THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS (written by T.H.):
1. Contact the organization that offers any scholarship you are interested in and ask if you meet their criteria to apply for and receive the scholarship.
2. If you do follow all rules of application, supplying any additional required paperwork.
3. The waiting game....wait to hear back from organization. (The part I hate most, as it could take weeks---to months before you hear back.)
Getting a scholarship is not quite as simplistic as I made it sound. Once you find the scholarship(s) you would like to apply for, you will receive a packet of information from the organization and a application. It may look simple, but don't let it fool you. The application is the MOST vital part of winning any scholarship. It is your introduction and your first impression, and there is no re-do. Put your best foot forward, check your spelling, dot your "i's" and cross your "t's". Take this seriously if you really want that scholarship.
Here are some different sites I have found that are credible for scholarships:
1. Prison Scholarship Fund, 1752 N.W. Market Street #953, Seattle, WA 98107; Offers: access to post-secondary education opportunities one class at a time until you prove yourself and academic performance. Amount: Varies---must be at an accredited school. (Actually paid a portion of my tuition for a paralegal course I took.)
2. South Norfolk Christian Church, 1030 Jackson Avenue, Chesapeake, VA 23324, 757.545.0383; Offers: scholarships to prisoners who demonstrates a genuine desire to serve spiritual interests and be restored to their communities as positive contributing members. Amount: varies
3. Brian Zieger Scholarship Essay contest, The Zieger Firm, 1500 J.F.K. Blvd., Suite 620A, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215.546.0340, info@Brianzieger.com; Offers: Bi-annual scholarship, which is administered through an essay contest. Students are asked to submit a 500-word essay answering a question. Amount: up to $1000
4. Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship, United Negro College Fund (UNCF), 1805 7th St.. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001; Offers: to help African-American students majoring in Art or History. Amount: up to $5000
Message:
5. Citigroup Fellows Program, 1805 7 th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20001; Purpose: for African Americans who plan a business career, Amount: up to $6400.
6. Herbert Lehman Scholarship, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 40 Rector St. 40th Floor, NY NY 10006, 212.965.2200; Purpose: to support African American Students who are attending college for the first time; Amount: up to $2000.
7. BECA # Transductor/Spanish, 1400 Key Blvd. STE. 1200, Arlington, VA 22209, 305.505.4667; Purpose: reward students who are both literate in Spanish and English; Amount: up to $1000.
8. Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 7307, NY NY 10116; Purpose: provides financial aid to students of Hispanic heritage, including undocumented individuals; Amount: varies.
9. Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), General College Scholarship Program, 1411 W. 190th St., STE. 325, Los Angeles, CA 90248; Purpose: to support students of Hispanic heritage; Amount: $500-5000.
10. Howard County PFLAG Academic Scholarships, P.O. Box 1479, Columbia, MD 21044, 410.290.8292; Purpose: to support outstanding LGBTQ students and their straight allies; Amount: $2000.
11. Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays General Scholarship, 1828 L Street N.W., Wash. DC 20036, 202.467.8180; Purpose: To provide educational opportunities for the LGBTQ community. (must identify as LGBTQ or as an ally); Amount: varies.
****(yes I would use either of these as I do Identify in that group!)
12. Scholarships for Social Justice/ Higher education Consortium for Urban Affairs, 2233 University Ave. West, STE. 210, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651.646.8832; Purpose: To support students from low-income families, students from ethnic minorities and students who are first to go to college in their families; Amount: $1500.
II
Message:
13. American Indian Scholarships, National Society Daughters of the American Revolutions Committee Service Office, Attn.: Scholarships, 1776 D St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006, 202.628.1776;Purpose: to assist Native American students; Amount: $4000
14. Cherokee National Directed Studies Scholarship, P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465, 918.453.5000; Purpose: to aid Cherokee college students; Amount: Full tuition, books, and fees.
15. Adolf VanPelt Scholarships, Assoc. of American Indian Affairs, Attn.: Director of Scholarship Programs, 966 Hungerford Dr., Ste. 12-B, Rockville, MD 20850, 240.314.7155; Purpose: To assist American Indians/Alaskan Native undergraduate students based on merit and financial need; Amount: $1500
16. Native American Education Grant/Presbyterian Church (USA), 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202; Purpose: To aid Alaskan/Native Americans pursuing FT post-secondary education; Amount: up to $1500
17. National Veterans Stipend/Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, 1615 L St., Ste. 600, Washington, DC 20036, 202.662.8500; Purpose: To support veterans who are seeking a higher education; Amount: $2000
18. Second Chance Scholarship Contest/American Fire Sprinkler Assoc., 12750 Merit Dr., Ste. 350, Dallas, TX, 75251, 214.349.5965; Purpose: to help student pay for higher education ****note--selection is made by random drawing from the pool of entrants; Amount: $1000
19. Automotive Hall of Fame, 21400 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124; Purpose: Provides financial aid to students who indicate a sincere interest in an automotive career; Amount: varies
20. Big Picture Purpose Contest, Templeton Press, 300 Conshohocken State Rd., Ste. 655, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 484.531.8380; Purpose: to reward students who are focused on a purpose or goal; Amount: $500
21. Liberty Scholarship and Leadership Program, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; Purpose: To encourage future leaders who are committed to fostering good character, civic responsibility and respect for all; Amount: $500-7500
22. AAUW Educational Foundation Career Development Grants, American Assoc. of University Women (AAUW), Attn.: Educational Foundation Dept. 60, 301 Act Dr., Iowa City, IA 52243, 319.337.1716 x 60; Purpose: to support college-educated women who need additional training to advance their careers, re-enter the workforce or change careers; Amount: $2000-12000.
23. Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund, 1 Huntington Rd., Ste. 701, Athens, GA 30606, 707.208.1211; Purpose: To support education of low-income women over 35 and older; Amount: varies
24. Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation, 5656 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637; Purpose: to assist students who have overcome hardship to achieve educational goals; Amount: varies
25. Creative Corrections Education Foundation (CCEF), 6546 Calder Ave., Beaumont, TX 77706, 409.861.2536; Purpose: provides educational opportunities for young adults between 18-27, who have an incarcerated or paroled parent. They offer scholarships annually for enrollment to college or trade school nationwide. They also offer specific programs to children of the incarcerated in the Milwaukee, WI and Beaumont, TX areas; Amount: $1000-5000
26. WriteAPrisoner.com Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 10-S, Edgewater, FL 32132; Purpose: Biannual scholarship for children of prisoners and for child victims. Must be submitted between March 1st and June 1st. Submissions out of range will not be accepted; Amount: $250-???, goes towards a 2-4 yr. educational institution.
If you have further questions you can contact:
Scholarship Academy, 50 Hurt Plaza, Ste. 860, Atlanta, GA 30303, 470.355.1732
The Scholarship Academy is a comprehensive program that teaches low-income, first-generation college students to navigate the maze of financial aid in order to fund their college education. They will respond to any scholarship related questions.
Hope this helps you all. T. FCI-ALI
still more to come, but as you can see, there are a lot of different types of scholarships available to you....if you are looking for something specific please let me know, I would be happy to look for you....I hope this helps those of you who want to go to school. T.H.
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