GHS Scholarships
College scholarships are financial aid for college that you can apply for through organizations, websites, scholarship tools, and more. Scholarships can be need-based, merit-based, or based on things like your hobbies, places of employment, field of study, ethnicity, religion, and more. You don’t need to be number one in your class or an all-star athlete to get free money for college.
Great resources for finding many scholarships can be found at:
Nebraska Scholarships
University of Nebraska System Scholarships
Please click the links below for school specific information
University of Nebraska-Kearney
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nebraska Promise
Nebraska Promise is the university's expanded financial aid program. It provides free tuition for students who meet academic and family income qualifications.
Criteria:
Nebraska resident.
Full-time (12 credit hours or more) undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska.
Family income of $65,000 or less (Adjusted Gross Income or AGI) or Pell grant recipient. Family income will be measured as parent plus student AGI on the FAFSA.
Maintain a 2.5 grade point average.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, UNO’s deadline to complete the FAFSA to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO, including Nebraska Promise, is June 1, 2023. You must also submit all requested “To Do” list items by July 1, 2023 to receive priority consideration for all types of aid at UNO, including Nebraska Promise. If you submit documents after July 1, 2023, you will still be considered for Federal financial aid. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive enough gift aid institutional and state grants/scholarships) to cover the cost of tuition.
The program is simple. There is no separate application. Eligible students are identified automatically through the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA) application.
UNK Scholarships
UNL Scholarships
UNL Supplemental Scholarships - You can apply for these through your MyRed account. It is one application for maximizing your consideration for departmental scholarships as well as leadership and service scholarships.
UNL Scholarships Link - Use the filters at the bottom of the page to easily locate scholarships you will be eligible for! These are mostly external scholarships from the college. There are so many - don't miss out!
UNK Honors Program and Scholarship
UNK Honors Program / Scholarship
The UNK Honors Program provides students an academically rich learning experience within a close-knit, supportive community. Students also enjoy unique privileges in research opportunities and early class registration. They distinguish themselves among applicants for internships, jobs, and graduate or professional school. The selection process uses quantifiable criteria (3.80+ GPA and 27+ ACT). However, we recognize that standardized test scores can often be a barrier. UNK know students who are incredibly talented, have a passion for learning and exploring, have impressive GPAs, yet struggle on standardized tests. UNK encourages these students to apply to UNK and their Honors Program.
January 7 is the deadline for Honors Scholarship consideration. Students who apply by December 1 will know by December 15 if they have been accepted into the program.
KLOP - KLOP - Kearney Law Opportunities Program - UNK
The Kearney Law Opportunities Program (KLOP) is a partnership between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska College of Law, designed to recruit high school students from rural Nebraska and prepare them to eventually return and practice law in rural Nebraska. To apply, you must have applied and been admitted to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The KLOP application is open now through November 15, 2023. To see more details, click on the links below.
https://www.unk.edu/admissions/_files/klop-flyer_2022.pdf
https://www.unk.edu/admissions/undergraduate-application-options.php
https://www.unk.edu/admissions/kearney-law-opportunities-program/
Metro Community College Scholarships
Southeast Community College
Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) / Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP)
Wayne State College
Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) / Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP)
Wayne State College
RHOP is a partnership between WSC and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and RLOP is a partnership between WSC and the University of Nebraska (UNL) - College of Law. Both RHOP and RLOP are designed to recruit students from rural areas and train them to become health care providers (RHOP) or lawyers (RLOP) that will return and practice in rural communities. To be considered for these programs, prospective students must be a rural Nebraska resident and demonstrate strong academic potential. Gretna is considered a rural area school. If selected to participate, students in RHOP and RLOP will receive the following, contingent upon maintaining the conditions of the program:
Wayne State College full tuition scholarship
Guaranteed admission to UNL College of Law (RLOP) or University of Nebraska Medical Center (RHOP)
For RHOP, there are professional health programs in Medical Laboratory Science, Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Radiography.
RHOP APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1ST
RHOP INTERVIEW DAY: JANUARY 12, 2024
For more information, please visit: www.wsc.edu/rhop.
___________
For RLOP, students can chose any major at WSC and will participate in many activities geared toward preparing them for law school.
