Staunton High School Scholarship & Financial Aid Guide Staunton High School 801 N. Deneen St. Staunton, IL 62088 618-635-3838 Guidance and Counseling Karen Cress kcress@stauntonschools.org INTRODUCTION 1 This book includes a listing and brief summary of scholarships with which Staunton High School is familiar. While there are a number of scholarships in this book, it is not intended to be a list of all scholarships out there. We do believe that we have listed all the local scholarships, which are available in the Staunton area. More of these are added each year, however, so keep checking with us. And, for a more complete listing of the regional, state, and national scholarships, we recommend the following FREE scholarship search on the internet: www.fastweb.com Also, while we believe that all of the information contained herein is accurate at the time of publication, we will not take responsibility for incorrect information or missed deadlines. In the main “body” of the book, the scholarships are listed in order by deadline date, beginning with those which are due in the fall, and then continuing on through the winter and into the spring and summer. It is not unusual however, for these dates to change from one school year to the next. We wish you success in your academic future, and hope that some of the scholarships described here will become at least a partial answer to you and your parent’s Financial Aid Dilemmas! Good Luck! NEED INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID? 2 CHECK THE INTERNET! * denotes that these websites have been found to be the most useful by students. www.isac-online.org - Illinois Student Assistance Commission; includes Estimated Financial Contribution calculator. * www.whatsnextillinois.org -Find everything you need to plan, apply, and go to the college of your choice. www.finaid.org - The financial aid information page; includes aid estimator and scholarship search http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/ - lists and describes scholarships offered by individual colleges and universities to all enrolled students meeting the specific criteria http://www.get-recruited.com- offers students a chance to be recruited by, and perhaps be offered scholarships to attend, colleges, universities and graduate schools throughout the United States. This great service is absolutely free. www.faam.org - Financial aid calendar, selecting a college, finding aid www.gmsp.org/SOW4 - The Gates Millennium Scholars Program www.chase.com/educationfirst - Information from the national bank about paying for college www.plato.org - Apply for student loans on line www.free-4u.com/ - Scholarships, including many for ethnic groups and minorities www.blackstudentfund.org - Comprehensive program serving Black students in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond www.nasfaa.org - Information from NASFAA about applying for grants and loans www.uncf.org - Financial aid from the United Negro College Fund www.yahoo.com/education/financial_aid/ - Provides links and information about companies that give aid www.collegeview.com - Comparative college information from College View www.collegescholarships.com - A list of scholarships from around the country www.sciencewise.com/molis - Minority Online Information Services * www.fastweb.com - Customized scholarship search; largest and most popular student resource web site! www.fastaid.com - Largest and oldest private sector scholarship database * www.collegeboard.org - Scholarship search and financial planning resource www.grantsandfunding.com - Government information services/education funding www.embark.com/ - Choice of majors, careers, links to colleges, scholarship search www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm - Free scholarship search www.fedmoney.org/grants/93820-00.htm - Scholarships for students with exceptional financial need * www.CollegeZone.com -College information and the official Web site for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. www.scholarships.com -Create a Scholarships.com profile and get personalized information on college scholarships and grants www.Petersons.com/finaid - Search schools, find financial aid, and learn about admission tests * www.USCollegeSearch.org - College search * www.MyCollegeOptions.com * www.commonapp.org - The Common Application provide a common, standardized first-year application form for use at more than 300 institutions. Not all colleges accept the common application and some schools only accept this form of application. Please check with your college and/or the www.commonapp.org database. * www.NCAA.org -Click on Academics & Athletics and then NCAA Eligibility Center. Students who wish to participate intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution in the future. This is a requirement to participate. In order to participate at an NCAA Div. I or II school, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. Please find keep this in mind as you register for your high school classes. * http://elearning.makingitcount.com/start/default.asp - By registering with Making It Count, you will have access to the college financial planning information and process, and receive information regarding educational and financial services from Making It Count and Bank of America. Financial Aid Facts 3 1. Times have changed to favor the student in the financial aid process. Colleges and universities are competing to attract the good students. 2. If you qualify, don’t let the "sticker price" of the school scare you away. Do not rule out a private school until you have received the financial aid package from the school. 3. Your academic efforts in high school can make a very real difference in your later academic rewards. 4. Students and families should be assertive in negotiating financial aid packages. 5. To be eligible to receive federal/state financial aid, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. What is the FAFSA? In order to be considered for federal and state aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The Department of Education uses the FAFSA form to determine your eligibility for federal assistance (loans, grants, work-study appointments and scholarships). Most colleges also base their financial aid package on the FAFSA. There is no cost to fill out the FAFSA. To fill out the FAFSA online and to learn more about this form, visit the FAFSA website at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Using the information you supply on the FAFSA, the federal processor determines your expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is equal to the amount of money you and your parents can be expected to contribute to your college costs. Your school then applies a simple equation to decide how much financial aid you will need. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the school's Cost of Attendance (COA) to arrive at your Financial Need. The new FAFSA form becomes available each year on or before January 1. Submit your application as soon after January 1 as possible. At many schools, funds are limited; if you submit your FAFSA too late, they won't have any aid left for you! Your school may require additional forms besides the FAFSA or an earlier submission deadline. Contact your school's financial aid office to learn about requirements for your school. How do I file a FAFSA? Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov and file the form online. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or federal student assistance programs, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You can also submit questions through the FAFSA Web site. How do I fill out a FAFSA? Filling out the FAFSA form can be tricky. Keep these tips in mind when filling out the form: Read the questions carefully. The words "you" and "your" on the FAFSA always refer to the student, not the parents. Submit the form on time. Count yourself, the student, as one of the people in your household who will be college students during the award year. Whether filing online or off, sign the form (you'll use your PIN online) and get all other required signatures. If you don't sign the form, you will receive an SAR, but you will not receive aid. It isn't necessary to include additional forms with the FAFSA. Any enclosures will be destroyed. Likewise, do not write comments or notes in the margins of the form. If there are unusual family financial circumstances, contact the school's financial aid administrator to ask for a professional judgment review. Make a copy of the form before mailing it. You can print out your online FAFSA before you submit the application. 4 Use your legal name as it appears on your Social Security card. Nicknames or aliases will cause a processing delay. If your parents are divorced or separated, the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months is the parent responsible for filling out the FAFSA. This is not necessarily the parent who has legal custody. In the question that asks about your interest in different types of aid (e.g. work-study and student loans), answer "yes" to each question. Answering "yes" does not obligate you to accept a loan or work-study position, nor does it guarantee you'll be offered either. Answering "no" to these questions will not get you more grant aid. If you don't understand a question or are having trouble filling out the form, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). What is the PIN (Personal Identification Number) and how do I obtain one? The PIN allows you to: Electronically sign your FAFSA Check the status of your FAFSA Make corrections to your personal information online Fill out a renewal FAFSA next year To obtain a PIN, eligible students and parents can visit: www.pin.ed.gov. Click on "Apply for PIN" at the bottom of the page. You can choose to receive your PIN via e-mail or postal mail. You must submit your name, social security number and date of birth to receive a PIN. It takes about three days to receive a PIN automatically. I am interested in a federal student loan. What do I need to know? Unlike scholarships, loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid. We take a look at student loans and parent loans below: Student Loans: Stafford Loans: Stafford Loans are low-interest loans, currently capped at 8.25 percent, that are made to students. The idea is to provide loan options for students who might otherwise not be able to take out a loan with a private lender because of an insufficient credit history. There are two variations of Stafford Loans: Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks, credit unions and savings & loan associations. These loans are guaranteed against default by the federal government. Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) loans, administered by "Direct Lending Schools", are provided by the US government directly to students and their parents. A Stafford Loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized. If your loan is subsidized, the interest doesn't start adding up until after you leave school. The federal government pays the interest while you're in school. If your loan is unsubsidized, you pay the interest that accrues during your time in college. Unsubsidized loans are open to anyone, regardless of need, but subsidized loans are only offered to students who demonstrate financial need. Many students combine subsidized and unsubsidized loans to reach the maximum amount permitted each year. Who is eligible: Dependent or independent undergraduate or graduate students who demonstrate financial need (subsidized) or don't (unsubsidized). 