/default.aspx The Lee and Jackson Foundation Scholarship Deadline: February 7th, 2014 Amount: 18 scholarships will be awarded this year: two $2,000 scholarship, two $1,000 scholarship, an additional award of $8,000 to the best-in-the-state, and a $1,000 award to a school in each of the nine judging sectors in the name of the high school teacher or advisor who sponsors the most participating students in that sector Available to Any junior or senior in a Virginia public or private high school or home school may apply Scholarships are awarded for outstanding essays which demonstrate a carefully researched, wellreasoned examination of the historical legacy left by Generals Lee and Jackson. http://www.lee-jackson.org/

National Peace Essay Contest Deadline: February 10th, 2014 Amount: $10,000 (1st); $5,000 (2nd); $2,500 (3rd); and 53 state awards of $1,000 each Available to students grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or U.S. citizens attending high school overseas. Entries from home-schooled students are also accepted 1,500 max essay on the following: How does security sector reform contribute to sustainable peace? All students must have a coordinator and all coordinators must register online before their students register and submit their essay http://www.usip.org/category/course-type/national-peace-essay-contest Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship Deadline: February 12th, 2014 Amount: $500 - $5,000 Available to "students enrolled full-time as a high school senior, progressing normally toward graduation in the Spring/Summer 2014, with plans to enter college no later than the Fall following graduation OR students enrolled full-time as a college freshmen or sophomore, no older than 20 years of age and progressing normally toward a bachelors degree, residing in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky, or Texas, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduating high school seniors and 2.75 for college applicants" Your application will be evaluated on your: (1) Future goals and plans to achieve them; (2) Successful preparation as a high school student to prepare and pursue a college education; (3) Self motivation in completing challenging coursework; (4) Demonstration of financial need. http://www.jimmyranefoundation.org/index.php/scholarships Jackie Robinson Foundation Educational Scholarships Deadline: 5:00 PM Eastern Time, February 15th, 2014 Amount: up to $24,000/4 years of undergraduate study Available to "graduating minority high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited and approved fouryear institution within the United States, who show leadership potential, who demonstrate a dedication to community service, have a minimum SAT score of 1,000 combined (math & verbal) or 21 composite ACT, and present evidence of financial need" http://www.jackierobinson.org/apply/general-applicants.php

VMDAEC Educational Scholarship Foundation Scholarship Deadline: February 12th, 2014 Amount: $1,000 Available to graduating high school seniors (or home school equivalent) who will be entering their first semester at a college or technical/trade school, and whose primary residence of their parent or legal guardian receives its power from one of the 15 electric cooperatives that is a member of the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) Personal Statement: 1 page that explains why you should be selected as a scholarship recipient The Educational Scholarship Foundation Board selects scholarship recipients based on a combination of the following weighted criteria: 40% Financial Need, 40% Academic Achievement, 20% Personal Statement http://www.vmdaec.com/View.aspx?page=economics%2Fscholarship The Vegetarian Research Group Scholarship Deadline: February 20th, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: Two, $5,000 scholarship will be awarded this year Available to "graduating high school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism" Please submit an essay addressing the following: (1) How you promoted vegetarianism in your high school and/or community, (2) Your successes, (3) Your challenges, (4) What you learned/what you would do different, (5) How you expect to promote vegetarianism in college and beyond, (6) Your future goals, (7) Your strengths, (8) Your weaknesses, (9) Your "perfect" life in five years, (10) Why you should receive this scholarship, (11) How you became vegetarian and why you are vegetarian, (12) How you define vegetarian, (13) Why vegetarianism is important to you, (14) What else is important to you, (15) What vegetarian foods you would recommend to a non-vegetarian, (16) What restaurants you would recommend to a non-vegetarian http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm CBCG General Mills Health Scholarship Program "Preference will be given to African-American students" Deadline: February 28th, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: up to 44 awards of $2,500 will be granted Available to "high school seniors or graduates or current postsecondary undergraduates or graduate level students who plan to enroll or be students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate field of study in one of the following: medicine, engineering, technology, nutrition or another health-related field at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocationaltechnical school for the entire upcoming academic year, who have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, and live in a Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) district" {Richmond residents qualify} http://sms.scholarshipamerica.org/cbcfgeneralmillshealth/index.html

