National Scholarships

Our Personal Finance class recently completed some research and discovered the following websites that list companies offering some sort of college assistance:

Thanks Mr. Dague and students!!!

ACT College and Career Readiness Champions - Student Champion: ACT Student Champion Application

The ACT Student Champion is tenacious and persistent, no matter the challenge, and is prepared for life after high school with a goal in mind and a plan in place.

At a minimum, students must have a composite ACT score of 22 on a single test date OR a Gold ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate.
This $500 nonrenewable scholarship is for high school seniors who have overcome challenges and can articulate their education and/or career actions.
The scholarship money will be sent directly to the postsecondary institution or program in which you are enrolled by May 2019. This includes any certificate program, apprenticeship program, 2- or 4-year institution, etc.
The deadline for this application is Wednesday, October 31st.

Prudential Spirit of Community Award - Application and more information

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. Created in 1995 by Prudential and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the program honors middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national level. Thus far, it has recognized more than 125,000 young people who’ve made a difference – and inspired countless others to consider how they might contribute to their communities.

To be eligible, you must: be in grades 5-12 as of November 6, be a legal resident of any U.S. state or Washington, D.C., have engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred during the 12 months prior to the date of the application, and submit a completed application to a school or the head of an official designated local organization by November 6.
Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement from their schools or organization. Those Local Honorees who qualify (26 hours of service for ages 10 and younger, 50 hours for ages 11-15, and 100 hours for older students) also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Distinguished Finalists receive an engraved bronze medallion, and other state-level runners-up receive Certificates of Excellence.
State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events.
National Honorees receive an additional award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a trophy for their schools or nominating organizations, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.
Deadline: November 6th

Elks National Foundation Scholarship – Most Valuable Student: Application and more information

The 20 top finalists will participate in an all expenses paid Leadership Weekend in Chicago during which they’ll interview with the national judges. These 20 finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000; two second-place awards of $40,000; and two third-place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000. Requirements are as follows:

Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need.
Applicants must be current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.
Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks.
Male and female students compete separately.
Deadline is November 15, 2018.

The Lead Roster B2B Sales & Marketing Scholarship - Additional information and application

This is a highly competitive award for high school and college students interested in sales & marketing. Unlike most scholarships which require a simple essay and "good luck" to win, the Lead Roster scholarship puts the tools for winning in your hands by judging your entry on your ability to market and sell your own ideas!

Students applying must submit the URL of a video they've uploaded to YouTube where you explain, present, convince, inspire, entertain, market and/or sell us your reason why you deserve to win this scholarship.
The video can be anything that you feel will compel us to choose your entry as long as it has "Lead Roster Scholarship" in the title and is publicly viewable.
Studying in the fields of Business, Marketing, Computer Science, Communications, or IT are recommended but not required.
Being passionate about communicating your ideas is an absolute must. We're always excited to see what the next generation of business leaders will do to create a winning video!
This is a $1,000 scholarship, and is awarded on December 20th of each year.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is December 15th of each year.

The Publicity.ai SEO & Content Marketing Scholarship

This is a highly competitive award for high school and college students interested in SEO and content marketing. Unlike most scholarships which simply require good luck to win, the Publicity.ai scholarship puts the tools for winning in your hands by judging your entry on your ability to appreciate and explain genius marketing!

Students applying must submit a brief essay explaining the best use of content marketing --the act of producing content to compel your audience to appreciate and share it-- that they have seen. In 5 paragraphs or less, you should share what you saw (feel free to link to it if its online), how it made you feel, the call-to-action, and ultimately explain why a certain marketing campaign was the best use of content marketing that you have ever seen for the purposes of achieving business goals (typically increasing revenue and profits).
Studying in the fields of Business, Marketing, Computer Science, Communications, or IT are recommended but not required. Being passionate about appreciating great marketing is an absolute must. We're always excited to see what the next generation of marketing leaders thinks is great content!
This is a $1,000 scholarship, and is awarded on December 20th of each year.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is December 15th of each year.