5 How to apply: Submit a FAFSA. Maximum you can receive: This amount can vary from year to year. Check with your prospective college's financial aid office for more details. Perkins Loans: Perkins Loans are a special class of federal loan intended to provide extra assistance for students with extreme financial need. They are subsidized, long-term, low-interest loans (5 percent). The loan is made with combined funds from the government and your school. Who is eligible: Undergraduate and graduate/professional students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. How apply: Submit the FAFSA. Maximum you can get: This amount can vary from year to year. Check with your prospective college's financial aid office for more details. You can find more information about these loans through the Department of Education and FinAid. Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Loans: PLUS Loans are low-interest loans, currently capped at 9 percent, that are made available to parents to cover the cost of their children's education. Like Stafford Loans, PLUS Loan are administered by both the FFEL and FDSL programs. PLUS loans are the responsibility of parents, not students. Who is eligible: Parents of dependent undergraduate students. Borrowers generally must pass a credit check, but if they don't, they can either prove extenuating circumstances or get a friend or relative to endorse the loan instead. How to apply: Parents submit an application, obtained from a private lender or your school. Maximum you can get: As much as needed to cover education costs not already covered by other financial aid. What are some good questions to ask regarding loans? What application materials are needed to apply for financial aid, and does the college require its own form in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? What are the deadlines for submitting financial aid forms? When will I be notified of my financial eligibility? Will my request for financial aid have any impact on my ability to be admitted to college? Describe your financial aid program, including requirements for need-based aid, merit-based aid and scholarships. Once my financial aid package is awarded, will additional scholarships reduce the amount of financial aid I can receive? Will your institution meet my full financial need, and will it meet my full financial need for all four years of my attendance? Are there state financial aid programs that I should know about? Does this college participate in a tuition payment plan that allows installment payments for each semester's bill? Where can I find additional sources of financial aid? Glossary of Financial Aid Terms: Academic Year: The period in which school is in session - typically September through May. 6 Accrual Date: The date on which interest charges on an educational loan begin to accrue. Adjusted Available Income: The remaining income after taxes and a basic living allowance have been subtracted (in the Federal Methodology). Assets: Cash in checking and savings accounts, trusts, stocks, bonds, other securities, real estate (excluding home), income-producing property, business equipment, and business inventory. Considered in determining expected family contribution (EFC). Asset Protection Allowance: The portion of parents' assets that are not included in the calculation of the parent contribution (calculated by Federal Methodology formula). Assistantship: A type of student employment; usually refers to a student teaching or research position. Associate Degree: A two-year college degree. Award Letter: Official letter from the college financial aid office that lists all the financial aid awarded to the student. Bachelor's Degree: A four-year college degree. Budget: The estimated cost of attendance for a student at an institution: typically includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, personal expenses and transportation. Bursar's Office: The university office responsible for the billing and collection of university charges. Campus-Based Programs: U.S. Department of Education federal student aid programs administered by colleges and universities. Includes: Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Federal Work-Study (FWS). Central Processing System (CPS): The computer system that receives the student's need analysis data. The Central Processing System performs database matches and calculates the official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and sends out the Student Aid Report (SAR). Collateral: Property used to secure a loan which can be seized if the borrower defaults on a loan. Commercial Lender: A commercial bank, savings and loan association, credit union, stock savings bank, trust company or mutual savings bank. Commuter Student: A student who lives at home and travels to school. Consolidation Loan: Loan that allows borrowers to lower their monthly payments by replacing their original loans with one loan. Consolidation loans typically have longer repayment periods and greater interest. Cooperative Education (Co-op): Many college programs offer paid opportunities to gain professional, fulltime work experience while enrolled in college. Cosigner: Individual who assumes responsibility for a loan if the borrower fails to repay. Cost of Attendance: Also known as the budget, it includes tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and personal and incidental expenses. Custodial Parent: In cases where a student's parents are divorced or separated, the custodial parent is the parent with whom the student lived the most during the past 12 months. Default: Failure to repay or otherwise meet the terms and condition of a loan. Default typically occurs after six months of delinquent payments. Penalties include a bad credit rating, loss of future financial aid eligibility, withholding of tax refunds, garnishing wages and loss of monthly payment options. Deferment of Loan: Period during which the repayment of the loan is suspended because the borrower meets certain eligibility requirements (e.g., enrolled in college at least half time). Delinquency: Failure to make a scheduled loan payment. Dependency Status: A student's dependency status determines the degree to which the student has access to parent financial resources. An independent student is at least 24 years old as of January 1, is married, is a graduate or professional student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a U.S. Armed Forces veteran or is/was an orphan or ward of the court. Direct Loans: A new federal program where the school becomes the lending agency and manages the loan funds directly, with the federal government providing the loan funds. Not all schools currently participate in this program. Disbursement: The process by which financial aid funds are made available to students for use in meeting educational and related living expenses. Funds may be disbursed directly to the student, or applied to the student's account. 7 Early Action/Early Admission/Early Decision: An early action program has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates than the regular admissions process. If accepted, students are not committed to attending that college. An early admission program allows exemplary high school juniors to skip their senior year and enroll directly in college. An early decision program has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates than the regular admissions process and students who apply to an early decision program commit to attending the school if admitted (which means the student must accept the offer of admission before they see their financial aid package.) Enrollment Status: Indication of whether student attends full or part time. Typically students must be enrolled at least half time (and in some cases full time) to qualify for financial aid. Expected Family Contribution (EFC): The dollar amount that a family is expected to pay toward a student's educational costs. EFC is based on family earnings, assets, students in college and family size. Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP): Loans provided by the U.S. government directly to students and their parents through their schools. Federal Methodology: The need analysis formula used to determine a family's expected family contribution. The Federal Methodology considers family size, the number of family members in college, taxable and nontaxable income and assets. Federal Processor: The Federal Processor is the organization that processes the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and uses it to compute eligibility for federal student aid. Federal Stafford Loan: Federally-guaranteed, low-interest rate for students. There are two types of Federal Stafford loans: subsidized (need-based) and unsubsidized (non-need-based). Both types allow deferment of payments until a student leaves school. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): These are federal grants for students with exceptional financial need (as determined by the college). Approximately five percent of undergraduates are recipients of FSEOG. Federal Work-Study: Federally sponsored Work-Study (FWS) Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with school-year part-time employment. The Federal Government pays some of the student's salary, which helps departments and businesses pay for and ultimately hire students. Eligibility is based on financial need. Fellowship: Financial aid for graduate students that does not need to be repaid. (Typically includes tuition and living expenses.) Financial Aid Administrator: University employee responsible for preparing and communicating information about student loans, grants, scholarships and employment programs, and for advising, awarding, reporting, counseling and supervising student financial aid office functions. Financial Aid Package: The total amount of financial aid a student receives, including grants, loans, and federal work-study. Unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans are not considered part of the package. Financial Aid Transcript: A record of all financial aid awards a student received at other educational institutions. Financial Need: The difference between the student's educational costs and the Expected Family Contribution. Fixed Interest Loans: Interest rate stays the same for the life of the loan. Forbearance: The approved temporary suspension of loan payments due to a financial hardship (interest continues to accrue). Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The application students must first complete to apply for virtually all forms of financial aid. Available at high schools and colleges or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID, and on the Web by following the links at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Gift Aid: Grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid. Grace Period: The period after a student either graduates or leaves school and before loan payments must begin (typically six to nine months). Grant: Financial aid that does not have to be paid back - typically based on financial need. Guarantee Fee: A percentage of the loan that is paid to the guarantor to insure the loan against default. The fee is usually one percent of the loan amount. 