Royal Neighbors awards New Horizons scholarships

ROCK ISLAND -- Ten students have received New Horizons scholarships through Royal Neighbors of America.

The non-renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 each year are presented to help students pursue a degree at an accredited college or university.

The 2016 scholarship winners locally included Jasmine Babers of Rock Island, Cassandra McGee of Bettendorf, Allison Weis of Davenport and Shelby Burroughs of Milan. Other winners were Samantha Salvador of Hoffman Estates, Cord Carlin and Allie Reynolds of Kansas, Jonathan Ball of Oklahoma, Melissa Hoffman of Colorado and Catherine Scott of California.

New Horizon scholarship winners must be at least 18 years old and high school graduates. The recipients can use their scholarship money to help pay for college in their sophomore, junior or senior year of a bachelor's program or continuing education for advanced degrees.

The Royal Neighbors of America Scholarship Program has awarded more than $5 million to its members. For more details, visit royalneighbors.org/Membership-benefits/Scholarship.

Source: Royal Neighbors awards New Horizons scholarships

Four Tips to Find Easy Scholarships to Apply For

Some scholarships will be easier to apply for than others. Keep in mind that if they are really easy to apply for, e.g. if they just require a couple of sentences by way of application (instead of requesting an essay, personal statement, proof of grades, a CV, examples of extra-curricular activities of sports or volunteering) then there will probably be more competition for that scholarship. Everyone wants an easy option and the scholarship may not amount to a high financial reward. That said, you must to be in it to win it and even small scholarships here and there can help.

There are many ways to pay for college. This article focuses on making the scholarship search as easy as possible for you, whilst trying to keep it realistic and relevant to your needs.

1. Be prepared.

Be prepared to thoroughly research relevant scholarships yourself and send in the applications. Do not pay someone to do this research for you. Both searching for and completing the applications is time consuming, and it may feel like you are having to repeat a lot of information in slightly different ways, but it's worth it when successful. If you are put off by applying, other people will be, too. If you actually get your applications in, then you are already one step ahead of most of them. The more you apply for the better. If you have done your research before you start, you'll have already decided which scholarships are worth your while applying for. You will have checked that you meet all their requirements and therefore stand a better chance of success.

2. Know the amount you want.

To some extent, it depends on how much scholarship money would be beneficial to you. Some weird scholarships are for a lower amount of money, and may not require you to submit such a lengthy essay response, but may offer a $500, $1,000 or $2,000 dollar scholarship to the successful candidate. These may be easy to apply for and easy to find online with a quick Internet search. You can specifically search for "no-essay scholarships."

3. Think outside of the box.

Do you belong to a club or church, or  do you work for a business that funds private scholarships? Are there big businesses near where you live that may offer a scholarship (and perhaps future employment once you have graduated)? It may depend on what sort of study you are interested in, i.e. if it is something like chemistry or engineering then look at large organizations/industries connected to them near where you are located. If they do have scholarships, enquire whether you're eligible to apply.

There are big companies that offer scholarships. For example: Dr Pepper offers $100,000 to students ages 18-24 years and gives four awards. The entry for this is a 350-word response. Then students need to get friends to vote for them, submit a video, and attend a college football conference championship game. There's a $20,000 Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship that gives 20 awards per year; this requires applicants to demonstrate the good skills of being motivated and showing good morals, plus good sportsmanship with a desire to lead. There are certain scholarships affiliated with certain religions such as the Christian College Scholarship worth $2,500.

There will be universities that are local to you, universities that teach specific courses that are highly relevant to your chosen area of study, and universities that have outstanding reputations that you'd like to attend. In all of these cases, go directly to the university's main website and type "scholarships" into the search-box. If they're good, reputable universities, with a quick search you'll find all the scholarship opportunities that they have to offer. Some university websites will break this down specifically into subject/department areas for scholarships. If the government of the country you live in funds any research (for example in the UK they have research councils), they're likely to pay this funding directly to universities, and then they distribute that money as scholarships.

4. Pick the right scholarships.

Just like when choosing college, ensure that the scholarship you are applying for is for something that you are really passionate about and enjoy. If you enjoy what you are applying to do, the application for it will seem easy and not hard work at all. For example, if creative writing is your passion and you want to study that at university, having to complete a creative writing task for your scholarship application should actually be a pleasure. We often excel at what we enjoy, so your application may stand out from the rest. You may find the scholarship application task easy, whereas another person may struggle with it.

Many "Easy Scholarships" mean that you don't have to do a lengthy application form, essay, or show grades, but many students will apply for these. Generally the amount you could get isn't as great as some other more traditional scholarships unless it's a promotional one, such as the Dr. Pepper one mentioned in point four above. You can look for many easy scholarships online from scholarship websites. Remember, the more you find and apply for the better.

College life is not easy, but having scholarships will definitely help you financially and that will make your life much easier.

