Put Your Passion into Words and Images: Earn Money for College
The Hear Me Project scholarship contest is designed for students passionate about HIV/AIDS as well as writing or filmmaking. The Hear Me Project has invited outstanding student stories, fiction or non-fiction, that creatively and engagingly use the HIV/AIDS theme as its core.
New for 2007: a video scholarship contest compliments the essay contest. Translate your personal HIV/AIDS story to fit the medium of video and win $1,000 for college.
Here are the two contests and how you qualify:
Hear Me Essay Contest:
- Eligible students must be 14 to 22 years of age.
- Stories or essays may not exceed 5 pages, double-spaced.
- Work must be original and emphasize “personal vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.”
- Submit entries online or by mail.
- Deadline is December 1, 2007
- Winning entrant will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
Hear Me Video Contest:
- Eligible students must be 14 to 22.
- Videos must be 1 to 2 minutes long.
- Film must be original, may be black and white or color, drama or documentary.
- Video applicants must joint a YouTube user group to apply.
- Submit videos online or via mail.
- Deadline December 1, 2007.
- Winning videographer will receive $1,000 in scholarship money.
Hear Me Project applicants: winners in both categories will be announced in February 2008.
Sponsored by PNY Technologies
Wanted: technically savvy high school seniors that could design compelling and innovative educational programs that teach the elderly how to best harness the power of the internet. Sound easy?
PNY Technologies is sponsoring the Seniors Helping Seniors Scholarship Competition. The primary goal: to inspire “intergenerational” communication and interaction. The secondary goal: to impel college-bound high school seniors to think creatively about how best to provide basic computer and IT training to senior citizens. Remember, most older Americans possess limited computer skills. Why do they need IT skills? Many still work at jobs that require they be dexterous with computers and others could use the Internet to access critical community resources just out of their reach otherwise.
How the competition works:
- Students must work in teams of no more than 5—all members must be college-bound high school seniors to qualify.
- Evaluate your community’s senior resources and devise a plan that might integrate a workable solution for IT education aimed at aging adults.
- Your idea must be original.
- The final proposal must be in the form of a 1,000-word essay and must be accompanied by photos (max. 5) that help illustrate the concepts.
- Proposals must integrate PNY products—the company manufactures computer memory, flash drives and multimedia graphics cards.
- Contest submissions will be accepted until December 31, 2007.
Full contest rules are available on the Seniors Helping Seniors contest website.
How to enter:
Download the Seniors Helping Seniors entry form, complete it, and attach your team’s proposal and all necessary materials. Mail your entry to the address posted in the contest rules. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2007. Only mail in entries will be considered.
Scholarship Winnings:
Each member on the first place team earns $2,500 in scholarship money. Three runners up teams earn PNY flash memory prizes.
Winners will be announced at the end of February 2008.
Thanks to Denny’s and Tom Joyner
A couple of months ago we told you about the Brothers on the Move Scholarship sponsored by the Tom Joyner Foundation, a scholarship to help young African American males. Next, this same foundation, in partnership with Denny’s, will award scholarships to single African American parents.
**Every week during 2008 a $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a single parent that attends a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). That’s $78,000 in free college money.
This is how it works:
The Tom Joyner Foundation exists to assist African American students achieve their educational goals, primarily through scholarship money and ongoing fundraising efforts specifically targeted to HBCUs. The key theme of the foundation is its “School of the Month” program. Each month the Tom Joyner Foundation chooses a different HBCU to highlight.
Here’s a list of the HBCUs.
What you need to know to participate:
- You must be a single African American parent attending the current campus of the month to qualify for the $1,500 scholarship giveaways.
- One $1,500 award will be given out weekly, which means 4 winners per campus.
To apply for these scholarships:
If your school is named as a 2008 Tom Joyner School of the Month contact your financial aid office and ask how you may apply for the single parent scholarships being funded and sponsored by the Tom Joyner Foundation and Denny’s.
New Academic Scholarships Could Mean Full-Rides for 400
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), is making history for its newest scholarship. The Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholarship Program will go to 400 new students beginning in 2008. Based on academic record incoming freshmen—state residents or out of state students—may qualify in three different scholarship award categories that cover at the minimum 50% of their tuition.