8 Guarantor: A state agency or private, nonprofit organization that administers a student loan insurance program. Home Equity: The current market value of the home minus the mortgage's unpaid principal (based on market value). Income Contingent Repayment: The size of the monthly payments depends on the income earned by the borrower. As the borrower's income increases, so do payments. Institutional Methodology: A formula some schools devise to determine financial need for allocating their own institutional financial aid funds. Lender: A bank, credit union or other financial institution that provides funds to the student or parent for an educational loan. Merit-based Aid: Financial aid based on academic, artistic, athletic or other merit-oriented criteria (not financial need). Need Analysis: The process used by a college to evaluate an applicant's financial resources and determine how much the student or family can pay toward the cost of the education. Need-Blind Admissions: The school decides whether to offer of admission to a student without considering the student's financial situation. Most schools use a need-blind admissions process. Need-Sensitive Admissions: The school takes the student's financial situation into account for some admissions decisions. Some schools use need-sensitive admissions for borderline students. Packaging: A financial aid administrator's attempt at combining various types of student aid (grants, loans, scholarship and employment) to attempt to meet a student's financial need. Parents' Contribution: A quantitative estimate - calculated by the federal government - of the parents' ability to contribute to postsecondary educational expenses. Pell Grant: Federal grant program for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and have not yet completed a baccalaureate degree. Perkins Loan: Low-interest, subsidized federal loan (five percent) for students with exceptional financial need (as determined by the college). PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students): Federal loans available to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help finance their child's education. Parents may borrow up to the difference between education costs and financial aid received from a bank or other lending institution. Prepaid Tuition Plan: A college savings plan guaranteed to rise in value at the same rate as college tuition. Several states and institutions offer such programs. Principal: The amount borrowed or owed on a loan. Professional Judgment: For need-based federal aid programs, financial aid administrators can adjust the expected family contribution (EFC), or the cost of attendance (COA), or change the dependency status (with documentation) when extenuating circumstances exist (for example, if a parent becomes unemployed, disabled or deceased). Promissory Note: A legally binding contract a student signs before receiving loan funds that details the terms of the loan and obligates the borrower to repay. Satisfactory Academic Progress: A school's policy concerning the minimum number of courses that must be completed each semester, the maximum time frame, and the minimum GPA required to receive financial aid. Scholarship: A form of financial assistance that does not require repayment or employment and which is usually offered to students who show potential for distinction, or who possess certain characteristics important to the scholarship provider (such as religious beliefs, hobbies, ethnicity, etc.). Secondary Market: An organization that buys loans from lenders, which provides the lender with the capital to issue new loans. Servicer: An organization that is paid by a lender to administer their student loan portfolio. Simplified Needs Test: An alternate method of calculating the expected family contribution for families with adjusted gross incomes less than $50,000, who have filed or are eligible to file an IRS Form 1040A or 1040EZ or who are not required to file an income tax return. State Student Incentive Grants: States receive matching funds from the federal government to help fund this program for state residents. 9 Student Aid Report (SAR): The official notification sent to students after submitting the FAFSA. Students may be required to submit this document to the college's financial aid office. Student Contribution: A quantitative estimate of the student's ability to contribute to postsecondary education expenses. (Typically 35 percent of his or her savings and half of the student's summer earnings above $1,750). Subsidized Loan: A loan that student borrowers do not have to pay interest on until after their grace period expires. Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG): Federal grant program for undergraduate students with exceptional need. SEOG grants up to $4,000 are awarded by the school's financial aid office. Title IV Programs: Federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Direct Loan, Direct PLUS Loan and SSIG. Undergraduate Student: A student who has not yet received a bachelor's degree. Unmet Need: Difference between a student's total cost of attendance at a specific institution and the student's total available resources, including financial aid. Unsubsidized Loan: A loan that student borrowers must pay all the interest on, including while they are enrolled. Verification: The review process in which the financial aid officer requests documentation from a financial aid applicant to verify the accuracy of the application. Work-Study: See Federal Work-Study for a description of the federally subsidized work-study program. Applying for Scholarships Start Early Your freshman year is not too early to plan for scholarships academically, choose extracurricular activities that will highlight your strengths, and get involved in the community--all things that are important to those who make scholarship decisions. Search for Scholarships A couple of hours a week in the public library will help you learn about hundreds of scholarships and assess those for which you might qualify. Check the school website periodically at http://www.stauntonschools.org/. Come into the guidance office regularly to get paper copies of scholarship applications. Apply, Apply, Apply One student applied for nearly 60 scholarships and was fortunate enough to win seven. "Imagine if I’d applied for five and only gotten one," she says. Plan Ahead It takes time to get transcripts and letters of recommendation. Letters from people who know you well are more effective than letters from prestigious names who know you only vaguely. Be Organized In the homes of scholarship winners you can often find a file box where all relevant information is stored. This method allows you to review deadlines and requirements often. Computerizing the information, if possible, allows you to change and update information quickly. Follow Directions Make sure you don’t disqualify yourself by filling the forms out incorrectly, missing the deadline, or failing to supply important information. Type your applications, if possible, and have someone proofread them. 10 Scholarship Essay Guide Master the Basics Pay attention to details for a high quality essay. Get Organized Brainstorm to generate some good ideas and then create an outline to help you get started. Demonstrate originality and creativity. To catch the attention of a panel of scholarship judges, find a hook that will get the reader interested right away. Show, don’t tell For example, if you’re describing an activity you participated in; don’t describe it in general terms. Be specific! What effect did it have on your life or the lives of others? What duties did you perform? Develop a theme that fits the scholarship. What sort of student is the sponsor looking for? Include elements in your essay that complement the sponsor’s expectations (without pretending to be someone you aren’t). Turn in a professional-looking essay. Write a second draft to catch mistakes and better organize your thoughts. If possible, type and double-space your essay. Check spelling and grammar. Also, share your essay with friends, family or teachers for another proofread. I Don’t Know What to Write About! Take the intimidation out of writing essays by turning your achievements, goals and interests into topics: Personal Achievements -Remember to personalize your experience. For example, what makes the volunteer and community service you’ve performed unique? -Do you still keep in touch with anyone you’ve helped? -Talk about specific interactions you may have had with others. How did you influence their lives? -How did your achievements reflect your values? Why are your achievements important to you? -Remember that judges want to hear from you as a person, not your resume. Academic Plans and Possible Major -Instead of saying, “Math is my favorite subject,” discuss a specific assignment or project that you worked on that sparked your interest and why. -Avoid saying that you selected a major or career path to “help people”. What specific actions can you take to improve the lives of others? Discuss specific values or ideas you want to develop once you get to college. Background and influences -Is there a person you wish to emulate with your chosen major or career path? Someone who encouraged you to succeed? Focus on specific qualities or actions that the person has inspired in you. -Think about your friends and family, community, and the things you’ve learned outside of the classroom. Pick specific people, incidents and learning experiences to write about that will let your personality come through. Current Events and Social Issues -Think about current issues or events in the news that you feel strongly about. -Do you know a lot about a controversial topic? -Do you know of someone who is directly involved in an issue who might be able to provide insight? 11 Scholarship Thank You Letters It is customary to write a thank you letter to a scholarship donor for awards you are given. You have 2 simple steps to complete the process: 1. Write the thank you letter addressed “To Whom It May Concern”. For samples and guidelines, see below. 