You may think your week is over. But for scholarship seekers, the real work is just beginning. If you haven’t already applied for college scholarships, it’s not too late. Take a few hours every week to search for scholarships you qualify for — and then a few more hours to complete your applications. When you win free money for college, you will be glad for the investment.
Every Friday I try to make your search a little easier by posting three broad-appeal scholarships with upcoming deadlines. This week, I have a $500 essay competition about disaster readiness; a $1,000 “frame your future” contest (creativity is a must); and a $7,000 leadership scholarship for African American undergraduate students.
1. APHA Get Ready Scholarship: $500
The American Public Health Association is offering a $500 non-renewable scholarship in association with its Get Ready Campaign. The campaign is intended to help American families and communities prepare for the outbreak of an infectious disease disaster, including the potential for an influenza pandemic. The Get Ready Scholarship aims to get high school students to focus on the importance of emergency preparedness. Students must submit a scholarship application and an original essay of 500 to 1,000 words, answering one of the following questions:
- Why is it important to prepare for an emergency or natural disaster?
- Describe a situation when you had to prepare for an emergency.
- How can families take steps to prepare for emergencies?
Applicants must be high school seniors planning to attend college, university or trade school in the fall. Essays, which may be submitted by mail or e-mail, are due no later than March 25.
2. “Frame My Future” Scholarship Contest: $1,000
Here’s a great opportunity for the creative success-seeker out there. Church Hill Classics is awarding five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate students with the best success-driven vision of their future. Using just one 8.5” x 11” piece of paper, applicants must create a vision of what they want to achieve in their personal and professional life after college. You can paint, print a picture, make a collage, write an essay or poem… anything you want to depict how you will “frame” your future. Submissions are posted on Church Hill Classics’ Facebook page through the application deadline of March 31. On April 15, the top 24 finalists will be announced, after which the public will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite “frame” at framemyfuture.com.
3. ELC Higher Education Initiative National Essay Competition: $7,000
The Executive Leadership Council, which promotes the leadership legacy of African-Americans in business, education, and the community, is sponsoring together with Coca-Cola is annual National Essay Competition. The competition annually provides ten scholarship and mentoring opportunities to African American students. This year’s essay theme is Diverse Leadership: The Wealth of Our Nation. Applicants must write a 2,000 to 3,000-word essay examining why diversity cannot be set aside during times of economic uncertainty. Essays will be judged on the basis of critical thinking, business analysis and creativity. Additionally, applicants must submit a scholarship application and a one to two-page biography with information on your personal philosophy and career goals. Students must be in good academic standing with their accredited college or university, although no minimum GPA is required. The scholarship committee interestingly does require that two copies of all application materials be submitted — one by mail and one by e-mail. The scholarship winner will receive a $7,000 scholarship. Second place is a $6,000 scholarship; third place – $5,000; fourth place – $4,000; fifth place – $3,000 and five six place scholarships of $1,000 each. In addition to the scholarship, all ten winners will also be placed in a paid corporate internship for the summer and will be required to attend the all-expenses paid Executive Leadership Council’s Honor Symposium in October. Applications are due by March 30. Winners will be notified by the end of April.