RLOP APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1ST
RLOP INTERVIEW DAY: DECEMBER 14TH
For more information, please visit: www.wsc.edu/rlop.
Students must be admitted to WSC to apply for either of these scholarships. To apply to WSC, please visit: www.wsc.edu/apply.
If selected for an interview, students will be invited to campus on the days listed above. Students selected for the slots will receive a full tuition waiver at WSC. For those students who apply to these programs but are not selected, partial scholarships may be awarded.
Nebraska State Colleges Scholarships
Girl Scout Scholarship: Real Life Academy
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska facilitates a yearly scholarship program (sponsored, in part, by Union Bank and Trust) called Real Life Academy and this is our first year back in person since the covid-19 pandemic in 2020! We wanted to let you know the details of the program, and if you feel this could be a good fit for any of your students we would be appreciative of you sending them this information and application!
Real Life Academy is a FREE program that consists of two in-person sessions that will provide instruction, guidance, and hand-on activities on topics such as resume building and job shadowing, financial literacy (led by Union Bank and Trust), and goal setting, as well as valuable life-skills such as cooking and car maintenance.
In addition, recipients will be required to complete an 8 hour job shadow in the field of their choice, as well as showing growth in their financial literacy by saving $250 by the means of their choosing (part-time job, dog walking, babysitting, etc.).
After the requirements are met (attending both sessions, completing the job shadow, and saving $250) the recipient will be awarded a $1000 scholarship that can be used for college OR a Girl Scout travel trip!
This program is only open to current Girl Scout members, however, anyone who is accepted into the program who is not a Girl Scout will be provided a membership free of charge!
https://www.girlscoutsnebraska.org/en/programs/tweensteens.html
Smith Diversity Scholarship
The Coyner and Donna Smith Diversity Scholarship application, Administered by Lutheran Family Services, opens Monday, October 2, 2023.
The Mission of the Smith Diversity Scholarship is to provide a post-secondary education to Nebraska’s graduating seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, facing financial barriers, who display academic aptitude, leadership, determination toward goals, and a spirit for making an impact.
In 2024, we will award four renewable scholarships of $25,000 per year to four-year institutions; and two renewable scholarships of $12,500 per year to two-year trade school institutions. Students can attend any accredited institution.
Due to the flexibility of these funds - which are intended to help students beyond the traditional tuition, books and housing - this is one of the most unique scholarships available in the country.
Please note:
Application is open October 2, 2023 - January 28, 2024.
Students will need to upload the following in the application:
Essay
High School Transcript
Proof of Household Income (parent/guardian(s) most recent W-2, most recent Tax Return or FAFSA Submission Summary)
Recipients must be an ethnic minority with a household income under $65,000.
Recipients must be graduating high school in 2024 from a Nebraska High School.
Students do not need to be a U.S. citizen.
Awards will be announced around April 1, 2024.
Rick Reck Scholarship
Goodrich Scholarship - UNO
The Goodrich Application Process
The Goodrich scholarship is both merit-and-need-based. Merit and financial aid are evaluated based on a composite of selection criteria, including:
Application data
Financial analysis
Academic record
References
Personal timed essay
Interview
For more information, please see this website.
Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
Opens November 1, 2023
To be eligible for the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship, you must:
Live in Nebraska and meet in-state residency requirements of the college you plan to attend
DACA, undocumented, or DACA eligible students are still eligible to apply
For questions about your residency status, here is a list of contact numbers
Graduate from a Nebraska high school or earn a Nebraska GED
Achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative unweighted GPA in high school
2.0 on a 4 point scale
77 on a 100 point scale
Be a first-time freshman when entering college
Students obtaining dual enrollment credits in high school are still eligible to apply
Plan to attend a Nebraska public college:
NE Community Colleges - CCC, LPTC, MCC, MPCC, NECC, NICC, SCC, or WNCC;
NE State College System - Chadron State, Peru State, Wayne State; or
University of NE System - NCTA, UNK, UNL, UNMC, or UNO
Be in need of financial assistance in order to attend college
Note: Do not need to be Pell Grant eligible to qualify
Must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) below $10,000
All eligible applications are reviewed and scored. Selection is based on:
Financial need
Academic merit
Short answers
Recommendation
For more information, please visit this website.