2. Return your letter within 7 days to the scholarship board or to the guidance office to be forwarded on your behalf. Many scholarship applications had addresses listed, please consult your application to determine where to send it directly to the scholarship board. Remember, you are representing yourself and Staunton High School. A donor will appreciate the time and effort it took to produce an attractive, well-written letter. Thank you for the time you are investing! Thank You Letter Guidelines Here are a few tips for writing a good thank you letter: Use quality paper or stationary. No torn-out loose leaf or notebook paper. Please type your letter. If you must handwrite your thank you letter, use your best penmanship. Address the letter to: To Whom it May Concern Be sincere. Briefly tell your scholarship sponsor why the aid you are receiving is important to you and/or your family. Express gratitude. Use the words thank you. Be accurate. Have someone you trust check your note for correct spelling and grammar. Thank You Letter Samples Sample #1 [Date] To Whom It May Concern, Obtaining a degree in [NAME MAJOR] has been a life goal of mine and I am very fortunate to be able to attend [NAME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/TRADE SCHOOL] next year. I have very much enjoyed my time at Staunton High School in the classroom and in [list a few extracurricular activities you participate in]. I am thankful for those opportunities as well as the community of Staunton for all that has been done to help me prepare for my future. I wish to thank those who so generously made the [NAME OF SCHOLARSHIP] available to myself. Through the support of the [NAME OF SCHOLARSHIP], I am well on my way to achieving my academic goals and hope that with my degree; I will be able to make a difference for others in a way as meaningful as the [NAME OF SCHOLARSHIP] has for me. Thank you again - please pass my gratitude on to all those who so generously support Staunton High School students through the existence of this scholarship fund. Sincerely, [Student name] 12 Sample #2 [Date] To Whom It May Concern, I feel so fortunate to have been chosen as a recipient of the [NAME OF SCHOLARSHIP]. Thank you so much for your generosity in funding this scholarship. I plan to attend [NAME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/TRADE SCHOOL] and major in [NAME MAJOR]. While I attend college, I will also have a part-time job to help pay for my tuition. I know it will not always be easy to juggle work and school, and I am truly grateful for the assistance that I am receiving because of you. Thank you again for so generously supporting Staunton High School students. Sincerely, [Student name] Sample #3 [Date] To Whom It May Concern, Thank you so much for contributing to my education through the [name of scholarship] that I received this year. Your generosity means so much and I am truly grateful. I plan to attend [NAME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/TRADE SCHOOL] and major in [NAME MAJOR]. Education is very important to me, and I’m so glad it’s important to you as well - without your generosity, I would not have been able to attend [NAME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY/TRADE SCHOOL]. Thank you again for all you do! Sincerely, [Student name] 13 Common Forms needed from SHS Forms follow the explanations Transcript Request- To request a transcript be sent on the student’s behalf to the college of his/her choice, please fill out this form and return to the guidance office. Staunton's Most Inquired about Colleges and Universities- Please utilize this list to become familiar with some of Staunton High School’s recent popular colleges and university choices. Student Questionnaire- To request a letter of recommendation from any teacher, counselor, etc please fill out this questionnaire. This allows us to explain in the best way possible who you are to colleges or scholarship committees. College Visitation Day Request & Guidelines- Please fill out this form and return to the guidance office upon request of a college visitation. Seniors may take up to two college days. These days will be excused when guidelines are followed and proof of visit is confirmed in the high school office. See guidelines for further details. College Credit opportunities at SHS- Please utilize this list when filling out college applications that request the LCCC name of dual credit classes taken and the number of credits earned. SHS Profile- Consult this form while filling out college applications for miscellaneous information. Lewis & Clark Transcript Request- Please fill out this form to request your LCCC transcript be sent to the college of your choice. This is how prospective colleges confirm your dual credit classes. We will mail high school transcripts on your behalf; however you must mail the LCCC transcript. Usually this is only needed after graduation. 14 Staunton High School Transcript Request Form 801 N. Deneen St. Staunton, IL 62088 618-635-3838 No ACT scores can be sent until the release form is on file. This is the form that you should have filled out at registration. I will try to get transcripts mailed the day the request is turned in. But, be reasonable about your request. Please give me a few days notice prior to when the transcript is due. Date submitted: ________________________ Student Name: _________________________ Transcript request for: ________ College Application ________ Scholarship ________ Other College/University/Name: ________________________________________________________ Application Deadline: ___________________________________________________________ I have applied: _________ On-Line ________ Paper Application Student Signature: ______________________________________________________________ Do you need ACT scores attached to your transcript? __________ yes __________ no Please include any special instructions in the space below: 15 List of Staunton's Most Inquired about Colleges and Universities Other Colleges and Illinois State Colleges Universities Chicago State University Bradley University Eastern Illinois University Elmhurst College Governor's State University Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois State University Knox College Northeastern Illinois University Maryville University Northern Illinois University Missouri Baptist University Southern Illinois University - C Northwestern University Southern Illinois University - E Purdue University Calumet University of Illinois - Chicago Rose-Hulman Institute of Tech Savannah College of Art and University of Illinois - Springfield Design University of Illinois - Urbana Truman State University Washington University in St. Western Illinois University Louis Illinois College Blackburn College Lewis and Clark Comm. College Carthage College Lincoln Land Comm. College Culver-Stockton College Southwest IL College (SWIC) Greenville College Bellville Southwest IL College (SWIC) GC McKendree College Mass. Institute of Technology (MIT) Millikin University Monmouth College Murray State University Southeast Missouri State Univ. Saint Louis University (SLU) University of Southern Indiana University of Missouri Columbia University of Missouri - Rolla Central Missouri State University Washington University 16 Staunton High School Student Questionnaire Completion of this questionnaire will assist me in writing your college counselor recommendation. Your input aids me in presenting a desirable holistic view of you to the admissions office. Do your best to answer each question in a thoughtful manner. Provide specific information. Please don’t sell yourself short. Use additional paper if needed. Keep a copy of this so you if needed again you will not have to fill it out a second time. Name: ________________________________________________ 1. List participation in service organizations and clubs: 2. List participation in sports: 3. Employment Experience: 4. Which of your activities (including hobbies, clubs, work experience, community service, family contributions, athletics, or any special interests) have meant the most to you? Why? 5. List awards you have received: 6. Describe a challenge you have faced in your life. How has this experience impacted you? (This could very well be a college essay question you will soon see!) 7. What three things would you like to do for a lifetime career? 17 8. Looking over the past several years at Staunton, what is your favorite subject? What classroom experiences have you valued most? Why? Be specific. 9. When looking back at my high school record, I am most proud of: 10. How will you set yourself apart from all other applicants? What talents, characteristics and/or traits do you have that will impress a college and make you unique? 11. Is there anything unique about your family that you would like to share? 12. What are the first words that come to mind to describe you? 13. What three things would you like the College Admissions Committee to know about you? 14. Why are you applying to these particular colleges? Be specific if something stands out that influenced your decision to apply. College Name _________________________ Reason ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 15. Tell me something about yourself that you have not shared in this questionnaire. You make ask your parents to provide some additional input on your behalf. Some of the best feedback comes from parents! 18 COLLEGE VISITATION DAY REQUEST Your daughter/son, , has asked to visit on (date) at (time) . (Only half-day visits will be approved for Blackburn College, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and Lewis & Clark Community College. A teacher or counselor will not accompany the student. Your signature indicates that you approve of this college visit.) Parent Signature Date _____ Counselor Signature ____ Date _____ Return this completed form to Mrs. Cress two days in advance. The absence will become an excused college day only after verification by a higher education official on their school letterhead has been received. 19 College Visitation Guidelines What qualifies as a College Day? The following qualify for College Day Visitations: Physicals/orientation for military entrants ASVAB testing for possible military entrance Open campus visitation dates publicized by the colleges/schools Individual appointments made in advance with schools Appointments for scholarship applications/interviews Appointments for placement testing and/or registration Appointments for internship programs, etc. Who may take College Days? Juniors are encouraged to plan and visit colleges and/or technical schools during the summer before their senior year. Good planning dictates that you actually see and experience any campus you may plan on attending. During the senior year, students may take two college days if needed. Most schools offer weekend visitations, etc. Occasionally, you may need a week-day appointment for post-secondary plans. What about visits to local campuses, SIUE and LCCC? Students will be granted a half-day to visit the local campuses (Lewis & Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University) for a school preview visit. Students who enroll at LCCC or SIUE may take a full college day in the spring to attend either the LCCC Spring Fling campus introduction or the required SIUE Springboard registration. Both SIUE & LCCC require that students schedule appointments in advance. Walk-ins doing unscheduled college visits may not be served. You must plan ahead! When can College Days be taken? Anytime except December and May, the last month of the semester. When should College Visitation Forms be turned in to the guidance office? Students must plan in advance. The required form must be given to the guidance office a minimum of two days in advance of the visit. In certain urgent cases, (i.e., a college request for an interview or advisement date), if less than three days notice can be given, parents must call the counselor or principal and request special permission for a senior to be gone. When the counselor receives and approves the college visit form, students must also inform their instructors of the date they will be gone and make arrangements for make-up work. Parents need to call the high school office on the day of the scheduled appointment to confirm that the senior is gone that day for a college visit. What do students do when they return from the visit? Students must give the counselor proof of attendance at the appointment/event. A signed statement from the college/school/recruiter must be turned in the day after the scheduled appointment. Otherwise, the college day is not given and the student will show an absence for the day. 20 College Credit Opportunities Lewis and Clark Course Number & Title Staunton High School Course Name Credit Hours Transfer or Career Credit Required College Placement Score BIO 132 – Human Biology DRFT 125 –Fundamentals of General of Drafting DRFT 146 – AutoCAD Biology II CAD I 4 3 Transfer Career CAD II 3 Career ENGL 131 – First Year English I ENGL 132 – First Year English II HIST 131 – Western Civilization I HIST 132 – Western Civilization II OTEC 026 – Basic Computer and Window Skills