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Section 1 - Information at Your Fingertips: Local Sources

Section 2 - Scholarships and Grants: Providing the Best Matches and Opportunities to Win

Section 3 - Introductions, Letters, and Applications

Section 4 - Contacting the Scholarship Sources

Section 5 - You, the Essay Contestant

Section 6 - Writing the Essay

Section 7 - Following ( or not ) the Contest Rules

Section 8 - Interviews and Speech Presentation Information

INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS... 
LOCAL SOURCES
Section 1

In this article, local is defined as your small town or community, and in larger metropolitan areas, your neighborhood. However, do not let this definition of local dissuade you from expanding the grant and scholarship search definition of local. Much will depend on the geographical area and its population: In Wyoming, it could be 100 square miles, in San Francisco, local neighborhoods.

The obvious first step is to determine when and where to begin searching for scholarships and grants: Your high school and community immediately after your senior-year Christmas vacation--or even before! During January of your senior year, check with your high school guidance department to obtain a list of community sources that have scholarships and grants for graduating seniors. And of course, go through The Scholarship & Grant Guide ™ for immediate access to hundreds of scholarships.

This accomplished, inquire about the number of grants and scholarships that are available for graduating seniors from your high school. Continue checking until you have obtained all possible information, then apply for those for which you are qualified. If you're not sure you meet the grant or scholarship eligibility criteria, consult your guidance department or the grant and/or scholarship source.

While obtaining information from your high school guidance department , other areas to pursue include your parents, their employers, (or your employer), unions, and local organizations. Begin your inquiries in January (earlier if possible) since competition may increase as graduation nears.

If you are involved in volunteer work --the local hospital, Girl or Boy Scouts, a food drive, animal shelters, half way homes or food banks-- they may have or know of one or two unique or obscure scholarships.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides full-time educational awards of $4,725 a year and these funds can be used to pay current educational expenses or repay federal student loans. If you would like more information on this program, call 1-800-942-2677 or write to:

The Corporation for National and Community Service
1100 Vermont Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20525

The same logic applies to local organizations, especially if you or a family member is a member (this includes credit unions). Are you or your parents involved with any community organizations or civic groups, such as 4H, YMCA, the American Legion, Elks, Jaycees, or Chamber of Commerce?

Check with organizations connected with your field of interest, (the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association). These organizations are listed in the US Dept of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook and are also found in directories of associations at your local library.

Unions were mentioned earlier for good reason: Most major labor unions (AFL-CIO, Teamsters, UAW, etc.) have programs and scholarships to help pay the cost of post secondary education available for their employees, members and dependents.

Often overlooked, but possible sources: Houses of Worship (Churches, Synagogues and Temples). This is one area where an early inquiry is recommended due to the small number of grants and scholarships and large numbers of applicants.

If you have consistently high grades, the National Honor society and National Merit Scholarships are a must for you to inquire about. Ask your guidance counselor.

Check with your local Veteran's Affairs Office if you (or your spouse) are a veteran or the dependent of a veteran.

Finally, check your library. Ask the librarian to help you research scholarship sources. Ask if they have the "Directory of Associations" (for grants and scholarships). This book lists professional and non-profit organizations in the United States, provides instructions on contacting the various sources, the type of introduction letter required, and page after page of majors and careers.

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