2008-2009 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

NOVEMBER

1. American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont - In addition to demonstrating a strong commitment to civil liberties, each scholarship applicant must be a high school senior planning on entering an accredited college or university as a full-time degree seeking student, and have attained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  Demonstrated financial need will also increase the student’s chances of qualifying for the scholarship.

• To be considered for the ACLU Youth Activist Scholarship, the local ACLU affiliate (ACLU-Vermont) must nominate the student and submit his/her application to the ACLU’s national office.  It is essential that a representative from the ACLU of Vermont speak with the student first to determine if the student qualifies for consideration.  The application process will be explained, questions will be asked about student’s involvement in civil liberties activism and, if the student qualify, send them the scholarship application forms.  Completed application forms are due back to the Vermont ACLU by November 24, 2008.

2.   Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - This is an exciting opportunity for seniors to practice, develop, and hone their writing and research skills, with the chance to win a $5,000 or $2,500 college scholarship.  This competition is open to all high school seniors enrolled in an American high school, and the essay must be 700 - 1200 words.  The deadline is November 20, 2008; the winners will be announced on December 19, 2008.  Students may enter online at http://www.thefire.org/index.php/contests or through the mail.

3.  Defense Commissary Agency(DeCA) offers Scholarships for Military Children - This scholarship program began in 2001 and has awarded more than $6.4 million dollars in scholarships to more than 4,000 children in military families.  The 2009 Scholarships for Military Children Season kicks off November 1, 2008.  For more information about the program, go to DeCA’s website at http://www.comissaries.com or the Military Scholar website at www.militaryscholar.org

4.  Inspire the Future “Write On” Scholarship Contest:
If you are between the ages of 13-18 and love the Patriots, simply write a 500 to 750 word essay about the most recent Patriot’s game. After every 4-game stretch on the Patriots schedule, one first place winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, two second place winners will be awarded $2,500, and six third place winners will receive $1,000 in scholarship money.
At the conclusion of the season, all previous first place winners and others who qualify will be eligible to win the $15,000 grand prize, the $10,000 runner-up prize or the $5,000 honorable metntion prize. Visit www.TotallyPatriots.com for official rules.

DECEMBER

1.  AXA Achievement Scholarship -The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable, directing the company’s philanthropic and volunteer activities and working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence.The AXA Foundation’s signature program, AXA Achievement, provides resources that help make college possible: access and advice.

Access: more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships

• Winners in every state nationwide
• Scholarships of $25,000, $10,000 and $2,000
• Focus on students’ personal accomplishments

Learn more about all of the programs that make up AXA Achievement. Deadline - December 15, 2008

2. Cumberland Farms Believe & Achieve Scholarship -  The Believe and Achieve Scholarship program is open to students who live within 30 miles of any Cumberland Farms outlet. The scholarship program is also open to children of Cumberland Farms employees. While the initiative takes academic performance into account, the award also considers the student’s financial need. Applications can be submitted online through www.CumberlandFarms.com and will be open until December 15th.

3.      SAE 2009 Engineering Scholarship: SAE International offers scholarships to           qualified students who are interested in the study of engineering and related sciences. Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2008. For applications visit www.sae.org/students/engschlr.htm.

4. The National Garden Club Essay Contest: The National Garden Club holds a high school essay contest each year which awards a $1000 scholarship. The topic this year is “Nurture the Earth - Foster Our Environment”. The contest is open to High School students attending 9th through 12th grade. The essay should be between 500-600 words and should be written so it is suitable for publication in the NGC publication, The National Gardener. Essays should be given to Mrs. Gides no later than December 12.

JANUARY

1.  Elks National Foundation - 2009 Most Valuable Student Scholarhip Application-  500 Four-Year Awards for a total of $2,296,00. Applications available in the Guidance Office. http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars/OurScholarships.cfm Application deadline: January 9, 2009

2. Nacel Scholarship Opportunity - 2009-2010 Congress-Bundestag Scholarship -This unique program, funded by the United States Congress and the German Bundestag, allows graduating high school seniors to spend a year in Germany living with a host family, participating in a training or school program, and, most importantly, getting hands-on-work experience through an internship with a German Company.  The scholarship covers all housing and transportation costs associated with the program(except travel to the departure airport).  To be eligible to apply, students must be USA citizens and meet the following qualifications: graduate from high school in June 2009, be between 18 and 19 years of age(some flexibility available), have a 3.0 academic GPA, be highly recommended, possess skills that can be tapped into by internship-providers, and/or have some work  or volunteer experience, and demonstrate leadershi ability and willingness to serve as a young ambassador of the USA.  Deadline Jan 31, 09. www.nacelopendoor.org

3.  Vermont JCI Senate - Each year, the U.S. JCI Senate Foundation (”the Foundation”) grants $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools. The number of grants awarded annually is at the discretion of the Foundation and must be used for educational expenses in the first year of full-time study. Checks awarded will be made out in the name of the recipient and the educational institution of the recipient’s choice.

Applications must come from high school students who are U.S. Citizens graduating from U.S. accredited schools. This may include state approved home school and state approved GED programs, cyber schools, and overseas U.S. approved schools.

www.usjcisenate.org

Deadline - January 17, 2009

4. McKelvey Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship - Open to all high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by owning and operating their own business while in high school.

http://www.mckelveyfoundation.org/entrepreneurial/

Deadline - January 25, 2009

5.  The American Legion - National High School Oratorical Program - All students in grades 9 through12, who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, are eligible to participate in the program.  The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program “A Constitutional Speech Contest” is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students.  Scholarships of $1,500 to 18,000 available, check in the Guidance Office for more information.  Deadline - January 31, 2009.