Scott Scholars - Walter Scott, Jr. Scholarship - UNO / UNL
Complete your application by November 5 to be eligible for the Priority Applicant Day and earliest interview opportunities.
All application materials must be received by the final deadline in order to be considered for review.
Priority review deadline: November 5, 2023 | 11:59 PM
Final application deadline: December 31, 2023 | 11:59 PM
Scott Scholars must enroll in programs of study within approved academic programs associated with the UNL College of Engineering, the UNO College of Information Science & Technology, the UNO College of Arts and Sciences, the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, and the UNO College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
For more information, please see their website and flyer.
Engler Entrepreneurship Scholarship / Program
UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR)
In order to be elgible, students need to have a major in the CASNAR area and have participated in 4H and/or FFA.
For more information, please see their website and flyer one and flyer two.
Nebraska Poultry Education Scholarship
Nebraska residents, those attending school in Nebraska, or those interested in a career in poultry-based in Nebraska are encouraged to apply for the 2024-2025 Nebraska Poultry Education Scholarship.
A total of eight $1,000 scholarships may be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year. The eight scholarships are awarded based on college credit hours completed (0-26 Freshman, 27-52 Sophomore, 53-88 Junior, 89 or more Senior, Bachelors Degree as of June 2024 Post-Grad). Read and follow the instructions carefully prior to submitting your application. All winners will be notified no later than February 8, 2024.
If awarded, the scholarship will be awarded directly to the educational institution. Applicants and winners are encouraged to apply each year and can be awarded the scholarship multiple times but not totaling more than $1,000 per academic year. Winners are required to attend the Nebraska Poultry Industries conference on March 7, 2024 in Omaha, NE to be presented the scholarship. Non-traditional students are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline - December 15, 2023
J.H. & J.W. Claybaugh Memorial Scholarship
Nebraska residents, those attending school in Nebraska, or those interested in a career in poultry-based in Nebraska are encouraged to apply for the 2024-2025 J.H. & J.W. Claybaugh Memorial Scholarship.
The J.H. & J.W. Claybaugh Memorial Scholarship began in 2022 with a $5,000 donation from William Claybaugh in remembrance of his Grandfather Joseph H. Claybaugh and Father Joe W. Claybaugh. Both men have been instrumental in the poultry industry.
Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded.
Winners are required to attend the Nebraska Poultry Industries conference on March 7, 2024 in Omaha, NE to be presented the scholarship.
Non-traditional students are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline - December 15, 2023
Millard United Sports Alumni Scholarship Program
Millard United Sports located in Omaha, Nebraska, is a non-profit youth organization with its foundation in athletics and community development. Our main emphasis is on developing young people to succeed in life first, and sports second.
Millard United Sports (MUS) was formed in 2016 as part of a merger between Kingswood Athletic Association (est. 1971) and Millard Athletic Association (est. 1940). MUS is committed to supporting our youth as they continue in their educational pursuits and aspirations. It is with this goal in mind that we have established our Alumni Scholarship Awards.
Requirements:
a. Must be a graduating high school senior
b. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
c. Must have played or participated a minimum of 4 years for Millard United Sports in any of the following (One year includes spring and fall season, it does not count as two):
Recreational Baseball or Softball (Classic/In-House)
Select Baseball or Softball
Football (Flag/Tackle)
Cheerleading
Other MUS Affiliation (Officiating, Concessions, Facilities)
d. Must be applying/accepted to an accredited 2 or 4 year institution
State College - RLOP Program (Rural Law Opportunities Program)
RLOP Scholarship - Chadron State College - due Nov. 15th
The Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) is a partnership between Chadron State College, the University of Nebraska College of Law, and the Nebraska State Bar Association to recruit future lawyers to practice in rural Nebraska.
RLOP benefits include a full tuition waiver at CSC, provisional acceptance to UNL College of Law, rural practice programming- networking opportunities with rural attorneys and judges, a free LSAT prep course, and annual visits to UNL College of Law to attend classes and meet with faculty. Chadron State College has a Legal Studies program taught by licensed attorneys to better prepare students for law school. For more information visit our website.
To apply students will need to complete an online RLOP application, upload two letters of recommendation, upload their high school transcripts, and resume by November 15th, 2023.