Optimist International Essay Contest Deadline: February 28th, 2014 Amount: $2,500 Available to "Youth under the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent" Topic: "How Dreams Lead to Success Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. They need to submit an essay on the preassigned topic. To find out a contact, please e-mail the Programs Department at programs@optimist.org. http://www.optimist.org/e/member/scholarships3.cfm Scott & Stringfellow Educational Foundation Scholarship Deadline: February 28th, 2014 Amount: $500 - $2,000 Available to "high school seniors and current undergraduates who reside in one of the communities where BB&T Scott & Stringfellow has offices The Foundation provides need-based scholarships, with some consideration given to merit, to students in the communities where BB&T Scott & Stringfellow has offices. http://bbtscottstringfellow.com/aboutus/servingourcommunities 100 Black Men Future Leaders Scholarship Deadline: February 28th, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: $1,000 - $2,000 Available to "undergraduate students or high school students transitioning to college who have a minimum GPA of 2.5, are attending or plan to attend a post secondary, accredited institution for the entire academic year (beginning in the fall), have completed 50 hours of active community service within past 12-months with certified documentation, with leadership involvement Applicants are required to submit a 600 word minimum, double-spaced essay using one of the following topics: (1) Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of school, and tell how your leadership impacted positive change; (2) What do you see as the greatest threat to the environment today and describe your recommended solution; (3) Teacher quality is the number one determinant of students achievement. Describe the attributes of your favorite teacher/professor and the impact he/she had on your academic achievement; (4) If you have the authority to change your school in a positive way, describe the specific changes you would make; (5) Discuss why you want to obtain a college education. Now describe in detail how you are going to use that degree to impact your community and the world http://www.100blackmen.org/docs/20142015_Future_Leader_Scholarship_Application.pdf

Knights of Pythias Poster/Visual Arts Contest Deadline: Dependent on location; to get deadline and mailing information for your area, fill out the online form on http://www.pythias.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=55 Amount: 1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $500; 3rd place: $250; 4th-8th place: $100 Available to all high school students (9th-12th grade) in the U.S. and Canada Poster topic: "Don't be a bully, be a friend" Application Information: http://www.pythias.org/poster/poster_contest.pdf Maureen L. & Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Engineering Deadline: March 1st, 2014 (RECEIVED BY) Amount: $2,500 paid twice in the spring and fall semester ($5,000 total) Available to "High school seniors of an underrepresented ethnic minority in the field of engineering; African-American, Hispanic, or Native American; who have been accepted into an ABET-accredited engineering program at a four-year college or university, who are U.S. citizens" Please note: applicants will be evaluated based on: GPA, internships/co-op experience and community involvement, two faculty recommendations, honors/scholarships/awards, and answers to the four questions on the application http://www.nspe.org/Students/Scholarships/blitman.html The 23rd Annual Kaplun Essay Contest Deadline: March 3rd, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: $1,800 for 1st place in both levels; $750 to each of the 5 finalists in both levels; entrance prizes of $18 will be awarded to the first 50 essays received in each level Available to high school students Level 1: Grades 7, 8, and 9 Level 2: Grades 10, 11, and 12 Level 1 prompt: Up to now, which of your good deeds are you most proud of, why, and how has it changed you? Level 2 prompt: Of all of the many aspects, tenets, and traditions of Judaism, which single one do you view as the most important for you to pass on to the next generation? http://www.kaplunfoundation.org/upload/essay.html 2013 Religious Liberty Essay Scholarship Contest Deadline: March 7th, 2014 (POSTMARKED BY) Amount: (1st) $2,000 + trip for two to Washington, D.C.; (2nd) $1,000; (3rd) $250 Available to high school students in the classes of 2014 and 2015 800-1,200 word essay on: Should religious references be permitted on student banners used at schoolsponsored events? Why or why not? http://www.bjconline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=146

The Community Foundation Richmond Scholarships Deadline: March 4th, 2014 Amount: $500 - $7,500 Available to graduating high school seniors in participating central Virginia counties Please see each scholarship for specific eligibility requirements and application instructions If you are not located near Richmond, VA, please search if there is a TCF in your area with available scholarships http://www.tcfrichmond.org/receive/apply-for-a-scholarship/view-all-scholarships/ American Chemical Society Scholars Program Deadline: March 1st, 2014 Amount: $2,500 for freshmen, $3,000 for sophomores, $5,000 for juniors and seniors *scholarships are renewable Available to high school seniors entering college and planning to pursue full-time study in a chemicallyrelated field, college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors currently pursuing or planning to pursue fulltime study in a chemically related field, and community college students majoring in a two-year chemical technology program or planning to transfer to a four-year school, who are of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, or American Indian heritage, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better, and demonstrate financial need as according to FAFSA Please note: both high school and college applicants must provide a copy of their SAR (provided to you after you submit your FAFSA) http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/scholarships/acsscholars.html Colonial Farm Credit Scholarships (multiple scholarships) Deadline: March 1st, 2014 Amount: $1,500 - $5,000 (varies from scholarship to scholarship) Available to students who are furthering their education through attendance at a college, university, vocational, or trade school, who are at least college age and reside in one of the counties (in Virginia and Maryland) served by Colonial Farm Credit, and must be a full-timed student Type a paragraph or two below describing yourself and include why you feel you are deserving of a scholarship. If applicable, please describe any agricultural background. http://www.colonialfarmcredit.com/scholarships.html

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