Guest Blog by Katie Heino, Senior, Alverno College

Ever wonder how you can make a difference in the world, but maybe you feel like you’re too young or do not have enough experience?  Well think again, because this is the perfect time to participate in programs that will help you to learn more about potential career interests.

Whether you are a freshman in high school or a senior excitedly awaiting graduation, there are so many opportunities to get involved, especially in extracurricular activities.  In recent years, high schools have been modifying their curriculum to provide more science and technology programs.  In addition to these courses, students have the option to participate in robotics, engineering, and other clubs that ultimately strengthen their critical thinking, problem solving, and team work skills. 

The following programs are examples of those that offer students the opportunity to explore potential career interests in science and technology:

1. Do you ever find yourself digging out a telescope on clear nights and looking up into space with fascination? If you answered “yes,” visit  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/index.html, where you will find innovative programs, like DEVELOP. This program offers students the chance to work with professionals on an Earth science research project. If you’re interested the application deadline for this program is February 28th.  In addition, check out other career building options, such as internships and summer camps.
2.  If you are energy savvy and passionate about reducing your carbon foot print, then a career in alternative energy might catch your interest. Visit thehttp://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/products/building_efficiency/market/k-12/igniting_creative.html to learn about student scholarship programs, like The Igniting Creative Energy Challenge, which offers students the chance to share their innovative energy ideas through creative submissions which are considered for a scholarship.  Early bird deadline is February 18, standard deadline is March 4.

Keep in mind, any extracurricular activity you participate in represents your willingness and initiative to learn beyond the four walls of a classroom, and this is a plus, when it comes to applying for scholarships, higher education, and even a future job.

By Katie Heino, Senior, Alverno College

Researching scholarships is an art.  It requires knowing your strengths and ultimately, what works best for you.  With that said, pinpointing your strengths will help you to know which scholarships have the most potential.

If you happen to be a person who enjoys writing, there are plenty of opportunities for you to express yourself.  Most scholarships are based on applications and submitting information, like your GPA and ACT/SAT scores.  However, an essay contest truly allows scholarship providers to learn more about your personality and your ability to express personal beliefs.

As you delve into writing, keep these tips in mind:

1. Know Your Competition. Scholarships that require you to write an essay based on your response to a novel or a particular situation can be time consuming.  However, knowing your competition will help you to budget your time more effectively and know if it is worth your time. For example, the Ayn Rand Institute offers scholarships that involve reading a novel and in response, writing an essay.  It is very competitive, but if you have the time—go for it.
2. Use School as a Resource. Visit your school’s financial aid or career center.  Professionals working in these departments have the networking skills to help you research and they probably have a list of scholarships available.  Also, if you happen to know a teacher who is willing to edit your work, this could be very beneficial.
3. Read Carefully. Essay contests are crafted so that the writer keeps-on-track and so that the judge’s time is not being wasted.  Make sure you follow key criteria, such as word count or page limits, font, margins, and how it should be submitted (email, etc.), because simple mistakes can cost you big points.
4. Save, Save, Save. Keep a large box in your basement or closet to store all of your accomplishments, especially if your work has been published or is chosen as a winning piece for a writing contest.  They look great in a portfolio when you are looking for a job someday!

In addition to writing essays, if you enjoy creating artwork, taking pictures, blogging, and other communication, visit websites such as The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and the Young Voices Foundation, to find other opportunities.   Normally, I do not recommend paying a fee to apply for a scholarship, but this practice is very common in these types of “award” contests and some students don’t mind paying the $5.  Use your own judgment.

Here is a list of scholarship providers that I met while attending the National Scholarship Providers conference.  You will notice the diversity of the providers.  Even if these aren’t a match for you personally, I hope it inspires you to get creative when searching for scholarships.

American Library Association (ALA)  –http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/scholarships/index.cfm (Want to be a librarian?  Scholarships for earning your master’s degree in library and information science. Check them out.)