Great Plains ACAC Scholarships
GPACAC is proud to fund ten annual scholarships to students attending high school in the three GPACAC membership states of Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Please see the scholarship information below for more details on each opportunity. All awards are intended to help pay for tuition, housing, fees and/or books. Scholarship recipients will be notified of the decision by email. These scholarships are a one-time award and will be mailed to students' postsecondary institution of choice. Click on the link below to view and apply for these scholarships.
AKRS Jump Start Scholarship
As you consider your post high school education and career plans, there are so many things to think about. Because of this, we created a short list of reasons the AKRS Jump Start Program could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for! Are you interested in:
Graduating from college debt-free
Working with cutting edge technology
Working on state-of-the-art equipment
Learning by doing with hands on classroom curriculum and on the job training
Working in the ag industry supporting neighbors, family and friends
Pursuing a career that offers stability, growth and excellent pay and benefits
Apply by February 23rd, 2024 for early consideration!
Nebraska Wesleyan - Huge-NWU Scholarship
NE Wesleyan - Full-ride scholarship due Dec. 1st
The deadline to apply for Nebraska Wesleyan University’s full-ride scholarship is December 1st. Named after Harry Huge (’59), the Huge-NWU Scholarship covers all tuition, fees, room and board for four years. The link to apply for the scholarship and for NE Wesleyan are below.
One student receives the full-ride scholarship
Finalists receive a $24,000 academic scholarship plus a $4,000
Semifinalists receive a $24,000 academic scholarship plus a $1,000
To qualify for the Huge-NWU Scholarship, students must:Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 or higher (weighted on a 4.0 scale).Apply for free to Nebraska Wesleyan University.Apply for the Huge-NWU Scholarship by December 1.
Click to apply for admission to NWU here.
Click to apply for the Huge-NWU Scholarship here.
7 x 24 Exchange - Silicon Prairie Scholarship
The 7x24 Exchange - Silicon Prairie Chapter is dedicated to developing and sponsoring technical knowledge and experience in our region. We see the sponsorship of students’ education as a key path to accomplishing this portion of our Mission.
The 7x24 Exchange - Silicon Prairie Chapter intends to offer an annual scholarship to students pursuing advanced education in the STEM fields. Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis in the amount of $1,000.00. It is the intention of the Chapter that the scholarship may be renewed on an annual basis to recipients to further support their educational career, based on continued academic study, need and qualification.
Selection and Award will be made by the 7x24 Exchange - Silicon Prairie Chapter Board of Directors based on application and associated information.
Eligibility: Students seeking Associate or Undergraduate Study in the STEM fields.
Award: $1,000 per year for up to 4 years. A total of 4 scholarships will be awarded, 2 to Nebraska residents and 2 to Iowa residents.
Deadline: January 31, 2024
True Potential Scholarship - Helping NE immigrants to reach their potential
The True Potential scholarship began by focusing on creating opportunities for young immigrants who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Immigration Status (TPS) and later expanded to include all immigrants. These individuals are not eligible for any public benefits, including federal financial aid and many scholarships. The idea for this scholarship was born from experience.
Ross and Karen Pesak recognize that without the support and generosity of scholarship donors, reaching their True Potential would have been much more challenging. For this reason, when they saw an opportunity to help others obtain a quality, affordable education, they established the True Potential scholarship program.
Suburban Rotary Special Education Scholarship
The Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha focuses its efforts towards the welfare and development of young people in the metropolitan Omaha area. The Club seeks to provide encouragement and incentives to outstanding high school seniors, with disabilities, who are interested in continuing their formal education after graduation.
Since 1978, the Suburban Rotary has offered scholarships to young people with disabilities. This year the Suburban Rotary Club plans to award ten (10) scholarships of $3,000 each to metropolitan-area seniors who currently have a classification under Title 92 chapter 51 for special education. In addition to meeting the Federal Government guidelines (see application) for physical or mental disability, the other qualifications include academic achievement and future plans. The Suburban Rotary Scholarship is intended for full-time post secondary school attendance and may be renewed for two additional years upon application. Requests for exceptions to any aspect of the scholarship requirements must be made in writing.