Featured photo credit: StartupStockPhotos via pixabay.com

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Source: Four Tips to Find Easy Scholarships to Apply For

NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala slated for Saturday

Fri, Oct 14th 2016 05:35 pm

NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala co-chairs David R. and Kari Bonnevie.

Niagara County Community College will host its 26th annual Foundation Scholarship Gala on Oct. 15 at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. The evening will open with a recognition ceremony for distinguished student scholarship honorees.

It will also feature gourmet contemporary American food stations prepared by NCCC culinary and baking and pastry arts students.

A large silent auction and several raffles will also be held throughout the evening.

David R. Bonnevie (NCCC class of '74) and his wife Kari have been named the co-chairs of the event.

Bonnevie is the founder and senior partner of Dental Care Associates and a NCCC Foundation board member.

The NCCC Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to deserving students since its inception in 1987. Proceeds from the gala will go toward NCCC foundation scholarships. Tickets are $125 per person and are available for purchase by contacting the NCCC Foundation office at 716-614-5910 or online at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/foundation.

Source: NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala slated for Saturday

SWCC golf classic aids scholarships, honors McCall

TAZEWELL, Va. — The Southwest Virginia Community College 25th Anniversary Scholarship Golf Classic was played on Sept. 22 at Tazewell County Country Club. The tournament was played in celebration of the life of Sam G. McCall Jr. Proceeds from the tournament provide scholarships for deserving students at SWCC.

Championship flight winners were Taylor Lindsey and Budge Hunter.

Tournament and hole sponsors were Taylor Lindsey of Lindsey and Associates; Jeff Jesse of First Sentinel Bank; Bob Taylor of Richlands Pharmacy and Associates; James Bowen of First Bank and Trust; Sam Minkowitz of Clinch Valley Medical Center; Ginger Robertson; Charles R. and Mary King; Kwik Kafe; Street Law Firm; TruPoint Bank; CGI; Huffman Insurance Agency; Hurst-Scott Funeral Homes; J. A. Street and Associates; TrustPoint Insurance; and an anonymous sponsor.

McCall's wife Priscilla was present at the tournament. The event received support from McCall family members and Greensboro area friends.

Source: SWCC golf classic aids scholarships, honors McCall

Liberty Power Honors Bright Horizons Scholarship Winners

October 17, 2016

Liberty Power, the nation's largest owner-operated retail electricity supplier, is proud to announce the winners of its Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship program. The presentations of checks totaling $20,000 were awarded to three college students at the USHCC National Convention held October 9-11 in Miami, FL.

The Bright Horizons program was established in 2013 when Liberty Power co-founders, David Hernandez and Alberto Daire, committed $100,000 over five years to the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Foundation.   The Bright Horizons Scholarship endeavors to promote and encourage educational efforts in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through awards to college students majoring in these fields who also have an interest in pursuing a career in energy and the environment.

"It's a continued pleasure to collaborate with Liberty Power on the Bright Horizons Scholarship. The USHCC Foundation is honored to be involved in promoting the advancement of STEM education, particularly among ethnic groups that are under-represented in these important fields," said USHCC Foundation Chairman, Nina Vaca.

The grand prize, a $10,000 scholarship, was awarded to Twymun K. Safford, who is earning undergraduate degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of West Florida.

"I am honored to be recognized as a Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship winner," Mr. Safford stated. "My goals include pursuing a Ph.D. in nuclear and high-energy physics in order to contribute to research endeavors that will yield safer, more efficient energy alternatives."

The $6,000 scholarship was awarded to Agni Guerrero, an undergraduate student at New Mexico State University who is majoring in electrical engineering.

"The Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship will provide me with the financial support needed to pursue a master's degree," Ms. Guerrero said.  "I will be able to spread the message to other minority students that no matter what your current situation might be, with dedication and the right tools it is possible to achieve your educational and career goals."

Samantha Michael was awarded the $4,000 scholarship. She is earning her undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering at North Carolina State University.

"I hope to play an integral role in the development of the newer, more robust technology that is going to be needed to further promote zero-emission power sources," Ms. Michael stated. "Such a prestigious award as the Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship will provide the increased credibility I need to have my ideas taken seriously." 

Winners were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of policymakers and business leaders within the energy industry, previous Bright Horizons Scholarship winners, the USHCC Foundation, and a collective vote from Liberty Power team members. The three winners were honored by Nina Vaca, USHCC Foundation Chairman, Alberto Daire, co-founder and President of Liberty Power, as well as Tim LoCascio, Liberty Power's Director of Marketing and Bright Horizons Program Director, during the annual convention's closing gala on October 11.

"We are extremely proud to be able to support such an exceptional group of talented students," Daire stated. "It's personally very rewarding to be able to support the educational pursuits of the future generation and provide them with a memorable experience."

The fifth annual Liberty Power Bright Horizons Scholarship application period is scheduled to open in Spring, 2017.

