TGIF! The weekend is finally upon us, but don’t start blowing off steam quite yet. If you are a college student, or plan to be in the near future, it’s time to start focusing on finding and applying for scholarships.
Every Friday, I make your search a little easier by posting three broad-appeal scholarships with upcoming deadlines. This week, I have the WikiAnswers $1,000 Scholarship, the $1,500 renewable A. Patrick Charnon for community activists, and the $2000+ Worldstudio Art Scholarship.
If you are new to the college scholarship arena, get yourself up to speed by reading through the Financial Aid Finder’s scholarship section. Learn what scholarship committees are looking for , how to write a killer scholarship essay, and which free scholarship search engines are the best.
1. WikiAnswers Scholarship Fund: $1,000 If you have ever turned to Google to help find the answer to a burning question, odds are you already know about WikiAnswers. This worldwide Q&A community features answers from people around the world to some of the most far-out and far-reaching questions you can imagine. Now you can get more than just answers from Wiki … You can win get scholarship money, too. The Answers Corporation, which sponsors the WikiAnswers site, has set up a $20,000 scholarship fund. This year, the fund is awarding twenty $1,000 scholarships to applicants who answer 50 questions of their choosing. To enter the contest, just log on to the site with your username and password and answer at least fifty questions. A panel of judges will review submissions for accuracy and then select, at random, twenty winners. To be eligible, you must be planning to be enrolled as an undergraduate during the next school year. All answers must be submitted no later than the deadline stated on the website.
2. A. Patrick Charnon Scholarship (Please Check on Availability): $1,500 renewable Established in 1992 by Pat Charnon’s family to honor his memory, the scholarship annually provides one U.S. college student with a $1,500 renewable scholarship. Pat died in 1987, but before his death he was an active member of his Beloit, Wisconsin community, offering a room in his home to young people and college students in exchanged for help with housework and renovations. The scholarship committee is looking to identify students in good academic standing who are making a valuable contribution to their community in some way. Candidates must demonstrate the values of tolerance, compassion and respect for their diverse communities. Applications can be downloaded from the Center for Education Solutions website (Note: website was unavailable as of 11/9/11). In addition to the application form, you must also submit a two- to four-page essay describing how community service has shaped your life and how you will use your college education to build compassionate, tolerant, generous and respectful communities. You must also submit three letters of reference and a copy of your most recent high school or college transcript. Applications are due no later than March 31. The winner will be notified in early August.
3. Worldstudio AIGA Art Scholarships: $2,000 – $6,000 Worldstudio AIGA annually provides art scholarships for minority and economically disadvantaged students who are studying the design/arts disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. The scholarship committee aims to increase diversity in creative professions and foster a feeling of social and environmental responsibility among artists. Recipients are therefore selected not only on the basis of their need and talent, but also on their demonstrated commitment to give back to the community through their work. Scholarships range from $2,000, up to a grand prize of $6,000. Honorable mention prizes of $200 are also allocated. Awards are paid directly to your school to be applied to tuition. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, enrolled (or planning to enroll) in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree in the fine or commercial arts, design or architecture. Minority status is a significant factor for the committee. Student must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and demonstrated financial need. The application, including digital images of your work, must be submitted online. A second copy must be sent by mail. All materials must be received on time (actually received by the Worldwide Studio AIGA by date.)