Please submit all application materials together by January 31, 2024 to:
Omaha Suburban Rotary
Attn: Scholarship Chair
4089 South 84th St. PMB 317
Omaha, NE 68127
Omaha Urban Council of the National Council of Catholic Women Scholarship
OACCW offers an annual scholarship to a female high school senior in the Archdiocese of Omaha in the amount of $500. 00. This scholarship serves to enlighten, inform, and inspire young Catholic women regarding the OACCW as the major organization of Catholic Women in the Omaha Archdiocese. The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving high school senior woman who resides in or is affiliated with a parish within the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Applications are due January 15th, 2024
Submit to:
OUCCCW Scholarship Chair Person
Catherine Vak
3255 S 77th St
Omaha, NE 68124
National Scholarships
Coca Cola Scholarship
The 2023-24 application is open to high school seniors until 5 p.m. Eastern on October 2, 2023. This is earlier than previous years.
See program details, a selection roadmap, and last year's Coke Scholars.
Thank you for supporting all students at your high school in their pursuit of higher education.
The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding,
minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is
awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum
potential.
A high school senior from at least one of the following ethnicities:
• African American, American Indian/Alaska
Native*, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
• Pell-eligible
• A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
• In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0
scale (or equivalent)
Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US
accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
NIKE (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Scholarship Program
Award
Scholars are selected based on merit. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000, based on demonstrated financial need.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be of Hispanic heritage
Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university that is officially designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) – as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965. For more information, visit the US Department of Education NCES list.
Please see the scholarship site here for more information and the application.
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest
"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?"
Patriotic Essay Competition
Due October 31st
Hagan Scholarship
The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, designed to provide recipients with the opportunity to graduate college debt-free. Applicants must attend a traditional public high school governed by a school district. Free workshops, Free Schwab Brokerage Accounts and Free Study Abroad provide recipients with a practical understanding of important life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum. Recipients graduating college while in the Hagan Scholarship Program can apply for a Hagan Graduate Scholarship good for up to four additional consecutive semesters.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. Must attend a traditional public high school located in the U.S. that is governed by a school district.
3. Must have achieved a 3.50 Cumulative Grade Point Average.
4. Must enroll at an Eligible Four-Year College or University the first semester following high school graduation.
5. Must maintain a four year or less graduation schedule in college.
6. Must work 240 hours from January 1, 2024 until commencement of the 2024 fall semester in college. Work can be performed at recipient discretion. Work must be regularly scheduled employment performed under supervision for compensation.
7. Applicant’s Adjusted Gross Household Income reported for 2022 Federal Income Tax Purposes must not have exceeded $85,000. “Household Income” is defined as the total income received by all members of a household living under the same roof.
8. Finalists will be notified in February 2024. Finalists must provide a copy of their FAFSA SAR showing their EFC.
9. Must apply for Federal and State grants if eligible.
10. Must not have a felony conviction.
The intended recipient is a high-achieving goal-driven student having substantial financial need.
The Weber Shandwick Scholarship
ES.AI is partnering with the global communications firm Weber Shandwick to provide students with $1,500 scholarships. They are not looking for students with the best grades or highest test scores. Instead they are interested in creative ideas from high school seniors and current university students by answering this question: How can emerging technology contribute to a more fair, accessible, or inclusive world?
Due by November 27, 2023
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
You can receive a scholarship of up to $40,000 (up to $10,000/year) towards an undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science and an offer to complete a summer internship at Amazon!
Applications are now OPEN and will close on December 15th at 4:00pm EST.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, an applicant must:
- Be a graduating, minority high school senior
- Be a United States citizen
- Present evidence of financial need
- Demonstrate a record of academic excellence
- Demonstrate leadership potential and a dedication to community service
- Plan to attend an accredited and approved 4-year college within the United States or affiliated with a United States-based college or university
- Have not accrued more than 25% of credits needed to graduate from college.
Gretna local scholarships
Gretna Optimist Club - due Jan 8th!
The Gretna Optimist Club is looking for high school seniors students who are interested in applying for a Post -Secondary Education Scholarship to help with their higher education expenses. Gretna Optimists are looking to award four $500 scholarships. The application is attached below. Applications will be due by January 8, 2024 and can be turned in to the GHS Counseling Office. For more information, call Lori Blum at 402-332-3289 or email at Lorib281@yahoo.com.
Scholarships open February 14th and close March 15th
More information to follow!