Scholarships & Financial Aid
Overview of Financial Aid
What is financial aid?
Financial aid is money to help pay for college or trade/apprenticeship programs
Where does financial aid come from?
Federal Government, State Government, Institutions, and Various Organizations
What types of financial aid exist?
Grants: Awarded based on financial need, Do not need to be repaid
Scholarships: One time or renewable awarded based on merit or certain qualifications, do not need to be repaid
Loans: Both Federal (subsidized and unsubsidized) and Private, Need to be repaid
Work-study: Part-time job on campus, money goes directly to the student
Hanover County Public Schools publishes a list each year of various community, state, and national scholarship opportunities to which Seniors can apply. This list is updated regularly and includes important directions and deadlines for each scholarship. View our updated list of current scholarships. Students will be notified if they've been awarded a scholarship at their school's Senior Awards assembly in mid-May or directly from the scholarship donor. Three items many scholarships tend to request are: updated transcript, a resume, and a personal statement. We recommend students prepare each of these items in advance as it will make applying to scholarships a little easier. Each application should have the student's name clearly listed on all items.
Hanover Senior Scholarship Application
(now closed)
Completing the senior scholarship application, which opens August 1 each year, will qualify current HCPS seniors for consideration of scholarships provided by several area businesses and organizations through their high school’s Scholarship Committee. This checklist is available to reference before seniors start completing the application. The deadline for seniors to complete the application is on December 31. The application is now closed.
All students should file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to access various types of federal, state, and institutional aid. Before attempting to complete the FAFSA, a student should apply for an FSA ID.
The FAFSA is typically open in October of the student's Senior year of high school and underwent significant changes in January 2024. Some colleges require completion of a FAFSA for institutional aid as well and require a priority filing date. Read more here about 6 Things Students Need Before They Fill Out the 2024-25 FAFSA
Virginians who are nonimmigrants, undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file the FAFSA and would like to be considered for state financial aid. The VASA application provides access only to state financial aid.
FINANCIAL HELP IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL
GRASP: Great Aspirations Scholarship Program
A representative from GRASP visits each high school weekly meeting with families to help navigate the financial aid process. GRASP is a non-profit, charitable, college-access organization that assists students and families in obtaining funding for post-secondary education. Services for the GRASP program include assistance with financial aid, FAFSA or VASA, and scholarship opportunities. See below for contact information for GRASP representatives at each of the high schools in Hanover County Public Schools.
GRASP en Español. Para pedir una cita con su mentor, por favor contacta de la oficina de los consejeros estudiantiles. Para mas apoyo, contacta Conchy Alvarez, la mentora hispanohablante de GRASP: espanol@grasp4va.org.
GRASP
Patrick Henry HS
PHHS families can schedule an appointment by contacting the school counseling assistant.
Free Resource: Opportunities Book
ECMC is a nonprofit corporation providing services in support of higher education finance, we assist students and families in their efforts to plan and pay for college. Each year, they release a FREE guide for Virginia families that helps with college admission and planning, as well as helps to navigate the financial aid process. Paper copies can be found in the high school counseling office. A digital copy can be accessed here.
Internet Searches
There are countless websites to search for financial aid and scholarship information. Although the school counseling department will advertise all scholarships that we receive through the scholarship link above, students may wish to supplement these opportunities with a personalized scholarship search. Click on each link below to conduct an Internet search for financial aid or scholarships.
Scholarship Scams
There are many free services and opportunities for scholarships. Students must take care not to be distracted by fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Here are a few quick tips to help avoid scams.
Most scholarships do not require an applicaiton fee. Beware of any program or service that requests a fee.
Don’t be distracted by official-sounding names and logos. If you have questions about an offer, see your school counselor or GRASP advisor.
Be cautious with announcements that you have been selected as a finalist in a contest that requires additional fees.
Legitimate scholarships are usually available through multiple avenues. Scholarship seekers should be wary of services that advertise exclusive offers not found elsewhere.
There is no one program or service that can guarantee that you will be awarded scholarships. Even refund guarantees may have strings attached.
Researching financial aid and scholarship opportunities requires time and patience. Students should approach scholarship searches as a long-term project by identifying eligibility and deadlines for opportunities. Students should always consult with their school counselor, GRASP advisor or college financial aid officer.