TGIF scholarship seekers! Well, after a slow month of August, school if finally back in session — and so are a lot of scholarship committees.
This week I have three exciting opportunities for you, all with late September – mid October deadlines. That should be plenty of time for you to write a scholarship essay and really dot your I’s and cross your T’s when it comes to your college scholarship application.
Now while I don’t normally include state-specific scholarships, this week I have two. The first is up to $8,500 for high school students in rice-growing states (Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas), and the second is $10,000 for a “heroic” New Jersey resident. I also have an awesome scholarship from Siemens and the College Board, worth up to $100,000!!! Read on to learn more…
1. The U.S.A. Rice Federation Scholarship: $1,500 – $4,000
In honor of September being National Rice Month, the USA Rice Federation is sponsoring a scholarship contest for high school juniors and seniors from the rice-growing states of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. To enter, you must conduct some activity during the month of September to promote U.S.-grown rice (did you know that 85 percent of the rice consumed in the United States is grown here?) Some suggested themes include:
- Nutritional benefits of U.S.-grown rice
- Culinary versatility of U.S.-grown rice
- Economic importance of U.S. rice production and processing
- Conservation and environmental benefits of the U.S. rice industry
Next, you must write up a compelling description of your initiative. A panel of judges will pick the winners based on creativity and impact. The grand prize winner will earn a $4,000 scholarship, plus an all-expense paid trip to the USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, LA in December. The second place winner will receive $3,000 and the third place winner will receive $1,500. The application deadline is October 15, 2009.
2. Siemens Competition: Up to $100,000
The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, a joint initiative of the College Board and the Siemens Foundation, seeks to promote excellence in the sciences and mathematics by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects. (See the website for all the particulars on what kind of projects are acceptable, etc.) Scholarships for winning projects range from $1,000 to $100,000 and are sent directly to your accredited undergraduate or graduate college or university. Applicants must be enrolled full-time and be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree (although there is no minimum GPA requirement). Scholarship monies can be used toward tuition, fees, room, board, and books and supplies. The application deadline is October 1, 2009 at 5 p.m
3. The Dana Christmas Scholarship for Heroism: $10,000
This scholarship honors former Seton Hall University student and resident adviser, Dana Christmas, who saved dozens of students during a tragic dormitory fire in 2001. In recognition of her heroic spirit, the scholarship committee seeks to recognize other New Jersey students who have performed similar acts of exceptional heroism. Students must 21 years or younger at the time of their heroic act and must be nominated for consideration. The scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award given to up to five recipients each year. The nomination and application requirements are due no later than October 14, 2009.
Good luck with your scholarship applications this week!
