Scholarship Applications, Links and Information
These scholarships usually re-activate each year. Click the links for new dates and deadlines. In most cases, you should start applying for scholarships in EARLY FALL of your Senior year.
ATHLETIC
The BigSun Organization is proud to be able to continue to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits. They are offering an annual scholarship to a deserving student. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of which sport they are participating in. Deadline is usually in June. Amount of Award - $500.00
The successful applicant will be a high school senior or be attending a post-secondary institute and currently involved in some sport at that institution.
http://www.bigsunathletics.com
ESSAY SCHOLARSHIPS
Dreams to Kings and Queens Essay Scholarship:
The eligibility requirements for this scholarship include:
- Must be graduating high school senior (in the state of Georgia)
- GPA of 2.5 greater
- Be accepted to and prepared to attend an accredited university/college
- Submitting a High School Transcript
- Submitting a 2 page essay answering the following question: What kind of positive impact do you hope to make in the world?
The application process includes:
To apply for this scholarship students must go to https://www.dreamstokingsandqueens.com/scholarship-giveaway
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) announces its latest essay contest. $5,000 will be awarded to the winner. This is for Seniors only, and the deadline is November 1. http://thefire.org
The Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association awards scholarships annually in the amount of $1500, $1000, and $750 to high school seniors through an essay writing contest. Deadline is March 11.
http://www.georgiafiresprinkler.org/events/essay-contest/
High school essay contest for researching international issues
Humane Education Network "A Voice For Animals" essay contest
Essay contest--1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official (after 1956). www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest.aspx
National Amateur Poetry Competition
http://poetrynation.com/rules.php
The Law Office of Nancy L. Cavey believes firmly in the importance of education. That's why they have decided to award a generous $1000 scholarship to a student of their choosing. Applicants must be either currently enrolled or accepted to a University in the United States, be able to provide an official school transcript or acceptance letter verifying their enrollment, and write an essay explaining their plans for their education.
http://www.caveylaw.com/scholarship/
LOCAL/STATE
Flint Energies Scholarships
Flint Energies offers scholarships worth $2,500 each to students pursuing a degree at a four-year college or university. Twenty-seven (27) scholarships will be awarded in 2018 to students whose primary residence is within one of the 17 counties served by Flint Energies: Bibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dooly, Harris, Houston, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Twiggs and Upson. High school seniors and currently enrolled college students are encouraged to apply.
www.flintenergies.com/scholarships
The Georgia Development Authority awards scholarships to students who are pursuing an education in Agriculture. Applications are due in May. The website is www.gdaonline.com/Content/Default/3/3/0/scholarships/scholarships.html.
Columbus State University Servant Leadership Scholarship--for students who enjoy community service and leadership in addition to academics. Applicants must have at least a B average. Deadline is January 31.
http://www.ColumbusState.edu/Servant
Columbus State University Honors Program--For Seniors who have a GPA of 3.5 (90) or above and a minimum of 1200 on the V/M portions of the SAT combined. (ACT composite of 27). Honors students enjoy priority registration for classes and are encouraged to participate in study abroad. Honors coursework includes smaller classes with hands-on style instruction (instead of large lectures).
http://www.ColumbusState.edu/Honors
Better Business Bureau "Students of Integrity" Essay Contest. $500 Prize--Open to Juniors and Seniors. Judged based on character, NOT GPA.
http://www.columbus-ga.bbb.org/students-of-integrity
Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Scholarship. $2,000. Deadline is March 1.
North Georgia Cadets: Each year, the State of Georgia funds 42 "Georgia Military Scholarships" (GMS) for high school seniors to attend North Georgia College & State University as Cadets, earn their bachelor's degrees, and then commission as second lieutenants in the Georgia Army National Guard. These full scholarships pay for tuition, fees, room, meals, books and uniforms for eight semesters, and are worth around $70,000 each. This scholarship IS NOT for your students who want to commission as lieutenants in the full-time, regular Army. Rather, they're for those who want to remain in Georgia after graduating from college, serve as a part-time officers, and compete for jobs in the private sector, public
sector, or pursue post-graduate education.
https://ung.edu/scholarships/index.php
Georgia Tech offers full tuition to students from families with limited family income, as proven by the FAFSA form. No additional application is needed beyond the regular application and the FAFSA form.