GE-Reagan Foundation - Additional Information and Application

Honoring the legacy and character of our nation’s 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education. Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support.

To be eligible for this award, applicants must:

demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;
demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);
be citizens of the United States of America;
be current high school seniors attending high school in the United States (students living on U.S. Armed Forces base and homeschooled students are also eligible); and
plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year.

Semifinalists will be required to provide a recommendation from a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee.

The deadline to apply is January 4, 2019.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) - Additional information

The HSF Scholarship is designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage obtain a college degree. Scholarships are available, on a competitive basis, to high school seniors, undergraduate students (all years), community college students transferring to four year universities, or graduate Students. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be of Hispanic Heritage
Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for High School Students
Plan to enroll Full-Time in an accredited, not-for-profit, 4-year university, or graduate school, during the FALL of a scholarship cycle (year)
U.S. Citizen, Permanent Legal Resident, DACA or Eligible Non-Citizen (as defined by FAFSA)
Complete FAFSA or state based financial aid application (if applicable)
Awards are based on merit; amounts range from $500 to $5,000, based on relative need, among the Scholars selected.
Scholarship deadline in 2018 was April 26th

ESA Foundation Scholarship Program - Application and more information

In 2007 the ESA Foundation established a scholarship program to assist women and minority students who are pursuing degrees leading to careers in Computer & Video Game Arts. The scholarships are offered for full-time undergraduate study at accredited four-year colleges and universities in the USA. Up to 30 scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded annually, 15 to graduating high school seniors and 15 to current college students.

Applicants must be:

Women or minority students
Pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts (high school seniors must already be accepted into a program)
Enrolling or enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States
Maintaining a grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
US citizens
Applications for the 2017-18 program were accepted February 1 - May 4, 2017.

Mike Rowe Works Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program - Application and more information

This scholarship is available to students pursing training for skilled jobs. Here is some information about the program requirements:

The S.W.E.A.T. Pledge must be signed by ALL applicants (S.W.E.A.T stands for, “Skill & Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo”)
You will need two letters of recommendation
You’ll need to write an essay and answer a few short questions
Attendance records are preferred
You’ll need to submit a video of yourself

The program launched in 2018 on April 2nd with a deadline to submit applications of June 4th.

BURGER KING® - Application and more information

Up to 3 James W. McLamore WHOPPER® scholarships of $50,000 granted to the most highly qualified students demonstrating leadership, substantial work experience and financial need. Employment at Burger King is not necessary.

Up to 10 Regional awards of $5,000 granted to the two most qualified employees in each of five regions from the pool of eligible and complete applicants. You must be employed at Burger King or the spouse of a Burger King employee for this award.

Required for both scholarships:

Graduating high school seniors
GPA of 2.5 or higher
Plan to enroll full-time, without interruption, for the entire 2017-18 academic year at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school
The application period for the 2019-2020 school year begins on Oct. 15, 2018 and closes Dec. 15, 2018.

National Wildlife Turkey Foundation - Dr. James Earl Kennamer Scholarship Program - Application and more information

Most Local Scholarship Winners will receive a minimum of $250. Most State/Provincial Scholarship Winners will receive a minimum of $1,000. The National Scholarship Winner will receive up to $10,000. Requirements are as follows:

Students should be graduating seniors with a 3.0 on 4.0 scale or equivalent grade point average
Students must be pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education (i.e. Junior College, Community College, Technical College, College or University)
Students must support the preservation of the hunting tradition and actively participate in hunting sports. A copy of current hunting license is required
Students must hold a current NWTF membership
Students must be involved in school activities (i.e. FFA, Ecology Club, Science Club, Beta Club, Student Council, etc.)
Students must demonstrate ability as a leader among his or her peers
Students must demonstrate community leadership and/or involvement (i.e. Scouting, 4-H, civic group or club, volunteer work)
Students must submit an essay exhibiting dedication to conservation (see application)
Three letters of recommendation must be attached to the application (i.e. teacher, counselor, community leader)
Employees and board members of the NWTF and their family members are not eligible to participate in the program
Deadline - January 1st

