SCHOLARSHIP WATCH

Anderson University Scholarships in Visual & Performing Arts. Audition or portfolio review dates for the following scholarships will be held at AndersonUniversity in Anderson, South Carolina, on Nov. 14, 2009; Jan. 15, 2010; and Feb. 26, 2010.  Call the university at 800-542-3594 for details or visit the associated websites listed for each scholarship.

--Music Scholarship Competition – Anderson’s Music Department holds accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Audition to compete for an annual music scholarship of up to $6,000 per year.  Visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visitmusic .

--Theater Scholarship Competition – The AU Theater Department is an active participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. If you plan to major in theater, you must audition to compete for the $4,000 per year annual scholarship.  For more information, visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visittheater.

--Visual Art Scholarship Competition – Anderson’s VisualArtDepartment holds accreditation through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).  Register for a portfolio review to compete for an annual visual art scholarship of up to $3,500 per year.  Visit www.andersonuniversity.edu/visitart for details.

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards.  Young Entrepreneur Awards recognize graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000.  For details and to apply, go to www.NFIB.com/YEA and click on the “Apply Now” link.  The foundation’s goal is to help build the next generation of small-business owners and entrepreneurs by educating young people about the critical role of small business and the American free-enterprise system and by helping students interested in small business and entrepreneurship further their education.

A FL-CIO Scholarships.  The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Annual Scholarship Awards Program is open to all seniors in the Commonwealt who plan to continue their studies after graduation. The organization will award approximately $1 million in scholarships during the 2008-09 school year. To be considered for a scholarship, you must take a labor history exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions and one 250-500 word essay question.  If you are interested in taking the exam, to be administered at WCS on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010,  please submit an application to the Guidance Department by Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.  See Mrs. Allen for an application and study guide or you may download one at www.massaflcio.org/scholarship-program.

FIRST Robotic Scholarships.  More than 107 schools or organizations throughout the country are offering confirmed FIRST scholarships to FIRST robotics students ranging in value from $500 to $149,000.  Over $10 million in scholarship funding is offered from schools such as MIT, Florida Institute of Technology, WPI, Harvey Mudd College, Carnegie Mellon University, Kettering University, Purdue University, University of Texas-Austin, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, and Tulane University. There are scholarships specifically for engineering, computer science, technology, science, or math, and many others that can be applied to any course of study.  Most scholarships are for academic achievements, but some are for financial need and others simply for participation on a FIRST team.  There are plenty of scholarship opportunities for all students to consider.  For details, visit www.usfirst.org/scholarships. 

KFC Colonel's Scholars. This scholarship program is dedicated to assisting students with financial need who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree at a public college or university within their state of legal residence. Awards total $5,000 per year per student, for a total of $20,000. To qualify a student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident graduating from high school during the 2009-2010 academic year, maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA, and enrolling in a public, in-state college or university by Sept. 2010 to pursue a bachelor's degree.  For more details and to apply online, visit www.kfcscholars.org. The online application is available Dec.1 through Feb. 10, 2010.

BK Scholars Program.  The Have It Your Way Foundation is sponsoring the 2010 Burger King Scholars Program. Last year the program awarded $1.06 million in scholarships to graduating seniors.  The awards are $1,000 each and may be used for educational expenses such as tuition, books and fees during the first year of college or vocational/technical school.  To qualify, students must be a high school senior and a resident of the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico with a GPA of 2.5 or better.  They need to work part time at least 10 hours per week or 40 weeks per year, be actively involved in community service, and demonstrate financial need.  To apply online, visit www.haveityourwayfoundation.org.  The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2010.

Henry David Thoreau Scholarships.   Each year, the Thoreau Foundation awards 10 to outstanding Massachusetts high school seniors planning to major in environmental studies. Students with strong academic qualifications and a demonstrated commitment to environmental fields may apply for an undergraduate scholarship totaling up to $20,000. For more details on application requirements, visit www.thoreauscholar.org or see Mrs. Allen. Deadline for applications is Feb. 1, 2010.

Danforth Scholars Program at Washington University – St. Louis. Washington University in St. Louis is inviting applications for its Danforth Scholars Program.  The scholarship is for students nominated by their schools who demonstrate excellence in academics as well as in service and leadership.  Danforth Scholars are students who stand out among their peers in maturity, strong moral character, selflessness, and commitment to community.  Finalists chosen from the pool of nominees will be invited to the campus for an interview in the spring.  If you are interested in applying to Washington University in St. Louis and would like to be considered for this significant monetary scholarship, please see Mrs. Allen for more information.  You may also visit the school’s website at www.wustl.edu. 

Dr. Seuss’s "Oh, the Places You’ll Go" Scholarship. The Dr. Seuss college scholarship recognizes one high school senior with a $5,000 award. Applicants must be high school seniors under age 21 graduating in spring 2010. An essay must be submitted. For application details, stop by the Guidance office or download an application at www.ohtheplaces.org. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 15, 2010.

 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. If you have taken part in community service activities over the past year, you may be eligible to win a $1,000 award, along with a medallion and a trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., in the spring. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created by the national Association of Secondary School Principals and Prudential Financial in 1995 to honor both middle school and high school students for outstanding acts of community service. Since then, more than 80,000 young people have been honored at the local, state and national levels. To apply, fill out an online application form at www.prudential.com/spirit or www.principals.org/prudential (access key: spirit) Once you complete the form online, print it out, sign it and submit it to your principal by Oct. 31, 2009.

 Horatio Alger Association Scholarships. The Horatio Alger Association will award 104 $20,000 college scholarships and grants this year to students who demonstrate critical financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. Scholarship criteria also include high school graduation in the spring/summer of 2010, at least a 2.0 GPA, commitment to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. college or university, and U.S. citizenship. For more information and to apply, submit an online application at www.horatioalger.com/scholarships by Oct. 30, 2009.