Bright Prospect – www.brightprospect.org (“posse” system for attending college, based in California)

Charlie Wootan Grant – http://www.aie.org/wootan/ (For low-income students – application process not until 2011, but bookmark the page now)

Evan Scholars Foundation  – http://www.wgaesf.org (I have written about them before…scholarships for golf caddies)

Greenhouse Scholars – www.greenhousescholars.org (for under-resourced students in the Colorado area)

Hispanic Scholarship Fund – www.hsf.net (aggressive goal to have a college degree in every Latino household)

Junior Achievement – www.ja.org (chapters around the world, some have scholarships – and, involvement in JA can build the skills that lead to other scholarships…)

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation – www.nraef.org(variety of scholarships for students in culinary arts)

National Society of Collegiate Scholars – www.nscs.org (I was a panelist at their annual conference a few years ago – very bright, energetic group of members)

Pride Foundation – www.pridefoundation.org (scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight-ally leaders and role models from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington)

The Washboard.org – www.thewashboard.org (actually a ‘smarter’ listing of scholarship matches, provided for students in Washington state)

Tourism Cares – www.tourismcares.org (from the tourism industry: to preserve the travel experience for future generations – who knew?)

The 10/20 Project – www.the1020project.org (not quite a scholarship, I admit, but a chance to support homeless people who could possibly be on the path to higher education after they get themselves situated…)

The Terry Foundation – www.terryfoundation.org (Winner of the National Scholarship Provider of the Year Award! – Congratulations!)

Don’t see a scholarship for you?  Look at the list and think about similar organizations that might be located in your city or town. Do your research locally and you’ll be amazed at what you find!  Good luck!

The Scholarship Lady

Guest Blogger Katie:

In today’s economy, finding scholarships can be a challenging task.
If you are planning your last year of high school, or your fall semester in college, then you are probably asking yourself, “What are my plans this summer to pay for my college expenses?” As a student, particularly in today’s uncertain economy, you will be forced to think outside of the box, in order to find scholarships, to build upon your resume, and to find job opportunities.
Here are a few tips that will point you in the right direction.

1. Visit job fairs. Some high schools and colleges host their own job fairs to help students learn more about employers and available positions. Keep in mind that some companies encourage their employees to embrace higher education by offering scholarships. For example, Culver’s offers its VIP Scholarship Program to its employees.

2. Volunteer. Although not a paid position, volunteering can provide endless opportunities that will “pay off” in the future. More scholarship providers are asking questions like, “Do you have any volunteer experience?” Make sure that you have an answer to this question. If your answer is “no,” don’t worry. You still have time to pursue these opportunities. There are plenty of organizations, like the American Red Cross (www.redcrossyouth.org), that offer a variety of programs based on your interests.

3. Network. You have to do your research and sometimes that means just bringing it up in conversation. It is amazing what you can learn by meeting new people through networking. For example, I recently learned about the organization, AmeriCorp, and how it provides individuals with the chance to make a difference and at the same time raise money for their education. You can learn more about this organization by visiting www.americorps.gov.
Stand out among your scholarship competitors by spending your summer planning your future.

At Scholarships 101 for NSPA in New Orleans: The Scholarship Lady, Mrs. Haynes, and Ms. Bates of the University of New Orleans Classic Upward Bound Program


A few weeks ago I was a speaker and participant at the National Scholarship Providers Conference in New Orleans.  I met scholarship judges, administrators and donors, guidance counselors, scholarship database company reps, and precollege advisors.  I’m still tired (yet inspired) from that week.

Over the next few weeks I’ll share what I learned (it’s too much for one post) but here’s a few quick pieces of scholarship advice:

(1) as scholarship providers allow online applications, the number of applications goes up (more competition) but the quality of applications, overall, seems to go down (less competition?)  Think about that when you apply online.  I’m guessing if you proofread one extra time and take greater care in answering the questions you will stand out.

(2) in scholarships that are based on hardships or challenges, your survival of the hardship is not the primary criteria on which you are judged it’s how you overcame the hardship and went on to thrive afterwards that is more compelling to a judge (at least the ones I talked to).