RON BROWN SCHOLARSHIP - Scholarship Information

The Ron Brown Scholarship honors the legacy of Ronald H. Brown through a selective scholarship program that advances higher education for community-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans. RBSP competitively awards Ron Brown Scholars four-year $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 each year) to the most talented and economically-challenged high school seniors who demonstrate a keen interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship and global citizenship – the four pillars of the late Ronald H. Brown’s mission to uplift people of all races, cultures and ethnicities – especially our disadvantaged youth. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Ron Brown Scholar Program provided you meet the following requirements:

Must be Black/African American.
Must excel academically.
Must exhibit exceptional leadership potential.
Must participate in community service activities.
Demonstrate financial need.
Be a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa card.
Be a current high school senior at the time of your application. NOTE: Current college students are not eligible to apply.
Deadline: January 9th; Early Applicant Deadline - November 1st

Point Foundation Scholarship - Scholarship application and information

Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest higher education scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students. Point’s multifaceted support of its scholarship recipients (“scholars”) extends far beyond direct financial contribution toward the cost of their education. Each scholar is paired with a mentor and participates in leadership development programs and events. Requirements are as follows:

A proven track record of leadership and community involvement, strong academic achievement, and working for the betterment of the LGBTQ community
Financial need
Must be enrolled or intending to enroll at an accredited college or university based in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in the fall of 2017. Students enrolled or intending to enroll in a college or university in a United States territory are NOT eligible.
Must be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community.
Students studying at community colleges, online programs, or trade schools, are NOT eligible.
Community college students must be transferring to a four-year college or university.
Must be at least a senior in high school.
If selected as a finalist, the finalist must be in North or Central America on April 20-22 and be available to fly to Los Angeles in order to remain eligible for the scholarship. All travel expenses will be covered by Point.
Point’s Scholarship Application opens online on November 1st and is due by January 30th.

National FFA Scholarships: Application and more information

Scholarships are sponsored by businesses and individuals through the National FFA Foundation and are given for a wide variety of experiences, career goals and higher education plans. The selection process takes into account the whole student - FFA involvement, work experience, supervised agricultural experience (SAE), community service, leadership skills and academics. More than 1,800 scholarships were available last year.

Not an FFA Member? Don't Worry! In 2018, America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders (presented by Monsanto Fund), Dean Foods, Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd., National Mastitis Council, Rose Acre Farms and the Edgar and Ann Duskin Southern Crop Production Association/FFA Agriculture Leadership Scholarship Fund are offering scholarships available to non-FFA members. Check scholarship catalog descriptions for eligibility.

FFA uses one online application for members and nonmembers. All applicants must have an account in FFA.org. FFA members create an FFA.org account using an Invite code or FFA ID obtained from their FFA advisor. Non-members do not need an Invite code or FFA ID to create an account.

To qualify, you must:

Be less than 23 years of age at time of application (February 1)
For some - be a current FFA member - but not all scholarships required this
Be U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Plan to attend post-secondary school in the U.S.
Be a high school senior or currently enrolled in college
Be a full-time student
The application must be submitted online prior to 11:59 p.m.* EST on Feb. 1. The printed Signature Page must be postmarked no later than Feb. 8, (or next business day if Feb. 8 falls on a Sunday or holiday).

Elks National Foundation – Legacy Awards: Application and more information

Legacy Awards are $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of Elks members. The Foundation will offer a total of 300 awards in the 2018 contest, an increase of 50 awards. Requirements are as follows:

Current high school seniors.
Children or grandchildren on Elk members.
Exhibit the core values of the Elks National Foundation: Knowledge, charity, community, integrity.
If you are selected as a 2018 Legacy Awards recipient, you will be required to perform service once a year with an Elks Lodge during the four years you are receiving the scholarship. Click here for more information about serving with the Elks.
Deadline - February 1, 2019