The beauty of this scholarship is its scope. According to university sources a scholarship of this magnitude has never been offered by a HBCU anywhere and may well be exemplary among all NC universities. The fund is a reported $1.6 million.
Incoming freshman students may earn scholarships in 3 categories:
- Students with a GPA of 3.75 and higher, combined with an SAT score of at least 1200 may earn 100% tuition scholarship.
- Students with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.749, combined with an SAT score between 1100 and 1200 may earn a 75% tuition scholarship.
- Students with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49, combined with an SAT score between 1000 and 1099, may earn a 50% scholarship.
Scholarships are renewable providing students maintain a 3.3 GPA and continue progress toward a degree.
Next Great Crime Writer Wanted
A “multi-media alliance” between Court TV, Borders Books, and Gather.com is the inspiration for a new contest aimed at ferreting out the Next Great Crime Writer. Students, if you’re passionate about this genre you stand to win a publishing contract, plus $5,000 in advance royalties when you submit chapters from the most promising new crime novel—yours.
Eligibility Rules:
- Participants are required to register as members of Gather.com (free membership).
- You must also sign up for membership as a user on the Court TV Next Great Crime Writer contest group site.
- You must be prepared to post online two chapters of a manuscript: the first on November 15, 2007 and the second on December 13, 2007.
- Chapters must be 2,000 to 10,000 words in length to qualify.
- Online group members are invited to post comments to writers’ chapters and rate writing.
Writers are rated on originality, marketability of story, and reader engagement.
Visit the Next Great Crime Writer website for detailed submission criteria. Final winner will be chosen and announced in February 2008.
Funds Up to $2.8 Million for 2008
Foresters, a membership-driven financial management corporation, is prepared to award up to $2.8 million in scholarships for 2008. The Foresters Competitive Scholarship program is open to student members or dependents of members to assist with the rising costs of tuition. Foresters counts over 900,000 members between the United States and Canada. If you or your family is a Foresters member you may qualify for the Foresters Competitive Scholarships program. For 2008 Foresters has added 30 new scholarships. Now 350 students may win up to $8,000 each over the course of four years each toward their college tuitions.
*New applicants that can demonstrate a combination of community service as well as the tenacity to face personal problems and challenges may enter to be considered for special scholarships. The Ken Petersen Award for Community Leadership awards two applicants with first year scholarships of $5,000 each.
Students may meet scholarship requirements in two categories: undergraduates under 25 years old and “mature students” over the age of 25 enrolled in vocational or undergraduate study that provides at least a two-year degree.
Eligibility Rules:
- Student applicant must be a Forester member or dependent of a member in either the U.S. or Canada.
- Must be enrolled full-time in post-secondary education.
- Students under 25 must have a 3.0 GPA to qualify.
- Mature students may satisfy academic requirements when they prove full-time enrollment in a post-secondary institution.
- Eligible students must prove involvement in community service projects.
Apply online for a Foresters Competitive Scholarship by November 30, 2007. Scholarship winners will be announced in February 2008.
Scholarship winners may receive $2,000, renewable for up to a maximum of four years or until degree completion, whichever comes first.
International Surfing Association will Give Away $24,000
The International Surfing Association (ISA) will dole out $24,000 in scholarship money to junior surfers in 2008. The contest is the first to provide monetary support to surfers who not only show skill and daring on their boards, but show as much commitment to their educations.
Eligible surfers:
- Must be 18 or younger.
- Must be active in surfing.
- Currently enrolled in school: high school or college.
- Demonstrate academic prowess and financial need.
- Be a role model for younger surfers.
- Contest is open to an international audience of surfers.
In 2007 ISA launched the scholarship with $6,000 in prize money. For its new and much improved 2008 junior surfing contest, the ISA is proud to have Quiksilver and Billabong as its corporate sponsors.
How to enter:
- Applicants must include a report card or transcript, two letters of recommendation, a surfing action photo, and a “headshot” photo.
- In 500 words or less, write an essay on the topic, “What I would like to achieve as a surfer.”
- Winners must sign a contingency agreement that states they will only be eligible for the scholarship if they stay in school.