www.finaid.gatech.edu/g-wayne-clough-georgia-tech-promise-program
Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship: The Hester Scholarship is open to Georgia high school seniors who will be entering a Georgia college, university or technical school (two year program or more) in the fall semester. Four winning recipients will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The scholarship is named after the late Jan Hester, daughter of Lalia and the late Julian Hester, long-time CEO of the CBA. Jan was a senior at the University of Georgia when she died in an auto accident on April 15, 1990. In addition to supporting community banking, this scholarship is an opportunity to pass on the positive qualities both Julian and Jan Hester exemplified to further the development of tomorrow's generations. http://cbaofga.com/Julian—jan-hester-scholarship.html
Each year the Georgia Development Authority awards up to five (5) scholarships of $1,500.00 to qualified high school students who are pursuing college degrees in agricultural related fields. Please visit the website to read more about the qualifications and requirements to apply for this scholarship.
Kinetic Credit Union Ronald J. Mahoney Scholarship--relatively local to the Columbus Area, so applicant pool is smaller! Must be a member of Kinetic Credit Union (may join before applying), senior, and have a 3.0 GPA. Applications and more info may be found at the web address listed under the "Community and Education" tab.
http://kineticcu.com/scholarship-opportunities
MAJOR-SPECIFIC
Air Force ROTC Scholarships
Marine Corps Scholarships
http://www.marine-scholars.org
AES Engineers scholarship--Deadline in October! Students who are interested in studying engineering should apply.
http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm
National scholarships available for Senior history buffs! $1,000 to $5000. Deadline January 15.
The Buick Achievers scholarship program celebrates motivated, passionate college-bound students from across the nation. Applicants must plan to attend a 4-year college to major in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, or Design and must be interested in a career in an automotive-related industry.
http://www.buickachievers.com/guidelines
Scholarships for FFA members who plan to further their education beyond high school
https://www.ffa.org/scholarships
Navy ROTC Scholarship--Please note the criteria on the page. You do not have to be in a high school ROTC program to apply!
http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarship_criteria.aspx
Reaching for the Stars Foundation scholarships for students majoring in STEM fields
Generation Google scholarship--helps aspiring computer scientists excel in technology. $10,000/year
www.google.com/students/generationgoogle
Lockheed Martin Scholarships for high school seniors: Awards are open to individuals studying eligible engineering or computer science majors, who demonstrate financial need and come from underrepresented or underserved communities. https://lockheedmartin.com/scholarship
MINORITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships
Gates Millennium Scholarship Program: The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian Pacific Islander American**, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest. Continuing Gates Millennium Scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science.
Black Excel Scholarship Gateways
Black Student Fund
http://www.blackstudentfund.org
Minority Scholarships
http://www.free-4u.com/minority.htm
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
American Association of University Women
http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/index.cfm
Males from diverse or underserved populations who are interested in teaching may qualify for free tuition to one of 4 historically black colleges in South Carolina. Visit the web site for details! https://www.clemson.edu/education/callmemister
There is also a program in Georgia at GC&SU: http://www.gcsu.edu/education/call-me-mister
Regions Bank is offering a scholarship for Seniors. Criteria and application may be found at this link.
http://www.regions.com/ridingforward
This student-created website compiles scholarship opportunities for undocumented students.
http://let-us-dream.webnode.com/
Available to Latino students who have a commitment to Latino community, a history of leadership, and a desire to contribute. No GPA or major requirement.
Hispanic Business Association--reducing financial obstacles for high-achieving minority students
Al Wright Memorial Migrant Scholarship--$3,000 to a mobile student who has attended more than one school in a year due to agriculture-related work. February deadline.
La Unidad Latina Foundation awards scholarships to worthy and needy students with academic excellence.
Students who identify as LGBTQIA+ or as allies may apply.
http://community.pflag.org/scholarship
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) scholarships
Open to undocumented students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA
http://mydocumentedlife.org/category/high-school-scholarships
Scholarship lists for undocumented students and DACA recipients
http://malfdef.org/resources/scholarship-resources
TheDream.US scholarship is open to all undocumented students who came to the country before November 1, 2014, and otherwise meet DACA criteria. The National Scholarship is for first-time college students or community college graduates. The Opportunity Scholarship is for students who live in locked-out states where they cannot get in-state tuition. The deadline to apply is late January. https://thedream.us/scholarships
MISCELLANEOUS
Wells Fargo Scholarships
http://www.wellsfargo.com/collegesteps
American Legion Scholarship information
http://www.legion.org/needalift
Hallelujah! A list of scholarships for "average students"!