Right on the heels of meeting scholarship providers I was also a speaker at College Explosion, a half-day event that was held at Marquette University.  About 500 students attended and my session had 100 people.  Even though I was the speaker, I learned a lot from the audience:

(1) ask questions and press for answers until it makes sense to you.  If no one else in your family went to college, a lot of the terminology that people use could be difficult for you to comprehend.  It’s OKAY to ask people to explain, especially when a scholarship (f r e e money) is involved.

(2) it’s okay to share your private pain.  Some students approached me afterward with very personal issues about cancer, disabilities, etc. wondering if there are scholarships available related to those issues.  The answer is YES!  You can find them on national and local search engines or through word-of-mouth in your community.

More later…

I’ve been thinking a lot about the debate around merit-based vs. need-based scholarships.  For centuries, students have been rewarded with scholarships based on attaining high levels of academic achievement.  Sure, colleges and sponsors would help  the “less fortunate,” but as of 2007, the majority of private scholarships (about 75%) used “merit” as their main qualification.  However, as more college access programs have opened the doors of academia to a broader population, students of modest means have had a chance that historically was reserved for people with money.  Should these cash-strapped students pay their own way like their more-advantaged counterparts or should some of this “merit” money be re-directed to the people who actually need it?  What if you are an exemplary student but you’re not considered low-income?  Should the money that would have been allocated to you go to someone who doesn’t possess 4.0 gpa but they are only held back my limited financial resources? 

I’m already noticing a shift among people that would probably not have considered themselves “low-income” a year ago but may consider it now based on how they have fared during the recession.

What do you think?

Busy month.  In the last few weeks I have done boot camps for girl scouts, Stein Scholars, and Cardinal Stritch’s ACT prep group.  So, what did I learn from these students? 

1. The quiet students in the back that I thought might be texting were really absorbed in the class and listening.

2. That the new “thanks-a-lot” Girl Scout cookies are really yummy and kept me sugared up during boot camps. Thanks girls!

3.  That students who have guts and creativity are all around…Check this out:  A young man in one of my boot camps completed the “Dream Letter” assignment that is part of the scholarship boot camp.  (Learn more in Scholarships 101.)Instead of writing the letter to himself or to someone he loves, he wrote the letter to the mayor and the common council.  His letter described his dream of going to college, his lack of funds and how HE is important to the economy as a future college graduate…Apparently, they were wowed because he is going to meet with some big wigs down at City Hall to talk about his ideas and his aspirations.  We’ll see what happens from here but I can guarantee that this student is going to have an excellent story to tell on college and scholarship applications because he took this assignment seriously and added his own twist. 

Sometimes students only look at “extra” assignments or out-of-school studying as more work instead of looking at it as an opportunity.  The students who took the ACT prep class on a Saturday were definitely doing more work but their higher scores are going to translate to more opportunity.  Opportunities to be considered by more selective colleges, opportunities to qualify for more merit-based scholarships, opportunities to meet other college-bound students, etc. etc. The same goes for all of the students I met this month who are taking the extra steps to improve their future.  Good luck!

Last week on The Scholarship Lady Show I was able to interview Kevin Ladd ofScholarships.com.  It was a great interview with tips on how to use Scholarships.com to improve your odds of finding scholarships.  Kevin also announced that they will again sponsor the Resolve to Evolve Essay scholarship competition (starts in May).  I asked him for tips on winning scholarships and here’s a few pieces of advice:

1.  Realize that everything gets noticed.  Everything.  Your spelling, language, neatness, etc.

2.   Your effort is evident.  If you throw it together at the last minute just know that you are competing with students who spent a great deal of time perfecting their applications.

3.  Be genuine.  You need to stand out and using cliches or generic essay material won’t put you ahead of the competition.  (Being genuine and memorable will)

Listen now or download the podcast to hear trends in the scholarship world and the advice Kevin gives to students:  Inside Scoop from Scholarships.com

Do you want to know how to blow past your competition on the scholarship trail?  Go beyond the Internet!Last night I co-presented a Scholarships 101 workshop for parents and I shared my four strategies for scholarship searches:  online, in print, word-of-mouth, and self-promotion. 