Applications are available on the ISA website and must be submitted no later than November 30, 2007. Junior surf contest winners will be announced sometime in January 2008.
Blade Your Ride Scholarship Video Contest
Students have passion, opinions and usually innovative solutions. If you think you have the inside track on motivating and inciting your friends and family to take environmental action, then soup up your video camera for the Blade Your Ride Scholarship Program.
Well-informed and enthusiastic, environmentally savvy college students are welcome to submit a riveting video that offers an innovative, informational, inspirational, take action-oriented message on the global dangers of vehicle emissions.
Contest Rules:
- You must be a four-year undergraduate college student engaged in any major area of study.
- Your GPA must be at least 3.0.
- Contest is open to international students.
Creating Your Video:
- Videos must be between 60 seconds and 2 minutes in length and on the topic of vehicle emissions and its devastating effects on the environment.
- The company sponsoring the scholarship, Sabertec, asks that you emphasize in your video the three key areas affected by vehicle emissions: environmental, economic, and community health.
- You must prove via your video that you are ultra-informed on the issues as well as knowledgeable on Sabertec’s technology, the Blade, which is designed to radically reduce vehicle emissions.
How to enter:
- Email a resume, faculty letter of recommendation, and a college transcript all in PDF format to Ashley@BladeYourRide.com. “Include your name, school and the words SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION in the subject line of your e-mail.”
- Once your initial entry form is received the Blade Your Ride committee will send you the FTP information you’ll need in order to upload the very important video portion of your submission.
- Enter before November 15, 2007. This means your video must be uploaded by this date.
Four winners will be chosen to win scholarships: initial awards are $5,000. Of these four, one grand prizewinner will be chosen. The video with the most public votes will win an additional $10,000 in scholarship money. Videos may also be posted on the Blade/Sabertec website.
Win Money to Hone Your Craft
Powermatic, a leading woodworking tool manufacturer, has donated funds to create the Powermatic Student Workshop Scholarships sponsored by The Furniture Society. Up for grabs is the cost of tuition at five of the most prestigious furniture workshops in the nation: North Bennett Street School, Penland School of Crafts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Scholarships cover tuition, accommodations, food and partial travel expenses. Workshops will be held during summer 2008.
How it works:
You choose the school you’d like to attend (workshops only) and the length of session. The schools are all located in different regions of the country to make them accessible to students nationwide. Workshop sessions usually run from one week to eight weeks. You may apply for more than one workshop, but it must be at a different school and you must complete a separate application for each.
Eligibility Rules:
- Current full-time enrollment in a formal woodworking or apprenticeship program.
- Must hold current membership in The Furniture Society or become a new member when applying for the scholarship.
- Applications must contain photos of work and a professional resume.
Five scholarships will be awarded in Spring 2008. Each award will be worth between $2,000 and $3,000. You must download the application and mail it in with all required attachments.
Deadline for Powermatic Student Workshop Scholarship applications:
Packets must be postmarked by February 1, 2008.
Over $36,000 in Scholarships Available from the Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), one of the nation’s leading culinary arts schools, is challenging young chefs: get as creative, innovative, and gustatorily edgy as possible with turkey.
The CIA welcomes the fall and holiday season with the Top Turkey Scholarship Contest.
Five separate prizes are awarded, including a new $5,000 People’s Choice Award Scholarship, which includes a YouTube video opp.
To be eligible:
- Participants must enroll in the CIA anytime during 2008.
- Eligible prospective chefs must have their high school diploma by June 2008.
How to enter:
- Entries may be hard copy, 300-word detailed recipe, plus photos
Or
- VHS or DVD format between 3 and 5 minutes in length with accompanying hard copy recipe. Participants interested in the People’s Choice Award must submit the DVD or VHS entry.
About the new People’s Choice Award:
CIA judges will carve down the video competitors to a small serving of finalists. For two weeks the finalists in the video/People’s Choice category will be able to see their videos posted on YouTube. The recipe video with the most audience appeal at the end of the two-week review will win the $5,000 scholarship.
Entries must be mailed to the address on the CIA Top Turkey Scholarship Contest entry form and received by November 9, 2007.
