Day: March 13, 2024

Opportunities for Young ScholarsOpportunities for Young Scholars

Scholarships For 4th Graders

Parents should encourage learners of all ages to pursue scholarships for college. While it may be more difficult for younger students to find opportunities, they do exist.

Students in grades 4 – 8 can participate in a variety of scholarship contests and programs. For example, they can enter the Doodle for Google competition and compete at state levels for a national scholarship.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Community service is an excellent way for students to gain real world experience and develop valuable skills they will carry with them through life. It also helps teach them how to balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities and volunteerism, something that will be important when applying for colleges or jobs.

Each year, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors middle level and high school students for their dedication to improving the lives of those in need through their volunteerism. The program is the United States’ largest youth recognition award based solely on service to others. Students are awarded based on the number of hours they serve, the impact of their service and leadership in their efforts.

Students who apply to this prestigious program are considered Local Honorees and may be selected by a panel for state honors. They will receive $1,000, a silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with their parent or guardian to Washington, DC for national recognition events.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers sponsors this competition that encourages the passions of creative teens and validates their talents. Students in grades 7-12 can enter their work into 28 art and writing categories to be evaluated by a panel of academic experts. Winners receive recognition, scholarships and opportunities to share their work with the public.

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for student achievement in visual arts and written expression. Many renowned artists and writers, including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Jose Parla, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote and Andy Warhol, received recognition through the awards as teens.

The judging process is blind, which means that the judges do not know who submitted each entry. However, it also allows them to provide valuable feedback on the strengths of each submission. This can help students refine their projects in the future.

5/29 Day Scholarships

Unlike merit-based scholarships, which consider grades and a particular talent, need-based scholarships take into account your family’s ability to pay for college. These scholarships can also be fun to apply for, since they often consider things like a student’s hobbies, interests and community connections.

The CKSF Scholarship is one such opportunity. It invites students to participate in online quizzes on a variety of topics from general “common knowledge” to specific academic subjects, books and websites. Students with the highest scores earn scholarships ranging from $250 to $2,500.

Many states host activities in honor of 5/29 Day to promote the importance of college savings. For example, Washington College Savings Plans is conducting a statewide art contest that concludes on May 29. Students in grades K-12 can submit art pieces, and winners will receive their choice of an Apple or Microsoft tablet. This scholarship is a great way to spread awareness about the benefits of 529 plans.

External Scholarships

Many community organizations, schools, scholarship search engines, and libraries provide information on external scholarships for students. A good scholarship search engine is free to use and will not ask for personal information or charge a fee. Some scholarships require a variety of materials, including essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and test scores. Some are need-based while others are merit-based.

When applying for outside scholarships, it is important to be organized and aware of deadlines. It is helpful to create a system for managing each application, including a calendar and checklist, to avoid missing deadlines. Also, save copies of applications and essays, as they can be used again for future applications.

If a student receives an outside scholarship, it is important to report this to the school financial aid office. Depending on the donor’s specifications, the scholarship check may be applied to a prior or forthcoming term balance. If this is the case, the student should be sure to follow up with the donor to confirm this request.

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