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/average.phtml
The Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Scholarship--for a student with a documented learning disability
http://www.ncld.org/scholarships-and-awards/#scholarship-318
Scholarships offered through internet-based quiz competitions
One of a kind opportunity for the next generation from the Taco Bell foundation. No grades, essays, or test scores required!
www.livemasscholarship.com/#home
$5,000 College Planning Sweepstakes
http://Scholarship.CollegeCovered.com
PB&J Scholarship is open to all college-bound seniors who plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college in the fall. The focus of the scholarship is helping students whose test scores or GPA may not be the best, but who have a drive to succeed. For the application, visit http://bit.ly/pbjscholars2020
Farm Credit Scholarships are available to help ensure bright futures for rural communities and the agricultural industry. Applicants do not have to be members of SWGA Farm Credit. http://SWGAFarmCredit.com
NEED-BASED AID
QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship levels the playing field of college admissions. It equips high-achieving low-income students with the knowledge necessary to compete for admission to the nation's most selective colleges. If you are a high school junior who has achieved academic excellence in the face of economic challenges, we encourage you to complete the College Prep Scholarship application at www.questbridge.org.
QuestBridge partner colleges include Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Caltech, Columbia University, Emory University, Haverford College, MIT, Northwestern University, Oberlin College, Parsons The New School for Design, Pomona College, Princeton University, Rice University, Scripps College, Stanford University, Swarthmore College, Trinity College, the University of Chicago, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Pennsylvania, Vassar College, Washington and Lee University, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Williams College, and Yale University.
QuestBridge is a non-profit program.
KFC Scholars: For high school seniors with a minimum 2.75 who plan to attend college in-state and to pursue a bachelor's degree. Financial need must be evident.
Horatio Alger Awards are given at the state and national levels to high school Seniors who plan to seek a Bachelor's degree, who have overcome personal adversity, and who are experiencing critical financial need. Involvement in extracurricular activities and community service with a GPA of 2.0 are also required. Visit the web site for more information.
http://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships
OVERALL EXCELLENCE and SERVICE
The Jimmy Rane Foundation offers scholarships to outstanding well-rounded students. For more information visit:
http://www.jimmyranefoundation.org
Coca-Cola Scholars: Over $3 million in scholarships will be awarded nationally to 250 students with outstanding extracurricular activities, grades, and community service. Deadline is October 31.
http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
BK Scholars: High school seniors are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in scholarship awards. The application is due in January! http://burgerking.scholarsappl...
Ronald Reagan Foundation Scholarship--$10,000. Deadline is January 9th. Academics, character, citizenship, and financial need considered. Must be a high school student and a U.S. citizen. See link for complete details.
http://www.reaganfoundation.org/GE-RFScholarships.aspx
AXA Achievement Scholarship in association with U.S. News & World Report
http://equitable.com/foundation/equitable-excellence-scholarship
Open to high school juniors with a 2.7 GPA and community service/extracurricular activities who plan to attend an accredited college
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-cares-scholarship
GCEL, Inc., Scholarship: Must be a Senior, have a 2.5, and complete the application. You will need to provide a copy of your transcript, SAT/ACT scores, and one recommendation letter.
Are you a kind person? Do you understand the importance of compassion and use it in your everyday life? This scholarship may be for you! Recommendations required.
http://1spark.net/programs/scholarships/scholarship-submission/
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES
FastWeb e-mails college scholarship information to students based on their personal profile.
FinAid: The Smart Student's Guide to Financial Aid (scholarships)
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships
Guaranteed Scholarships?!
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com
National Scholarships at all Levels
http://scholarships.fatomei.com
This site provides a list of many varied scholarship applications. Check it out! There are essay contests and more! Many ARE NOT LIMITED by income or grades.
http://www.studentscholarships.org
Chegg.com: Create your profile today and receive access to many scholarships that are based on more aspects of you as a student than just grades and tests. Example: the 3-sentence essay scholarship
http://www.chegg.com/scholarships/
These are just a few of the many, many scholarship applications that are out there. Do your research and apply, apply, apply! Please do not wait until the day of the deadline to turn in materials. Additional scholarship will be posted under “news” on the Marion system website.
Remember, never pay to apply for a scholarship.