About Liberty Power

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Liberty Power is the largest owner-operated retail electricity provider in the United States based on 2015 DNV GL rankings of electricity retailers. The company is also the first minority-owned provider with a national footprint, and the largest Hispanic-owned energy company in the United States according to Hispanic Business magazine. Liberty Power provides large and small businesses, government agencies and residential customers with competitively-priced electricity and exceptional customer service.

For more information please visit www.libertypowercorp.com

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The USHCC Foundation is committed to giving Hispanic entrepreneurs life-long learning by developing and implementing initiatives and educational campaigns to awaken and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit. The Foundation leverages corporate and public support to ensure that existing and aspiring Latino entrepreneurs gain access and achieve success in the world of business. Please visit www.ushccfoundation.org for more information.

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of nearly 4.1 million Hispanic-owned businesses across the United States that together contribute in excess of $661 billion to the American economy each year. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers and business associations in the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information visit www.ushcc.com

Liberty Power is a registered trademark of Liberty Power Corp. LLC, whose subsidiaries are certified and licensed to provide retail electric service by the PUC / PSC of CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TX and VA.

For more information:
Source: Liberty Power Honors Bright Horizons Scholarship Winners

NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala slated for Saturday

Fri, Oct 14th 2016 05:35 pm

NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala co-chairs David R. and Kari Bonnevie.

Niagara County Community College will host its 26th annual Foundation Scholarship Gala on Oct. 15 at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. The evening will open with a recognition ceremony for distinguished student scholarship honorees.

It will also feature gourmet contemporary American food stations prepared by NCCC culinary and baking and pastry arts students.

A large silent auction and several raffles will also be held throughout the evening.

David R. Bonnevie (NCCC class of '74) and his wife Kari have been named the co-chairs of the event.

Bonnevie is the founder and senior partner of Dental Care Associates and a NCCC Foundation board member.

The NCCC Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to deserving students since its inception in 1987. Proceeds from the gala will go toward NCCC foundation scholarships. Tickets are $125 per person and are available for purchase by contacting the NCCC Foundation office at 716-614-5910 or online at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/foundation.

Source: NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala slated for Saturday

Alumni Association and affinity group scholarships available

Recipients of the 2016-2017 Alumni Association Scholarship, Andrew Bilgri and Lexa Vogelsberg

The Illinois State Alumni Association and the groups that work in conjunction with the Alumni Association provide scholarship opportunities for current and future Redbirds of Illinois State University.

Alumni Association and Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarships

The Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of sons, daughters, siblings, or grandchildren of Illinois State University graduates as a way to ease strain of college expenses and recognize legacy families continuing the Illinois State tradition. The nonrenewable scholarship was made possible by a donation from the family of alumna Marian H. Dean '27, '29 and contributions from Student Alumni Council and the Illinois State Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association Scholarship was made possible thanks to an initiative launched by the Alumni Association in 2009. The scholarship addresses the accessibility of undergraduate education to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and leadership, and who demonstrate a financial need. Additional consideration is given to students whose immediate family members have attended or graduate from Illinois State University.

Those interested in applying for either of these scholarships must complete an online application and essay questions as well as have two letters of recommendation submitted by December 2, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

Black Colleagues Association Scholarships

There are also several scholarships awarded by the Illinois State University Black Colleagues Association (ISUBCA), a chartered affinity network of the Alumni Association.

Judge Russell DeBow Scholarship is a $1,000 award named after DeBow '35, one of the charter members of ISUBCA and an instrumental figure in writing the original constitution and bylaws for the network. Students are also considered for book scholarships through the President's Office and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Vincent Lionel Davis Scholarship is a $1,000 award established by the Davis family in memory of alumnus Vincent Lionel Davis '81, who died in the line of duty as an employee of the Dallas fire department.

Commemorative Public Service Scholarship is a $1,000 award established by alumnae who were initiated into the Theta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at Illinois State University, in memory of alumna Carol Lynn Johnson. Johnson '79 passed away in 2004 after a brave and lengthy battle with breast cancer.

Lewis and Mills Endowed Scholarship was established in 2014 by Alfred Lewis '90 and Stephen Mills '90 whose wives both succumbed cancer. This scholarship will support sophomore, junior, or senior students with a major within the College of Business or College of Arts and Sciences. Preference will be given to African-Americans and to students diagnosed with cancer or those who have parents that succumbed to cancer or who are cancer survivors.

Those interested in applying for any of the ISUBCA scholarships must complete an online application and essay questions as well as have two letters of recommendation submitted by December 16, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

Latin@ Alumni Network (LAN) Scholarship

The mission of LAN is to establish, maintain and promote a network for the empowerment and advancement of Latin@ alumni, students, faculty and staff at Illinois State University. As a part of LAN's mission, the organization desires to assist students in securing financial aid through annual scholarships.

Those interested in applying for the Latin@ Alumni Network scholarship must complete an online application and essay questions as well as have two letters of recommendation submitted by December 16, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

Additional questions can be sent to Illinois State University Alumni Relations.

Source: Alumni Association and affinity group scholarships available