Scholarship Information
Start researching what scholarships are out there! There are scholarships based on your major, ethnicity, academic achievements, extracurricular activities and community service just to name a few. Requirements often include:
- An essay
- Official transcript
- SAT/ACT scores
- Letter of recommendation
Please note: If transcripts or letters of recommendation are required, then the scholarship should be processed through your counselor just as it would for a college application (including completing the Scholarship Application Processing form). Make sure to meet with your counselor, and remember 5 school days are needed to process applications so double check your deadlines!
Non-Collegiate Scholarships
These scholarships originate from across the state and country by businesses, memorial scholarship funds, employers, etc. Thousands of available scholarships are out there, you just have to find them! Several legitimate scholarship search engines are easily accessible on the web (watch out for scholarship scams), and it is recommended that you check them frequently for the latest available scholarships.
Non-Collegiate Scholarships that are sent to the Westhill High School Counseling Center are attached below. It is the student's responsibility to pick up the scholarship application (or access it online), complete it, and return it to the Counseling Center. Scholarship qualifications do vary, so be aware of individual specifics including eligibility criteria, award amounts and deadlines.
Local Scholarships
Local scholarships are awarded in two ways at Westhill; either by the Westhill Scholarship Committee or by an organization. Scholarships are publicized online (see below for listing), on the announcements, and on flyers outside of the Counseling Center.
- In-House Scholarships: Local organizations or benefactors endow a scholarship to Westhill, and scholarship committee members then select award recipients whom they feel best fit the award criteria. In-House scholarships include*: Alice Kadamus Scholarship, Anna Pullano Scholarship, Anna Robinson Scholarship, Patrick Coggins Memorial Scholarship, and Reed Derrenbacher Scholarship.
- Organization Selects Recipient (criteria-based): The organization determines their selection criteria and and selects award recipients from student applications or by open nomination. These scholarships include*: OHMS PTO Scholarship, Rotary Award, Solvay-Geddes-Camillus Kiwanis, Wegmans, Westhill Booster Club, Westhill District Educational Association (WDEA) Scholarship, and the Westhill Future Business Leader Scholarship.
* Local scholarships are subject to change.
Collegiate Scholarships
Once you are accepted into the college or university of your choice, make sure to check online for information on scholarships they offer. Some you may automatically qualify for, and others will require an application.
Reminders
- Many scholarships will ask for details (including dates) about activities you participated in while in high school. Keep a running list of your activities including clubs, sports, part-time employment, awards received and community service.
Additional Resources
The American Legion has compiled 'Need a Lift?', a 152 page book listing scholarships, grants and loans for students who are dependents of veteran's. You can find this book online at www.needalift.org.
Helpful Scholarship Search Engines
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search