Most students will look at a few websites or log into a scholarship search site, perhaps even tack on a trip to the counselor’s office to grab “the list of scholarships” but that’s it.  The problem with that approach is that all of your competition is doing the exact same thing.

Yes, start on the Internet but to craft a better list of matching scholarships, you should do extensive keywords searches in multiple categories.  For instance, yesterday I found eight scholarships awarded by restaurants.  (see my post at the blog www.morethanatestscore.com) You could also search department stores, sports teams, etc.  Think of any major retail segment and chances are they award scholarships.  Think beyond the Internet, though.

Next, really look at printed resources.  Why?  Because your competition isn’t!  Have you dug up last year’s graduation bulletin?  Sometimes they list which students won which scholarships.  Have you read the local newspaper?  That’s where small civic groups will make their application announcements and showcase picutres from their fundraisers.  Those fundraisers are often for scholarship programs! The small local scholarships aren’t likely to appear on the evening news and they aren’t on MySpace, Facebook or Twitter.  Check newspapers, graduation bulletins, old school newsletters, community boards at the library or grocery store, etc.  Paper is your scholarship friend.

Don’t stop there, we’re just getting started! Did you ever “hear about” that scholarship for grocery store workers?  Caddies?  Duck calling?  Word-of-mouth can be a very powerful tool in opening up opportunities that are specific to your personal profile and experiences.  Most parents like to brag about their kids so this would be a good time to let folks know that you need money for college.  In my former job I helped research more than 700 local scholarships and today, even though I thought we uncovered them all, I still hear about new ones.  The only problem with word-of-mouth is consistency and quality of information.  Did you hear about that scholarship for the children of left-handed authors with brown eyes who are scholarship experts?  For real.  Sara’s mom’s trainer told her about it…     With word-of-mouth always find the original source!

Yes, I gave you permission to brag but as I mention in my book, do so with a dose of humility – especially if you are going to engage in blatant self-promotion.  Self-promotion means that you are actively providing your teachers, mentors, coaches, neighbors, employers, family members, friends, and faith leaders with your scholarship resume so they can be aware of your scholarship-worthiness.   You might think that everyone knows how fabulous you are but maybe they don’t.  Or maybe they don’t have specifics.  If they know a little bit more about you, they are more likely to help you or think of you if they are connected to scholarship sources or information.

Searching for scholarships can be time consuming but contrast that with how long you might be paying off student loans and those hours are a bargain!  More later.  Happy searching,

The Scholarship Lady

P.S.  Get all my tips here: Scholarships 101:  The Real-World Guide to Getting Cash for College

Since this is peak season, I’m providing this uber-rich resource reminder.  Some of THE BEST scholarship advice is provided at my Blogtalkradio show in interviews with the experts.  It’s all free for download or you can listen to the archives. 

Past Shows: (click on the link)

Summer of Scholarships – how to use your summer to become scholarship-worthy - “Between the beach and the ball field is there any time left for preparing for college?”  Advice direct from The Scholarship Lady

Surfing for Scholarships with Guest Christopher Penn  – Learn how you can use Google to maximize or enhance your scholarship search. Guest is a financial aid expert, blogger, podcaster and representative from the Student Loan Network

Opportunity Knocking -   Joe Tavares from Center for Student Opportunity talks about their new book for low-income, minority, and first-generation students and which colleges treat them well.

Getting in without freaking out -  Stop the Stress!  get tips from Arlene Mathews, college planning consultant, about the admissions process

Free Help with Finanical Aid – Filling out the FAFSA – Director of College Goals Sunday shares her advice and places you can go to get help

College Matchmakers:  Zinch.com – Why wait for colleges to respond?  Get recruited by colleges that are looking for students exactly like you.  Here about this new free service for students.

Coming up – Interview with Kevin Ladd of Scholarships.com – Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 17th at 3 pm CST at my radio show.