 6.  Fireside Catholic Publishing - 2009 Scholarship - Fireside Catholic Publishing will recognize outstanding Catholic High School seniors who are daily “putting their faith into action”.  The authors of the five winning essays will receive $1000 cash awards for writing a 750 word essay on how their religious education is influencing their lives.

Only one student per school may participate.  Please notify Mrs. Gides no later than December 1, 2008 if you would like to participate.  If more than one senior is interested, essays will be submitted to MSJ by December 10, 2008 and faculty will determine which essay to present to Fireside Catholic Publishing.

7.  Create a Greeting Card $10,000.00 Scholarship Contest: The entrant who creates the best greeting card will win a $10,000.00 scholarship and have his/her design made into a greeting card. The contest is open to both high school and college students that are 14 years of age or older. The submission deadline is January 15, 2009. Go to www.gallerycollection.com/scholarship.htm for an entry form and rules.

 

FEBRUARY

1. Burger King Scholars Program - $1000 scholarships available to all eligible high school seniors.  Applicants must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, work part-time an average of 15 hours per week or 40 hours per year, actively involved in community service activities, demonstrate financial need, plan to enroll in an accredited two/or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school by Fall of the application year.  Log on to www.bk.com/scholars to apply.  Access Key:  BKS  Applications accepted online until February 2, 2009.

 2.  KFC Colonel’s Scholars - Scholarships available up to $20,000 for tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board for outstanding seniors with financial need and entrepreneurial spirit.  To qualify, graduating high school seniors must:  earn a minimum high school cumulative GPA of 2.75, enroll in a public college or university within their state of legal residence, plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, demonstrate financial need.  The online scholarship application will be available from December 1, 2008 to February 10, 2008 at www.kfcscholars.org.

3.  ESA Foundation Scholarship - The ESA Foundation is a non-profit / tax-exempt organization with numerous scholarship endowments established to help students meet their financial needs for continuing education.  Please visit their website: www.esaintl.com/esaf for scholarship applications and a list of scholarships available to students in Vermont. Application deadline: February 1, 2009.

 4.  The National Co-op Scholarship Program - 200 Merit Scholarships totaling $5,000,000.  As the largest independently sponsored merit co-op scholarship in the United States, the National Commission on behalf of ten NCCE Partner Colleges and Universities will award two hundred merit co-op scholarships of $6000 each, for a renewable value of $5,000,000.  Additional information regarding this year’s scholarship program and an on-line application can be found at the NCCE website: www.co-op.edu.

To be eligible for a merit co-op scholarship a student must apply and be accepted at one of the ten NCCE Partner Colleges and Universities: C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Drexel University, Johnson & Wales University, Kettering University, Northeastern University, Pace University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Application deadline: February 15, 2009 - Early submission strongly encouraged.

 

MARCH

1.  The Humane Society of the United States Shaw-Worth Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a New England high school senior who has made a meaningful contribution to animal protection over a significant period of time.  The award consists of tuition assistance in the amount of $2000 which is payable to the college or university at which the recipient will be matriculating in 2009.  There is no standard application form to complete. Applications should be written in letter form and should include a narrative of the student’s achievements in animal protection, as well as a discussion of his/her attitude toward animals.  Documentation of the activities cited, recommendations from at least three people, and a description of future plans for humane work are required.  Contact the Guidance Office for more information.

Application deadline:  March 16, 2009

 

APRIL

1.  The American Legion:

            a.  Charles N. Barber Scholarship                      $1000

            b.  Ray Greenwood Scholarship                         $1500

            c.  $500 Scholarship                                          $5000

Application is available in the Guidance Office.  Application Deadline:  April 1^st, 2009

 

2.  Sherburne Women’s Club - Community Service Award - The purpose of this award is to recognize a Killington-resident high school senior who demonstrates impressive service and volunteer work during his or her time in high school.  The primary selection criteria for the award will be community service.  Applicants must be a graduating high school senior, must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident and a resident of Killington, VT for his/her final two years of high school.  Applicant will be selected according to the following considerations:  volunteer work, community service, extracurricular activities, & dedication to others.  The primary selection criterion for this Award will be volunteer work/community service. Application is available in the Guidance Office.  Application Deadline:  April 15, 2009

 

3. Vermont Golf Scholarships Scholarships will be granted annually not to exceed the four years that the recipient is enrolled in college. The Vermont Golf Association Scholarship Fund will annually determine the amount of the scholarships which, at present, are $1,000 per year awards. Applicants must be residents of the state of Vermont, a senior in a Vermont high school. Applicants must be in the top 40% of their graduating class or have a G.P.A. of at least 80.0 and a minimum combined SAT score of 1500. Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time student at a college or university of their choice. Applicant finalists are required to attend an interview. Students selected for scholarship interviews will be notified by mail approximately 10 days prior to the interview. Students not selected will also be notified. Criteria used for selection are financial need, scholarship, and the applicant’s (not the parent’s) connection to the game of golf; such as golf team, working in golf shop, working for grounds superintendent, etc.
Deadline: April 20th, 2009                                  www.vtga.org