Financial Aid applications FOR FREE $$$

due march 2

Award: $2,000 scholarship given to twenty (20!!!) Juniors or Seniors to use toward your college education or vocational training program. 

Application OPENS: In November - start looking on their webpage jobsforyouth.org for current information, or email jobsforyouth@smcgov.org to ask for an application. 

DUE: In January (January 29. 2024)

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

• be a San Mateo County resident

• be between 16 and 21 years old by May of the scholarship year you are applying to.

• are at least a current junior in high school

• have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA

• have attended a Jobs for Youth workshop and have registered as a Member*

• have never received the JFY Al Teglia Scholarship before.

*If you have not yet attended a Jobs for Youth workshop and registered as a Member, email  jobsforyouth@smcgov.org for upcoming workshop dates or ask teachers to bring the workshop to your study skills class!

STUDENTS WITH IEPS GET ACOMMODATIONS FOR SUBMITTING THEIR APPLICATION!

  Click on the button on the left for more information!!!

**Teachers: email  jobsforyouth@smcgov.org to schedule a workshop in your classroom so that students can register as members and be eligible for this scholarship in the future!!!

What Students need to do: 

• Register as a Jobs for Youth member by emailing jobsforyouth@smcgov.org and taking a workshop

• Get two references/letter of recommendations and follow their directions to submit to them.

• Email  jobsforyouth@smcgov.org to let them know you have and IEP and ask for alternative ways to submit your application.

• Complete the application and submit by 11:59pm on the due date by following their instructions.

Application OPENS: In January - start looking on their webpage monterra.org for current information, or email  communityrelations@monterra.org  to ask for an application. 

Award: two $5,000 scholarships to pay for costs such as tuition, housing, books and meals.

Application Open: Check their site here starting January and check often

DUE: In March

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

• Be a graduating high school senior during the year you are applying to the scholarship or a prior year graduate who took a gap year and is enrolling in a college or technical school for the first time during the year you are applying to the scholarship.

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or greater and submit an unofficial transcript.

What Students need to do: 

• Complete an application

• Provide a typed essay. 

AS AN EXAMPLE, here is the essay prompt for the 2022 scholarship:

Credit unions believe in the philosophy of People Helping People.

• Tell them how you have helped your community during your high school experience or

•  How a college education will assist you in helping your community overcome the financial wellness challenges they face.

• Additionally, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume highlighting work experience, extra curricular activities, and/or talents, if applicable.

Award:  Scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 each to twenty (20!) or thirty (30!) students  to pay for academic expenses only, which includes tuition, books, lab fees, and on-campus room and board. 

Application Open: November 15 to March 15 // Applications Accepted starting February

- start looking on their webpage chea-elks.org for current information, or                           email chea@chea-elks.org to ask for an application. 

DUE: Postmarked by March 15

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

(1) be a United States citizen; 

(2) be a resident of California or Hawaii; 

(3) have a physical impairment, neurological impairment, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and/or speech/language disorder; and 

(4) be a senior in high school, a high school graduate, or have passed the General Educational Development (GED) Examination or the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) during the year you are applying for the scholarship.

What Students need to do: 

• Complete the application NEATLY

• Find an Elks Lodge to sponsor your application. Find a Elks lodge in one of the lists hyperlinked below (serch by city and region):

Click HERE to find a list of state associations.

Click HERE to find a list of lodges

• Submit a "Clarification of Disablity Report" (your IEP or Psychoeducational report)

• An Official, Complete Transcript

• An Essay

• Financial Information (you or your parent's tax information, tuition amount of the school you will be attending.)...Your parents, teachers or college and career counselors can help!!

Award:   Scholarship award of $5,000, that you can renew/re-apply for up to four (4) consecutive years for a potential total $20,000 scholarship.  

Application OPENS: In January - start looking on their webpage microsoft.com for current information, or email disscholarshipinfo@microsoft.com  to ask for application information. 

DUE: In March

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

(1) Be high school seniors living with a disability defined by WHO (World Health Organization) – Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning (visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, speech, or other disability) during the year you are applying to the scholarship.

(2) Plan to enroll in full-time or half-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-or four year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year

(3) Pursue a degree in the following eligible majors: Engineering, Computer Sciences, Computer Information Systems, Law, Business, or related field – Paralegal, Pre-Law, Finance, Business Administration, or Marketing

(4) Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale or equivalent

(5) Require financial assistance to attend college.

Restrictions: Employees and children of employees of Microsoft are not eligible. 

