Senior Scholarship Newsletter s1

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP NEWSLETTER st ( 1 Edition 2016-17 )

Attn. Seniors! Throughout the 2016-17 school year, the guidance staff will be providing you with newsletters which contain scholarship opportunities. After reading this bulletin, you can apply for all scholarships in which you are eligible. The different ways in which you may need to pursue an application are as follows: 1) stopping-by the Guidance Office to receive a paper application; 2) you may be able to download a hard copy (pdf version) of the application by accessing this newsletter thru our guidance website (http://esasd.schoolwires.net/Page/3210); or 3) visiting the scholarship provider’s website to either download an application or to submit it electronically. For students without internet access, the Career Lab is open after-school Mondays thru Fridays from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.

Please be sure to follow all the instructions on the scholarship applications carefully. The Guidance Staff cannot be responsible for applications which are invalidated due to missing or incomplete information. It is also important to adhere to the deadlines listed on the scholarship newsletter not the deadlines listed on the scholarship applications. For most scholarships, the deadlines listed on the newsletter are in advance of the deadlines on the scholarship applications in order to allow for enough time for the guidance staff to process and mail all materials. Failing to adhere to a deadline on the scholarship newsletter will result in your application not receiving consideration. All completed applications must be returned to the Guidance Office unless otherwise specified in the newsletter. For instance, more and more scholarship applications are now available on-line and must be submitted electronically.

Many scholarship opportunities during the fall and winter will be national or state competitions. The majority of local scholarship competitions occur in the late winter and early spring. The guidance staff strongly recommends that students use these newsletters as only one source in their search for financial aid. Students should still be contacting colleges regarding scholarship and grant opportunities, as well as applying for state and federal grants and becoming eligible for student loans through completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2017-18 FAFSA is currently available for completion on www.fafsa.gov. Students can also conduct their own independent scholarship search by searching scholarship websites on the internet. Two sites in which students can search for additional scholarships are http://www.fastweb.com/ and www.collegeboard.org.

Good luck in your pursuit of dollars for college!

1) ELKS National Foundation “Most Valuable Student” Scholarship Eligibility: Any high school senior, planning to pursue further education, is eligible to apply. Male and female students compete separately for identical awards.

Applications available on-line at http://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/mvs.cfm Follow application instructions very carefully.

Criteria:  scholarship/academic achievement (recommended for students in the top 10% of their class),  leadership  financial need  essay  honors/awards  activities (e.g. employment & service)

Award: There are 500 scholarships awarded totaling more than $2,000,000 (2) $50,000 scholarships ($15,000 per year) (2) $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 per year) (2) $30,000 scholarships ($5,000 per year) (14) $20,000 scholarships ($4,000 per year) (480)$4,000 scholarships ($1,000 per year)

Deadline: November 30, 2016 – Online Submission Only

2) Burger King Scholars Program

Eligibility: Graduating seniors, Burger King employees and/or dependent children of Burger King employees with plans to attend a 2 or 4 year college or vocational-technical school and who will be attending college in Fall 2016 are eligible. Applications are available only on-line at: https://www.scholarsapply.org/burgerkingscholars from October 15, 2016 thru December 15, 2016.

Criteria:  Strong Academic Record (2.5 GPA minimum)  Community Service  Extracurricular Activities

Awards: Scholarships range from $1,000 to $50,000

Deadline: December 15, 2016 – Online Submissions Only

3) AXA Achievement Scholarship Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are a United States citizens or legal resident and who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States. Students must demonstrate ambition and self-drive as evidenced by outstanding achievement in school, community or work-related activities. Special consideration will be given to achievements that empower society to mitigate risk through education and/or action in areas such as financial, environmental, health and/or emergency-preparedness . Applications available at https://us.axa.com/axa-foundation/AXA-achievement-scholarship.html

Criteria:  Ambition and drive  Determination to set and reach goals  Respect for self, family and community  Ability to succeed in college

Awards: Scholarships in the amount of $2,500, $10,000 and $25,000

4) National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB-The Voice of Small Business) Scholars Award

Eligibility: Graduating seniors entering an accredited two or four-year college, or vocational/technical institute. Students must have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative by starting and operating their own business. Apply on-line at www.NFIB.com/YEA.

Criteria:  Academic achievement.  Extracurricular activities including leadership & character  Entrepreneurial endeavors

Award: Awards range from $2,000 up to $25,000

5) GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility: This program acknowledges and rewards America’s foremost young leaders who demonstrate the leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship exhibited by President Reagan throughout his life. Like President Reagan, candidates use the formative experiences of their youth to lead, serve, and pursue a life of purpose and significance, both individually and for their communities. For on-line applications and more information go to http://www.reaganfoundation.org/GE-RFScholarships.aspx

Criteria:  demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;  demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);  demonstrate financial need as determined by Scholarship Management Services;  be citizens of the United States of America;  be high school seniors attending high school in the United States, or any of the U.S. territories and commonwealths and graduating in winter 2016 or spring 2017. Applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible. Home-schooled students who are graduating in winter 2016 or spring 2017 are also eligible.  plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2017-2018 academic year.

Award: Several renewable scholarships of $10,000 per year

Deadline: January 5, 2017 – Online Submissions Only

6) Ron Brown Scholar Program

Eligibility: Black or African-American high school senior, who is a US citizen (or have permanent resident visa cards), and planning to pursue a four year college or university. Applications must be downloaded at www.ronbrown.org.

