Don’t Assume, Explore
I was discussing scholarships with a student the other day, and he thought that the criteria for particular scholarships were a 3.0 GPA.
I told him that every scholarship has different requirements and different criteria. Some scholarships consider need, and some do not. Some scholarships require a high GPA, some require nothing more than a 2.0 or 2.5 GPA, while others consider no GPA.
We explored the scholarships the student thought required a 3.0 GPA, but many required only a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Don’t assume; explore the criteria for each scholarship. Some of your assumptions may be correct, but many of them may not be.
How To Stand Out On Your Scholarship Application
In the workshop, we will discuss techniques to make yourself stand out on the scholarship application.
Scholarship Possibilities
We will explore scholarship opportunities at the following websites. Much of the workshop will be dictated by the participants, their majors and their interests, so the scholarships we explore may change.
For TSU Students Only
https://tnstate.academicworks.com/
Tennessee State University Foundation AcademicWorks Scholarships
2019-2020 Scholarship Application Period
Students interested in applying for TSU Foundation scholarships should go to the above website
Deadline: midnight, Sunday, March 31, 2019
Other Scholarship Opportunities
https://www.tmcf.org/our-scholarships
Currently, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has 12 open scholarships. We will look at these.
https://www.uncf.org/scholarships
Scholarships, programs, internships, and fellowships administered by the United Negro College Fund
https://collegefund.org/student-resources/
American Indian College Fund
The Full Circle Scholarship is open and its deadline is May 31, 2019.
https://www.aspirehigherscholarships.com/
Aspire Higher Ortho Dermatologics Scholarship, D: April 26, 2019
https://www.shawncartersf.com/scholarship-fund/
Shawn Carter/Jay Z Scholarship Foundation, opens April 1, deadline is April 30, 2019
Selected criteria:
“ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- High school seniors, students with GED diplomas, undergraduate (2 year or 4 year) college students, and students at vocational or trade schools
- US citizen or Permanent Resident
- 25 years old or younger
- Minimum 0 GPA”
Review the list of scholarships found under UPCOMING SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships featured earlier in 2019 on this blog have deadlines coming up in April and May 2019, such as
Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program, Open on an ongoing basis
$5000 Minority Teaching Fellows Program for Tennesseans, D: April 15, 2019
Army Scholarship Foundation, usually $1,000, but can vary in amount, D: April 15, 2019
$2,500 Ora Lee Sanders Scholarship, D: May 1, 2019
$5,000 Cirilo McSween Scholarship, D: May 1, 2019
$10,000 Adoption Network Law Center Scholarship, D: Oct. 15, 2019
List of Scholarships with a minimum GPA 1.0 to 2.0
Scholarships that Require No GPA
https://www.dosomething.org/us/about/easy-scholarships
DoSomething.Org is for people ages 13-25 and encourages young people to do something, to complete social action through campaigns.
Scholarships and opportunities are ongoing throughout the year, some times as much as $5,000.
https://www.unigo.com/m/scholarships/citizensbank
$2,500 Citizens Bank Undergraduate Scholarship, D: Aug 1, 2019
https://www.valuecolleges.com/scholarships/no-gpa/
List of 50 Scholarships that don’t require GPA
For College and High School students
1,000 Dreams Fund, D: April 30, 2019 for Spring; Nov 1, 2019 for Fall
Selected criteria from webpage:
“The 1000 Dreams Scholarship provides one-time educational assistance for currently enrolled high school or college-aged women throughout the United States. This can include assistance for needs including but not exclusive to: educational conferences, instructional programs related to creative or artistic pursuits, graduate exam application fees, or textbooks. Needs that are ongoing (e.g., utility bills, food costs) or related to medical care are not covered by this fund. This scholarship is not to fund tuition. The intention is to provide access to educational opportunities beyond tuition.
Eligibility:
The students eligible for assistance shall be women attending high school or a two-year or four-year college/university in the United States. Students must demonstrate financial need. Applications must include two letters of recommendation and an essay explaining how the grant would be used. Selection will be based on application contents, financial need and information gathered from letter(s) of recommendation.”
https://www.smeef.org/sme-education-foundation-scholarships/scholarship-opportunities/
SME Education Foundation scholarships, scholarships for the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent, which includes graduating high school seniors, technical school/community college, undergraduate students, and graduate students
While this scholarship is currently closed, you can register for the 2020-2021 school year and be notified when the application opens in November 2019.
https://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/
Educational and Career Funding Opportunities (fellowships and grants) administered by the AAUW (American Association of University Women)
For High School Students Graduating
Boule Foundation Scholarship, D: Mar 31, 2019
For Students in High School, Middle School, and Elementary School
https://www.nassp.org/news-and-resources/nassp-approved-student-programs/?SSO=true
From website: “NASSP Approved Student Programs
Since 1941, NASSP has published the NASSP List of Approved Contests, Programs, and Activities for Students. The approval cycle for each edition spans from September of a given year through the following August.
The purpose of this list—developed through NASSP’s National Committee on Student Contests, Programs, and Activities—is to assist principals, teachers, parents, and students in determining the legitimacy and educational value of a variety of external student program opportunities.”
National Association of Secondary Principals creates a list of approved contests and activities for high school students. Some of the contests and activities apply to middle school students and elementary school students.
This list is a great place for high school students to find out about scholarships and competitions they can apply for. This is a treasure trove for students who wish to go to college with little or no debt.
Scholarship Tigers--Students Helping Each Other Find Money for College 
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