Happy New Year. Welcome to the first official Scholarship Friday of the new year. Most of you are probably getting ready to head back to school after the long winter break. I know with second semester starting up, that you will have less time to search for scholarships. But remember, this is the peak season for scholarship committees — so stay on the case. Today, I’m making your search a little bit easier by highlighting three scholarships with upcoming deadlines. I’ve got a full-ride scholarship for African Americans attending a Historically Black College or University; a $40,000 scholarship for promising high school juniors with financial (or other) hardships; and up to $10,000 for women planning to study communications (some geographic restrictions apply).
1. Tom Joyner Foundation Full Ride Scholarship: Full Ride
Since its founding in 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation has helped more than 33,000 students enter and complete their degree at one of one hundred Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). If you are a high-achieving, African American high school student who is planning to attend an HBCU, you may be eligible for one of the prestigious Tom Joyner Foundation full ride scholarships. Awards pay for the entire cost of tuition plus on-campus room and board and books. The scholarship can be renewed for up to 5 years (10 semesters). Applicants must be high school seniors with an SAT score of at least 1300 (or an ACT composite score of 28). The committee also wants candidates with demonstrated leadership skills and a commitment to community service. (Sound familiar? See last Friday’s post on the qualities a scholarship committee looks for). See website for deadline.
2. Discover Scholarship Program: $40,000
The Discover Scholarship Program annually awards $400,000 in scholarships to high school juniors to support their continued education and training. Since its founding in 1991, the Program has helped some 6,500 students with more than $16 million scholarships. Eligible applicants are high school juniors with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.
Applicants must have also faced “a significant roadblock or challenge.” A total of ten $40,000 scholarships will be awarded, which can be used for any type of post-high school education or training, including two- or four-year trade and technical education or college degree. See website for deadline.
3. New York Women in Communications Inc. Foundation Scholarship Program: Up to $10,000
The New York Women in Communications Foundation annually awards scholarships of up to $10,000 to permanent residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania who planning to study communications and to non-resident undergraduate students attending school in New York and studying communications. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 and be majoring or planning to major in advertising, broadcasting, communications, English, film, journalism, marketing, or public relations. Applicants must submit a 300-500 word essay describing their passion for communications and what they are hoping to accomplish through it, along with two letters of recommendation. The committee will choose winners based on academic achievement, financial need, demonstrated leadership, commitment to community service, work experience, and their essay. Finalists will be flowing into New York City for an interview in the early spring and final decisions will be made by April. See website for deadline.
Finally, don’t forget that the Gates Millennium Scholarship submission deadline is in January.
If you would like to learn more about college scholarships, please visit the Financial Aid Finder’s section on scholarship information. Let us help you to navigate the scholarship application process, write killer scholarship essays, take advantage of scholarship search engines, and win weird & unusual scholarships.
Good luck with your scholarship applications this week!