Criteria:  Academic excellence  Exhibit leadership ability  Participate in community service activities  Demonstrate financial need  Honors & Awards  Extracurricular activities (school activities, community service, &/or employment  Essays  2 letters of recommendation

Award: $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 per college year)

Deadline: December 21, 2016 – Return applications to Guidance

7) National Multiple Sclerosis Society Scholarship Eligibility: High school seniors who have MS or are the children of people with MS, who will be attending an accredited post-secondary school for the first time. Applications and additional information available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/scholarship

Criteria:  Demonstrate financial need

 Academic achievement

 Leadership and participation in school or community activities

 Work experience

 Statement of educational and career goals

 Essay on impact of MS on their life Award: Several awards ranging from $1,000-$3,000

Deadline: January 18, 2017 – Online Submission Only

8) The Mensa Education & Research Foundation Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating seniors must be a legal U.S. resident and enroll in a degree program in an accredited post-secondary institution for the 2017 academic year. The application is available online on http://www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships

Criteria:  essay of not more than 550 words explaining their career, academic and/or vocational goals and how they plan to achieve those goals.  judging is based solely on the essay. Grades, need, and other criteria are not considered.

Award: Varies ($87,000 in scholarships awarded last year)

Deadline: January 15, 2017 – Online Submissions Only

(9) Pocono Builders Association

Eligibility: A local graduating senior who is pursuing further education in any of the building trades such as construction management, architect, interior design, drafting/architecture, engineering, surveyor, electrician, plumber, etc. The student must plan to attend a college, trade, technical, or career school in one of the related programs listed above. Please go to the Scholarship Newsletter webpage for a printable copy of this application. Criteria:  high school transcript  letter of acceptance from post-secondary school  counselor letter of recommendation  one page essay on why you are applying for this scholarship

Award: Up to $1,000

Deadline: February 1, 2017 – Return to the Guidance Office

10) Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) Scholarship

Eligibility: Seniors who are or who become members of the PSECU by Dec. 31, 2016. To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must be a primary account holder with the PSECU, be a graduating senior, and planning to attend a two or four year college next year. If students are not currently members of the PSECU, they can discover if they are eligible for membership by calling 1-800-237-7328 or by going online at www.psecu.com/eligibility. Once a student is a PSECU member, they can download a scholarship application at https://www.psecu.com/scholarships/

Criteria:  Academic Profile  Awards/Honors  School/Work/Civic/other activities  Employment  Essay

Award: (6) $2,000 per year renewable scholarships

Deadline: February 14, 2017 - Return to the Guidance Office

11) Pocono Mountain Penn State Club

Eligibility: Area high school graduating seniors who will be attending a Penn State University campus in the fall 2017 semester. Eligible schools include East Stroudsburg High Schools (North and South), Pocono Mountain High Schools (East and West), Notre Dame High School, Pleasant Valley High School, and Stroudsburg High School. Please go to the Scholarship Newsletter webpage for a printable copy of this application.

Criteria:  Information reported within application with special attention to those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in one or more extracurricular activities and intend to pursue similar activities at a PSU campus. Award: Those chosen will receive a minimum of $500 cash award.

Deadline: March 3, 2017 - Return to the Guidance Office

12) Breslauer Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduating senior who is willing to complete a project on a topic that is related to the Holocaust. A list of suggested topics is outlined in the scholarship application. Please go to the Scholarship Newsletter webpage for a printable copy of this application.

Criteria:  Completion & Timely Submission of the Project

Award: (1) $1,000

Deadline: March 15, 2017 – Return to the Guidance Office

13) United Steelworkers of America Hugh Carcella Scholarship Program

Eligibility: Applicant must be a member or the son, daughter, or legal ward of a United Steelworkers of America, District 10 (Eastern) local union that participates in this scholarship program. Students also can be the son, daughter, or legal ward for a disabled, retired, or deceased United Steelworkers member as long as the member left in good standing. All applicants must be pursuing a four-year program at a college or university; however, acceptance to a two-year community college is acceptable if applicant is planning to matriculate toward a four-year Bachelor’s degree. Hugh Carcella Scholarship applications are only available, upon request, from participating local Steelworkers of America unions. There are no applications for this scholarship in the Guidance Office.

Criteria:  academic achievement including SAT scores (submit official h.s. transcript with completed application)  interviews may be requested  signature of president or recording secretary of the respective local union must be on the application

Award: (6) $1,000 per year renewable scholarships (total value per scholarship $4,000)

Deadline: March 15, 2017 postmark deadline – Mail directly to the scholarship provider SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES www.collegescholarships.org Free scholarship search www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/index.html Free scholarship search www.schoolsoup.com/scholarship-directory Free scholarship search www.blackexcel.org/100minority.htm Free minority scholarship search www.brokescholar.com Free scholarship search www.collegenet.com/mach25 Database of over 600,000 awards totaling over $1.6 billion www.collegetreasure.com/scholarengine.html Free scholarship search www.educationplanner.org Premier college and career planning website, national college search, essay writer, resume writer, college admission and decision guidance, financial aid information, calculators for EFC and loan repayment, free scholarship search and much more! www.fastweb.com Free scholarship search www.finaid.org Information about scholarship process, financial aid, scholarship scams, and links to fastweb.com scholarship base www.financialaidfinder.com List of scholarships and financial aid information www.hsf.net Hispanic Scholarship Fund www.iefa.org International Education Financial Aid. The IEFA Center offers financial aid, college scholarships, grants and awards search for international students studying abroad. www.internationalscholarships.com Information on financial aid, college scholarships and international scholarships for students wishing to study abroad. www.naacp.org/page/s/scholarship2 NAACP scholarship information and applications. www.niaaa.org/niaaa-awards/niaaa-student-athlete-scholarship/ NIAAA Student Athlete Scholarship http://pa-legion.com/programs/student-programs/scholarships Pennsylvania American Legion Scholarships