OTEC 027 – Internet Use & Design Techniques OTEC 115 – Microsoft Publisher 2007 OTEC 119 – Keyboarding OTEC 120 – Keyboarding/Formatting POLS 131 – American Government CDEV 130 – Career Development WEB 135 – Webpage Design Essentials WELD 191 – Basic Welding WELD 193 – All Position Arc Welding CIS 135 Computer Literacy English 131 3 Transfer English 132 3 Transfer Western Civilization 131 3 Transfer Reading=75 No Test Required Instructor Approval No Test Required Instructor Approval Reading = 75 Sent Skills = 90 Reading = 75 Sent Skills = 90 Reading = 75 Western Civilization 132 3 Transfer Reading = 75 Computer Concepts 2 Career Reading = 55 Computer Concepts 1 Career Reading = 55 Desktop Publishing 1 Career Reading = 55 Keyboarding Word Processing/Formatting Political Science 1 3 Career Career No Test Required Reading = 55 3 Transfer Reading = 75 Career Development 3 Transfer No Test Required Webpage Design Essentials 3 Career Reading = 55 WELD 191 2 Career Reading = 55 WELD 193 3 Career Reading = 55 CIS 135 (No college credit offered if taken during 2010-11) SPEECH 131 Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry 3 Transfer Reading = 75 3 5 Transfer Transfer Calculus 5 Transfer Reading = 75 Reading = 75 ALG = 90 Reading = 75 Math = 86 SPEECH 131 Math 134- PreCalculus Math 171- Calculus & Analytic Geometry 21 22 23 State and National Scholarships Below is a listing and brief summary of scholarships with which Staunton High School is familiar. While there are a number of scholarships in this book, it is not intended to be a list of all scholarships out there. More of these are added each year, therefore keep checking with us. For a more complete listing of the regional, state, and national scholarships, we recommend the following FREE scholarship search on the internet: www.fastweb.com Also, while we believe that all of the information contained herein is accurate at the time of publication, we will not take responsibility for incorrect information or missed deadlines. The scholarships are listed in order by deadline date, beginning with those which are due in the fall, and then continuing on through the winter, spring and summer. It is not unusual however, for these dates to change from one school year to the next. Anycollege.com- Random scholarship drawing Christian College Scholarship- www.christianconnector.com. Random scholarship drawing for students entering a Christian college http://scholarshipamerica.org/ - Scholarship America provides links to several scholarship applications. U of I Scholarships-There are many scholarships available for students planning on attending the University of Illinois. The university has its own database for searches. Visit the following website for more detailshttp://admissions.illinois.edu/cost/scholarships.html Deadline varies American Liberty Scholarship http://www.americanlibertyscholarship.com Open to students pursuing a bachelors, masters, PHD or technical certification. Finalists are selected every month. Wendy’s High School Heisman Award- www.wendyhighschoolheisman.com. Seniors student-athletes who work hard, are dedicated, and have become role models for underclassmen and have at least a “B” average. AmeriCorps – www.americorps.gov After successfully completing a term of service, AmeriCorps members who are enrolled in the National Service Trust are eligible to receive an education award. The education award can be used to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education or training, or to repay qualified student loans. The award currently is $4,725 for a year of full-time service, with correspondingly lesser awards for part-time and reduced part-time service. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service has ended to claim the award. Coca-Cola Scholarship- $4,000 - $20,000 – www.coca-colascholars.org Class rank, SAT or ACT score are looked at when your application is judged. Deadline October. Danforth Scholars Program at Washington University. http://admissions.wustl.edu/ High Achieving Students. Washington University only. Deadline October. Horatio Alger Scholarship – $2,500 - www.horatioalger.com/Provides financial assistance to students in the State of Illinois who have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity and who aspire to pursue higher education. 24 National Rifle Association Award- $2,000Write a 300-400 word citizenship essay on what you believe it means to be “Armed with Pride”. Essay contest for female high school seniors and college students. Deadline October. Outstanding Students of America - $1,000 – www.outstandingstudentsofamerica.com This award is based on community service, school activities, and academic achievements. Deadline October. Prudential Spirit of Community Award – $1,000 - $5,000 – http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page . Any student who is in grades 5-12 as of October 30, 1998 and has engaged in a volunteer activity. Deadline October. AES Engineers Scholarship- Seniors interested in this $500 scholarship must submit an essay on one of the two topics that appear on the website at www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm Deadline October. Tandy Technology Scholars- $1,000 Must excel in the area of academic excellence. One graduating senior who excels in at least one of the areas of science, mathematics, or computer science. Deadline October. VFW – Voice of Democracy Essay Contest – up to $25,000 – www.vfw.org Sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Students compete by writing and recording a 3-5 minute broadcast script on the theme designated annually. Deadline October ACORN Equality Fund- Luke Scholarship & Acorn Scholarship- www.acornequalityfund.com Scholarships based on academic performance, need and volunteerism and advocacy. Scholarships designed to provide academic financial support for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students, allies or the children of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender parents. Deadline October. West Point Academy. West Point Only. Deadline November American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL). Enrolled in an ABET program in Illinois. www.acec-il.org/scholarship.cfm. Deadline November. Illinois Ready -Mixed Concrete Association. Applicants must write a 600-word essay. State College or University. Deadline November. Chapel of Four Chaplains Annual Essay Contest – $300 - $1,000 – www.fourchaplains.org A 450-word essay, which will be judged by the following criteria: thoughtful exploration of essay topic, shows creativity, proper grammar and spelling, clear and logical order, personal commitment. Deadline November Illinois Department of Transportation Civil Engineer Scholarship Program- www.dot.il.gov/scholarships up to $7000, Seniors must be an Illinois resident not employed by IDOT, must be admitted to or enrolled fulltime in select Illinois pre-engineering and civil engineering programs, and must have at least a 2.5 GPA . Deadline November. DAR- Good Citizen Awards Program – seniors are eligible. Must be nominated. Deadline November. National Teenager Scholarship - $500 U.S. Savings Bond - www.nationalteen.com 5 local universities will award tuition scholarships in varying amounts, full one-year tuition scholarship to the Art Institutes, worth $14,000, and $1,000 full tuition scholarship to John Robert Powers School of Modeling. Deadline November. 25 Westinghouse Science Talent Search - $1,000 - $40,000 – www.sciserv.org Each student must submit a written report on an independent research project in the physical sciences, behavioral and social sciences, engineering, mathematics, or biological sciences. Deadline November. IEA Education Scholarship Program. Information on the IEA Future Teacher Scholarship Program is now available online at www.ieanea.org. Students pursuing a career in teaching who the children of IEA members are eligible. Deadline is November. Air Force ROTC Scholarship – www.afrotc.com/scholarships/ A cost-free college education. Four years of rewarding challenges and personal growth. A head start on an exciting career. All this and more awaits those awarded a scholarship from Air Force ROTC. By filling out this application you're not obligated for military service in any way. Deadline December. Army ROTC Four-Year Program - www.rotc.usaac.army.mil/ Available to students who have graduated from high school or possess an equivalent certificate before September of the year they enter college. Students are awarded U.S. Army ROTC 4-year scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process. Scholarships pay up to $20,000 a year for college tuition and education fees, OR room and board, whichever is chosen by the student. An additional scholarship benefit is a designated book allowance. Army scholarship winners also receive a tax-free subsistence allowance which increases as they progress through Military Science, for up to 10 months for each year the scholarship is in effect. The Scholarship does not pay flight fees. IL Dollars for Scholars Essay based scholarship. Essays must be written about a community leader in our Congressional district. If your essay is chosen, you will receive a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 each year for four years), and Illinois Dollars for Scholars will contribute $500 in the community leaders name to the scholarship fund of the Illinois high school of their choice. In addition the top essay wins $12,000 (over 4 years) and the 2nd place essay will win an $8,000 scholarship (over 4 years). Deadline December Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois- www.goldenapple.org must be nominated by November. Contingent upon completing IL teacher certification program & teaching in an Illinois school of need for 5 years. $2500 for four years. Deadline December. DAR – Christopher Columbus Essay Contest – http://www.gulftel.com/dar/ccessay.htm All students in grades 9 - 12 are eligible. Essay must be typed, or prepared on a computer or word processor, using black type in a non-script font no smaller than 12 point or larger than 14 point. A limited vision student may use Braille, a tape recording, or very large type. A written transcript must be included, as well as a teacher's or physician's letter attesting to the student's special need. All of the essay must be the student's original work. Deadline December. Chapel of Four Chaplains Annual Project – $750 - $1, 000 - www.fourchaplains.org A team, consisting of a team leader, team advisor and 5 students, must complete the project. The team will conduct a new project (not an existing school project) to ameliorate an identified problem or need. Judges criteria: Originality and creativity, impact on community, community involvement, 2-3 page project paper, and a notarized affidavit from team advisor attesting to the success of the project. Deadline December Chapel of Four Chaplains National Art Contest - $500 - $1,000 – www.fourchaplains.org All high school seniors are eligible. Any form of flat art, except photography, is eligible. The artwork must reflect the theme and must be original artwork, conceived and created by the student. Deadline December Congress – Bundestag – www.USAGermanyScholarship.org This unique program provides 250 full scholarships for American high school students to live with a host family and attend school in Germany for a 26 year. As a Congress-Bundestag student, you'll gain real world views of current affairs and German social, political and economic life. Whether or not