What Students need to do: 

• Complete an application

• Submit an essay 

• Send a complete transcript (not report cards)

• An original letter of recommendation from an adult not related to you (should not be a copy of a college letter).

Award:  Scholarships of $1,000  in support of your 4-year university/college studies.   The awards are merit-based, but financial needs will be taken into consideration.   

Application Open: tbd (to be determined) - start looking at their webpage at limeconnect.com often to check if the application is available.

DUE: Postmarked by May due date to be determined.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

(1) Have, or consider themselves to have a visible or invisible disability*

(2) Current high school senior in the U.S. or Canada graduating in the Spring or Summer of 2023

(3) Accepted to, or applied and awaiting acceptance to, a 4-year university or college in the U.S. or Canada for the 2024-2025 academic year

(4) Intending to be enrolled full-time in that 4-year university or college in Fall 2024

What Students need to do: 

• Create a LIME Network Profile on LimeConnect.com

• Find the link to the scholarship's online application system

• Provide General Background Information ( e.g., contact information, and details about your intended college/university)

• Provide your Resume/CV (Curriculum Vitae, similar to a resume)

• Answer one essay question related to living successfully with a disability

Next Steps:

• FINALISTS will be selected from overall applications, and all applicants will be notified of their status in early June.

• FINALISTS (only) will then submit one letter of reference from a teacher, advisor, supervisor, youth leader, etc. in mid-June.

•  AWARDEES will provide verification of university or college acceptance prior to receiving the award (mid-to-late July).   

HPFY (Health Products for You) are offering TWO Scholarships!

• Beyond Disability Scholarship &

• Make a Difference Scholarship.

Below is a summary of the Beyond Disability Scholarship, but if you click on the image to the left, it will tell you about both scholarships.

Award: A $1,000 scholarship to high school seniors who have been accepted to a college or who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school college program. 

Application Open: Check their site here or their twitter (@HPFY ) starting April and check often for current information

DUE: Usually in August...check their website here  or their Twitter (@HPFY) starting in April for current information.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

• Be living with a documented disability (either IEP or from your doctor)

• Be in your final year of High School planning to attend an undergraduate program in a 2 or 4- year college/university or technical (vocational) college  in the Fall of the academic year following high school graduation.

• The 2 or 4-year college/ university, or technical (vocational) college you plan to attend is in the United States.

• Enrollment status in college of vocational school must be Full or Part time.

What Students need to do: 

• Read all instructions on their scholarship webpage

• Email the following to scholarship@healthproductsforyou.com by August due date.

1. Personal information, including 

• full name, 

• date of birth, 

• mailing address (House number, street, city, state, zip code)

• phone number.

2. Proof of enrollment which can be an enrollment certificate or transcript of your

 most recent GPA (GPA does not affect the selection.)

3. Medical documentation to prove the disability.

• Example) Report by School Psychologist usually presented every three years at the IEP.

4. An essay of minimum 500 words where you talk about your personal trials

    (challenges) and triumphs in life related to your disability and how it has defined  the person you are today.

5. Any supporting documents or letters of recommendations from teachers,

 mentors or advisers that you would like the selection committee to consider.

• Keep a digital copy or file of your email/documents in Word or Google Docs. You never know...you might be able to use the essay for another scholarship.

Award: A $500 scholarship to one incoming or enrolled college student. They encourage all eligible applicants to apply.  

Application Open: Check their site here starting May and check often for current information

DUE: Usually in August...check their website here starting in May for current information.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must...

• Be Enrolled at an accredited high school, college, or university in the U.S.

• Be in your final year of High School (or enrolled at the undergraduate  or graduate level in college)

• Aged sixteen (16) years or older

• Carry a status of "good standing" (i.e. currently enrolled as a full time student or incoming full-time student)

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (or equivalent)

There are no requirements in terms of physical disability or ability. 

All applications are encouraged and welcome.

What Students need to do: 

• Read all instructions on their scholarship webpage

• Submit a typed essay on the topic found on the scholarship webpage.

• Please send all requested documents via traditional mail; express mail will not be accepted

• Send only your written response and contact information....No need to print and send the   webpage

• Note: They will not be able to return any submissions, so...

• Keep a digital copy of your application/documents in Word or Google Docs They will need a copy to put up on their site

Scholarship Essay Topic (example):

Their 2022 scholarship asked students to submit an essay on the topic of mobility. Applicants were asked to include a personal statement that gave an idea of who they were and how the essay related to mobility. The essay was required to be between 500 and 1,000 words, but applicants were provided feel free to write a little more or less.

Check their website for the current year's scholarship essay topic.