you've studied German before, your language skills will soar, giving you the lifelong asset of fluency in a second language. Deadline December Fleet Reserve Association Scholarship - $50 - $5,000 - http://www.fra.org/source/PartA2008.pdf All entrants shall be students in grades seven through twelve. Entrants must be sponsored by a branch of the Fleet Reserve Association or a unit of the Ladies Auxiliary. The essay shall be on the theme designated and shall not exceed 350 words. Deadline December Imitation Computer Arts Scholarship – up to $3,500 – www.imation.com (do search for scholarships) Be creative on computer and win money for college. Deadline December Young Achievers Gateway East- Sophomores who are successful achievers in a variety of areas; leaders who are appointed and/or elected; positive role models; good citizens in their schools and communities; and competent scholars with good attendance records. Nomination only. SAE Engineering Scholarship Program. Information on the SAE Engineering Scholarship Program is now available online. Go to http://students.sae.org/awdscholar/scholarships/unvsponsored/. Deadline is December Toyota Scholarship - $10,000 - $20,000 – www.toyota.com/communityscholars seeking a student who has an outstanding academic record, is an effective leader, and has a well-documented record of service within and outside the school setting. Academic performance is a prime factor in the selection process, but the distinguishing characteristic will be the overall impact of the student’s contribution in the area of community service. Nomination Only. Deadline December. Vantage Credit Union Scholarship Program. http://vantagecreditunion.com/page/quest-educationscholarship Must be a member of Vantage Credit Union. Deadline December. SICHE Scholarships- The Southern Illinois Healthcare Engineering Program is offering scholarships up to $1,000 for students entering the field of engineering, architecture, biomedical technology, building operations, and maintenance. See a counselor for more details. Deadline December. Sally Beauty Scholarships http://www.ncacares.org/resources/scholarship.cfm This $1,000 scholarship is for a high school graduate under the age of 25 that is planning on earning a degree in the cosmetology profession. Deadline January. AT&T Technology and Education Essay Contest – Multimedia computer. Write an original essay of 200 words or less. Entries will be judged on the following criteria, originality, creativity, use of language/vocabulary, and relevance to the theme. Grades 6-12. Deadline January. Columbia College Chicago Young Authors Writing Contest- $50-$200 & one Best of Contest Scholarship will be awarded for one college-credit Fiction Writing I course in Columbia College Chicago’s High School Summer Institute. Winning entries will be published in Columbia’s High School Summer Institute Anthology – http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Fiction_Writing/YA/YA10.php Deadline January Discover Tribute Award - $1,250 - $20,000 - www.discoverfinancial.com/data/philanthropy/tribute.shtml Student must have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and plan to continue his or her education/training beyond high school in any accredited training, licensing or certification program or institution of higher education. Deadline January. 27 Elks National Foundation - $1,000 - $5,000 – www.elks.org/enf/scholars/ourscholarships.cfm Must have Elks Lodge endorsement to be accepted for judging. For high school seniors only, must be a citizen of the United States. Show awards and activities. Deadline January. Gates Millennium Scholars – www.gmsp.org This scholars program is aimed at increasing minority enrollment in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This program is available to entering freshman with at least a 3.3 GPS attending any college or university. Deadline January Washington University in St. Louis – http://admissions.wustl.edu/scholarships Click on Undergraduate Admissions to access information pertaining to all Washington University scholarships. Deadline January MENSA- $100 $1,000 – www.us.mensa.org Write an essay that contains no more than 550 words. Awards will be made on the basis of the essay that describes the applicant’s career, vocational, or academic goals. It is not necessary for the applicant to be a member of MENSA. Deadline January National Peace Essay Contest - $1,000 - $10,000 – http://www.usip.org/programs/initiatives/national-peaceessay-contest Answer the essay contest question in a well-organized, well reasoned essay of no more than 1,500 words. Essays will be graded on the quality of the research, quality of the analysis, form, style, and mechanics. Fill out the Student Registration Form, and follow the checklist. Deadline January. Washington Crossing Foundation - $5,000 - $10,000 – http://www.gwcf.org/ Competition open to all high school seniors who are U.S. citizens and are planning careers of service to the U.S. in local, state or federal government. Entrants receiving full four-year tuition scholarships shall be ineligible but may quality for other special awards. Deadline January. Young Epidemiology Scholars – up to $50,000 – www.collegeboard.com/yes For students who are interested in the scientific method used to investigate, analyze and prevent or control a health problem in a population. Deadline – January Wal-Mart Scholarships- http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving - The Sam Walton Community Scholarship- $3000. Seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA and a demonstrated financial need The Wal-Mart Associate Scholarship- $3000. Available to Wal-Mart associates or dependents of associates who are graduating seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA and a demonstrated financial need. The Wal-Mart Higher Reach Scholarship- $3000 scholarship to Wal-mart associates who have been out of school for at least one year. Scholarship Program administered by the Wal-Mart Foundation- $13,000 scholarship paid over 4 years. Applicants must be dependents of Wal-Mart associates, have at least a 22 ACT or 1030 SAT and prove financial need. All scholarship deadlines are January Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Scholarship- http://www.thephillipsfoundation.org/ Essay Contest Deadline January PAPA John’s Scholarship. http://www.papajohnsscholars.com/ $1000 scholarship. Applicants with a 2.5 GPA or above, essay on “obstacles overcome”, life goals, and quality of character. Deadline January. AXA Achievement Scholarship – $10,000 - $15,000 – www.axa-achievement.com To qualify, students should be well-rounded, committed to making a difference and have demonstrated achievement – at a job, sport or extracurricular activity. Deadline February. 28 Eastern Illinois University Scholarships- http://www.eiu.edu/~scholars/ EIU’s database of scholarships is constantly growing and being updated. This links provides you with an EIU scholarship search engine. Deadline February. GFWC IL Federation of Women’s Clubs http://www.gfwcillinois.org/scholarships.html. There are several scholarships available through the Women’s Club. Deadline February IAA IL Farm Bureau Scholarships http://www.iaafoundation.org/iaafoundation/default.html There are up to 9 scholarships offered for students entering college for an agricultural related major. Deadline February Southwestern Electric Scholarship http://www.sweci.com/scholarships.html $500 scholarships awarded to high school seniors planning on attending 2-4yr college or trade school. Parent or guardian must be an active member of Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. prior to submitting application. Deadline February. Monsanto Scholarships http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/agriculture-scholarships.aspx Students can apply for 3 different scholarships through Monsanto Agriculture. Students must be applying for agricultural-related programs. ESA Foundation Scholarship Seniors with a 4.0 GPA, and a 22 on their ACT may apply for this scholarship. Scholarship awards vary on financial need. See a counselor for an application or visit www.esaintl.com/esaf/. Deadline February. Bank of America $1,000.00 Scholarship. Any high school student. www.bankofamerica.com. Deadline February. Burger King Scholars - $1,000 – http://www.haveityourwayfoundation.org/burger_king_scholars_program.html Eligibility criteria; 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, work an average of 15 hours per week for 40 weeks per year, participation in community service, and financial need. Deadline February. All USA High School Academic Team - $2,500 – www.allstars.usatoday.com The key element will be a student’s outstanding original academic or community service endeavor. High school transcript must accompany the nomination form. Factors considered by the judges include a nominee’s academic record, creativity, leadership and independent scholarly or artistic work. Deadline February. The National Co-Op Scholarship Program. www.co-op.edu. Deadline February. Best Buy– $500 – www.bestbuy.org click on Community Relations at the bottom of the page. Applicants must live within 100 miles of a Best Buy store and plan to enroll full time at an accredited two or four year college, university, or technical school in an undergraduate program of study. Deadline February American Chemical Society Scholars Program. African-American, Hispanic, Latino, & American Indian students with strong academics. Deadline February. Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship. Two Scholarships, One to SIUE and one to any school in Missouri or Illinois. Must be majoring in Engineering. 29 Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship - $1,500 – http://www.monsanto.com/ourcommitments/Pages/agriculture-scholarships.aspx Open to high school seniors across the U.S, the scholarship program awards one-time gifts of $1500 to 100 students annually. To qualify, a high school senior from a farm family must have an above-average academic record and plan to enroll as a fulltime student in an agriculture-related academic major at an accredited school. Deadline February D.A.R. – American History Scholarship - $2,000 – www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm Graduating high school senior who will be majoring an American History. Scholarship is first judged at the state level. Only State Winners are eligible for judging on the Division level. Division level First and Second place winners are judged on the National level. Deadline February D.A.R. – Caroline E. Holt Nursing Scholarship - $500 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm A one-time scholarship for students who are in financial need and desire to attend or are attending an accredited school of nursing. Deadline February D.A.R. – Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm A one-time Scholarship awarded to deserving students accepted or enrolled in an accredited college or university in the United States who are majoring in Political Science, History, Government or Economics. Deadline February D.A.R. – J.E. Caldwell Centennial Scholarship - $2,000 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm A one-time Scholarship awarded to outstanding students pursuing a course of graduate study in the field of historic preservation. Deadline February Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship. Two Scholarships, One to SIUE and one to any school in Missouri or Illinois. Must be majoring in Engineering. D.A.R. – Lillian and Arthur Dunn Scholarship - $2,000 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm Awarded for up to four years to well qualified, deserving sons and daughters of members of the NSDAR for four years of college. Outstanding recipients will be considered for an additional period of up to four years of study. Deadline February D.A.R. – Madeline Picket Halbert Cogswell Nursing Scholarship - $500 www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm A one-time scholarship for students who desire to attend or are attending an accredited school of nursing, who are members of the NSDAR, descendants of members of the NSDAR, or are eligible to be members of NSDAR. Deadline February D.A.R. – Mildred Nutting Scholarship - $500 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm A one-time scholarship for students who have been accepted for are currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing. Preference will be given to candidates from the greater Lowell, MA area. Deadline February D.A.R. – Occupational Therapy Scholarship - $500 - www.dar.org/natsociety/edout_scholar.cfm One-time scholarships for students who are in financial need and have been accepted or are attending an accredited school of Occupational Therapy including art, music or physical therapy. Deadline February Educational Tours Global Citizen Award – www.eftours.com/globalcitizen Applicants must be collegebound high school seniors who are permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada. Applicants must be nominated by their schools and each school may nominate only one student to apply. Deadline February 30 Illinois Society of Professional Engineers- $1500 Seniors planning to study engineering at an accredited Illinois or Missouri college or university that is ABET-accredited. Deadline February KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program- www.kfcscholars.org. $5000 per year. Seniors maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.75 and who are planning to enroll in a public, in-state college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree are eligible for the KFC Colonel’s Scholarship. Deadline February University of IL Department of Material Science and Engineering- Seniors interested in attending University of Illinois to study engineering. Deadline February MSCPA Scholarship - $300 - www.cpatrack.com Scholarships are offered without regard to financial need. You need to prepare a one-page essay on any aspect of accounting, and complete the other requirements shown on the inside of this brochure. Deadline February. MU Alumni Association ~ Scholarship Program – www.mizzou.com For students interested in attending MU. 26 or higher ACT, Rank in top 20%. Deadline February National Alliance for Scholastic Achievement – $2,000 - $15,000 – http://www.edfed.com/planningcollege/scholarship-indetail.php?id=28412 Applicant must; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a GPA of 2.75 or higher, complete SAT or ACT, complete application and essay question, supply a letter of recommendation from teacher or administrator. Deadline February Academy of Hair Design Cosmetology School Scholarship – 1,000 – 2,500 – www.AOHD.com Applicants must complete an application, questionnaire and submit a photo along with the application and question. Illinois Association of County Official. Open to all graduating seniors. Deadline March Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver. Offers tuition waivers at Illinois public 4 year universities to students studying to become teachers in a special education field. www.collegezone.com/. Deadline March The American Assoc. of Physicians of Indian Origin Scholarship. Students with an ACT of 29, Top 10% of class and write an essay. Deadline March National Defense Transportation Assoc. Scott/St. Louis Chapter Scholarship. Student majoring in business, transportation and physical distribution will have priority, but any can apply. Deadline March US Bank www.usbank.com/studentbanking $1000 Seniors planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college fulltime are eligible. Recipients are selected by a random drawing. Deadline March AMVETS Scholarship Program. Several scholarships with different eligibility and academic requirements. Financial need is a major consideration. Deadline March Scott Community Scholarship Program. Dependent of an active, reserve, retired, or deceased military member. Deadline March Children of Veterans Scholarship. Must be son/daughter of W.W.II, Korean, Vietnam, or Persian Gulf Wars. University of Illinois only. www.osfa.uiuc.edu. Deadline March 31 Association of the U.S. Army St. Louis Gateway Chapter. Applicants must have parent who served/or currently serving in the U.S. Army, Guard, or Reserve. Deadline March Alpha Kappa Lambda Scholarship. Young men only. Applicants must show scholastic excellence, leadership experience, and active participation in the community. University of IL Urbana-Champaign only. Deadline March National Federation of Independent Business Scholarship. www.NFIB.com/education. Deadline March. Nevco Scholar-Athlete Scholarship www.nevco.com Scholarships are awarded to senior athletes that show excellence in the classroom, success in athletics, leadership among peers, and community involvement. See a counselor for more details or visit the following website. Deadline March Alpha Delta Kappa Illinois IOTA Chapter Scholarship. Women who are majoring in education may apply. Deadline March General Assembly Public Affairs Scholarship. Students who has been active in public and civil affairs College/University in Illinois only. Deadline March American Legion Auxiliary Spirit of Youth Scholarship for Junior Members – www.legion-aux.org/ $1,000 Must be a senior in high school. Must be a junior member of the American Legion Auxiliary for the past three years and must hold a membership card for the current year. Applicant must continue their membership in the American Legion Auxiliary during the four-year scholarship period. Applicants must be of good character and have grades which meet entrance requirements at the institution of their choice. Applicant must have at least a 3.0 GPA using a 4.0 base. Deadline – March American Legion - $1,000 - $15,000 Must be a citizen of the U.S. Grades nine through twelve. Only one essay may be submitted by a contestant. Criteria for judging will include will include clarity and strength of argumentation, quality and originality of essay/research, and understanding of the right of citizens to petition their government under the U.S. Constitution. Deadline March Art Institute of Colorado – www.aic.artinstitutes.edu Two two-academic year and eight one-academic year scholarships are offered to high school graduates who demonstrate ability and commitment in one of The Art Institute’s programs of study. The value of the twoacademic year scholarships is approximately $32,830 each. The value of the eight one-year scholarships is approximately $16,415 each Deadline March 1st Conclave Broadcasting Scholarship – combined value of three scholarships is over $60,000 – www.theconclave.com Radio scholarships are for those who want careers in any area of radio/broadcasting – air personality, advertising/sales, programming, writing, news, sports, production, etc. Deadline March Cynthia Edward’s Scholarship – Changes year to year The recipient must have maintained at least a “B” grade point average. The recipient must be planning to major in journalism or communications in college either in a two-year or a four year program. Deadline March Knights of Columbus - $1,500 Applicant must be a member in good standing of the Knights of Columbus, the son or daughter of such a member or deceased member, or a member in good standing of the Colombian Squires. Awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Deadline March Kohl’s Kids Who Care - $1000 An annual opportunity for Kohl's to recognize and reward kids who volunteer in their communities. Deadline March. 32 National Art Honor Society – 2,500 – 25,000 – www.artinstitutes.edu For students who are interested in Computer animation, Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Multimedia, Interactive Multimedia Programming, Photography Video Production, and Web Site Administration. Deadline March National Farmers Youth Scholarship-$500 - $1,000 - Must be a high school senior. Must major in an agricultural field at an accredited college or university. Deadline March. National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Free Enterprise Scholars Award - $1,000 – http://www.nfib.com/yef High school senior or any student entering freshman year at an accredited, nonprofit two- or four-year university, college or vocational/technical institute; applicants should demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. Deadline March Teacher’s Selection: Anthology of Eleventh Grade Poetry – www.anthologyofpoetry.com Any 11th grade student. Criteria for each poem is as follows: Originality, Rhythmic sounds, Rhymes, Audience appeal, Also considered are a writer's fresh approach to a simple subject and works that exhibit the author's involvement in the subject matter. Deadline March Beta Sigma PSi Alpha Alumni Scholarship $1000, Lutheran Male Student attending University of IllinoisUrbana/Champaign Only. Deadline March. U of I Children of Veterans Scholarship- www.osfa.uiuc.edu click forms then click children of veteran’s scholarship. Deadline March Illinois Odd Fellows-Rebekahs Scholarship. Any high school senior. www.ioof-il.org/ Deadline March CWO3 Charles E. Nalley Scholarship. Relative, i.e. son, daughter or grandchild of current active, dues paying member of the Southwest Illinois Chapter of Military officers Assoc. Deadline March. Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship. http://www.epilepsy-scholarship.com/ Applicants must be under care of a physician for Epilepsy. Deadline March. Notre Dame Club of St. Louis Scholarship. Seniors with financial need applying to Notre Dame University. Deadline March. Illinois PTA Scholarships/ Lillian E. Glover Scholarship. www.illinoispta.org $500-$1,000 scholarship for seniors that are in the top 25% of their class. Students must be entering a program to acquire a degree in education or education-related field. This would include librarians, instructional media specialists, school nurses, school psychologists, or social workers (all of which require certification from a State Board of Education). Deadline March. Illinois Jaycee Charitable Foundation Roger D. Colbert Memorial Scholarship Award- Senior who is related to an Illinois Jaycee member or JCI Senator is eligible. Recipients are chosen based upon involvement, leadership roles, honors and awards, Jaycee organization participation, employment, personal statements, financial statement, scholastic achievement, and sponsor letter. Deadline March 1 Asthma Athlete Scholarship - $1,000 - $10,000 – www.parentsinc.org/finaid/aid6528.html All high school students with asthma who have achieved both excellence in competitive sports and a superior high school academic record are eligible. Leadership qualities and notable extracurricular activities and accomplishments are considered. Deadline April. 33 Josten’s Foundation Scholarship - $1,000 - http://www.jostens.com/educators/edu_svcs_lp_renaissance.html Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors who have shown outstanding leadership qualities in school, community and academic activities. Deadline April. Aynn Rand – $1,000 - $10,000 - www.aynrand.org/contests Write a story on one of the topics given to you. All essays must be solely the work of the entrant. Deadline April. Christian Science Monitor - $2,500 - To honor the inspired and selfless service of a college bound young woman, who is graduating from high school and has made a significant contribution to the well being of young people in her community. Must have letters of reference and an essay. Deadline April The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. Must have a GPA of 2.0 and demonstrate financial need. Deadline April. Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Scholarship. Major in a technical or scientific field. Deadline April. George Mangiaracina Memorial Scholarship. Students interested in business administration emphasis in accounting. College/University in Illinois only. Deadline April. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Son/daughter of a former Marine, active, reserve, or U.S. Navy corpsman attached to the Marines. www.marine-scholars.org. Deadline April. Sigma Phi Epsilon Balanced Man Scholarship. Male students who have excelled in the areas of scholarship, leadership, athletics, and community service. University of IL Urbana-Champaign only. Deadline April. D.A.R. – Alice W. Rooke Scholarship - $5,000- Awarded for up to four years to students who have been accepted into a program and pursuing an approved course of study to become a medical doctor (pre-med does not qualify) at approved, accredited medical schools, colleges and universities. Deadline April D.A.R. – Irene and Daisy MacGregor Scholarship - $5,000 - Awarded for up to four years to a student of high scholastic standing and character who have been accepted into or are pursuing an approved course of study to become a medical doctor (no pre med) at an approved, accredited medical school. It is also available to students who have been accepted into or who are pursuing an approved course of study in psychiatric nursing graduate level, at accredited medical schools, colleges or universities. Deadline April Holocaust Remembrance Project - $1,000 - $5,000 – http://holocaust.hklaw.com A national essay contest for high school students that is designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust Deadline April Illinois Association of Mortgage Brokers- Ted Farrell memorial Scholarship- $1500 GPA 3.0 or better. Must have a parent, grandparent or sibling in the Mortgage Industry who must work for a company that is a member of the Illinois Association of Mortgage Brokers. Deadline April. National Wild Turkey Federation’s Academic Scholarship Program Conservation scholarship, applicant must have hunter’s registration. Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest - $1,000 - Juniors and seniors write an essay on one of the three topics posed for this year’s competition. Must be submitted by a high school English teacher on behalf of the student. The essay will be judged on style, content, grammar, and originality. Deadline April. 34 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache - $7,500 If you excel in a high school sport at the varsity level, have a history of academic achievement and are considered a leader by peers, teachers and coaches, fill out the entry form and mail it along with the documents listed in the complete contest rules. Deadline April. American Foundry St Louis Chapter of the American Foundry Society- St. Louis area resident (90 miles radius from downtown St. Louis) planning to study metallurgy, materials science, engineering, Industrial Technology, or other Foundry-related fields at an accredited Missouri or Illinois college or university. Deadline April Society of Professional Journalists - $350 - $1,000 - Freshmen through seniors enrolled in public and private schools are eligible. Write an essay on the chosen topic. Deadline April. USA Funds Access to Education Scholarship - $1,500/Full Time, $750/Part Time This scholarship is open to high school seniors, incoming college students or currently enrolled college students who: *Plan to enroll or are enrolled in full time undergraduate or graduate coursework or part time undergraduate coursework at an accredited two or four year college, university, vocational/technical school or graduate school. GED recipients also are eligible. Students must be enrolled for the entire academic year, beginning fall term and continuing through February 1 of the upcoming academic year, Have an annual adjusted gross family income of $35,000 or less, U.S. citizens or eligible non citizens, and not currently in default on any student loans. Deadline April Education Communication Scholarship Foundation - $1,000 - All high school students who are U.S. citizens and who have taken the SAT or ACT examination may compete. Deadline May. Morrison Institute of Technology Counselor Scholarship- $500-$1000, Seniors planning to study Building & Highway Construction and Technology and Surveying, or Mechanical Design and Drafting and CAD, or System and Networking Administration at Morrison Institute of Technology. Recommendation only. DeVry University- www.high-school.devry.edu/students Great Clips of Hair (Cosmetology Scholarship) - $500 - There is an opportunity to become a salon manager with all the advanced management training necessary to succeed. Deadline May. George Washington Awards – Up to $20,000 - The purpose of the George Washington Award program is to encourage future generations to take leadership roles benefiting abused, exploited and abandoned children. Deadline June. Tau Kappa Epsilon, Gamma Chapter. Two Scholarships awarded to male high school graduates who will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Deadline June Pfizer’s Epilepsy Scholarship- A 1-year, $2000 scholarship honoring outstanding students who have Overcome the challenges of epilepsy, Been successful in school, Done well in activities outside the classroom or in the community, and Shown a desire to make the most out of college or graduate school Deadline June Abbott & Fenner Annual Scholarship Award Juniors and Seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution. The application is essay based. Applications must be submitted via email. Pick up a paper copy with the directions & essay topics in the guidance office. Deadline June 35 ROTC - $60,000 ROTC scholarships are based only on your achievements and academic record – not financial need. Students do not “join” ROTC or the military. They simply take an ROTC class like any other college class. It is considered an elective. For all branches of the military including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, and Coast Guard. Deadline July. Psi U Scholarship Grant Program www.illinipsiu.com This scholarship is for senior males planning on attending University of Illinois. It is given to the applicant with the highest moral, intellectual, and social excellence. Deadline September. Local and Regional Scholarships Contact the Guidance Office for additional information and applications. Please note that these scholarships are not always available based on continuation of program or fiscal year funding for each program. National Wild Turkey Fed./Tri-Count Strutters- Must have a valid hunting license. Deadline January Selma J. Hartke- Need based financial aid. Amount varies. Deadline February Delta Kappa Gamma (Delta Epsilon) Scholarship. Female students pursing a degree in Education. Deadline March Outstanding Diocesan Catholic Female High School Senior. Deadline March Illinois Sheriff’s Association Scholarship. Information will be in the Guidance Office in March. Charter Collegiate Scholarship. In Guidance Office. Deadline March. National Defense Transportation Association Scholarship. Must Major in business, transportation logistics, or physical distribution. Deadline March. Illinois AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship. Be a child of a deceased father or mother who was a Veteran. Deadline March. Staunton VFW Post 1241 Scholarship- March deadline Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Scholarship. High school senior enrolling in an accredited trade school. Deadline April. Blackburn College- Macoupin County Scholarship- Macoupin County Resident. Deadline April. Staunton Athletic Booster Club- Deadline April. Louis & Temple Marsch Scholarship- Macoupin County resident. Priority is given to students planning to study engineering or a related field. Deadline April Macoupin and Montgomery Counties Crime Stoppers- Deadline April. Senator Vince Demuzio Education Fund- 2.0 GPA. Deadline April. 36 University of Illinois Extension Agriculture Scholarship- $800, Macoupin County high school senior, planning to attend a college, university, junior college, or vocational school to study an agricultural area. Walter V. Spotti Vocational Scholarship- $2500 for students who plan to attend a vocational school. Deadline April. Zonta Club Scholarship- $500 Deadline April Friends of NRA, Mark Mansholt Memorial Scholarship- Deadline April Lois McBride Scholarship- $1000 Deadline April FFA Alumni Association Scholarships- $1000 for students who have served three years in FFA Barbara Yakos Memorial Scholarship- $500 for excellence in English class SHS Academic Merit Scholarship- $3500 Seniors planning to pursue a medical or engineering degree. Deadline May 1 Jamie Jo Broderick-Fernandez Scholarship- Seniors planning to pursue education degree. Deadline May 1 Walgreen's Scholarship. Seniors with high GPA and ACT scores. St. Louis College of Pharmacy only Deadline May. Excellence in Ag Scholarship. www.treasurer.il.gov $2,500 Seniors planning to pursue college degree and career in agriculture or agricultural related field. Deadline May American Legion George Oehler Jr. Memorial Scholarship- $500 Deadline May Chamber of Commerce- $500 GPA 3.0 or above. Deadline May Community Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship- $1000 Seniors planning to pursue a health related degree. Deadline May Congressional Black Caucus School- http://www.cbcfinc.org/CBC%20spouses/scholarships.index.html Open to all college bound students attending an Illinois college or university regardless of race. Deadline May Knights of Columbus- $500 Deadline May Patrick B Heise Memorial Healthcare –Community Memorial Hospital. Senior planning to pursue health care degree. Deadline May Opportunity Fund- $1000- For students who have orders for military service by graduation. Staunton Education Foundation Scholarship- $1000 Deadline May. Staunton Fire Protection District- $500 Deadline May. Staunton Lions Club- $250 Deadline May. Staunton Youth Council Scholarship- Based on SYC service. Deadline May 37 HIS Service Station Scholarship- Deadline May Touchdown Club Sponsors of Jaguar Junior Football Scholarship- $500 SHS Jaguar football player for all years eligible and SHS football player all 4 years. Deadline May. Macoupin County Chapter Whitetails Unlimited Inc. Scholarship- Macoupin County school graduate, planning to pursue a career in wildlife management or conservation related field of study. Deadline May. Morgan County Garden Club- $200 Resident of Morgan, Scott, Greene, Macoupin, Cass, Pike, Schuyler or Brown county. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and plan to major in horticulture. The fields of horticulture included are floriculture, landscape design, horticulture, botany, biology, plant pathology, forestry, agronomy, environmental concerns, city floriculture planning, land management and other allied subjects. Updated: September 2010 38