Today kicks off our 50 states, 50 scholarship blog segment. In our efforts to serve students all over the country, we want to highlight scholarships from every state in the union.

We won’t get to every school, but we will be able to hit regions that are often neglected. How many scholarships do you hear about coming from Alaska? Well there are some and we think plenty of students will be interested. You never know where the perfect opportunity may pop up!

Speaking of Alaska…

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Scholarship and Internship Opportunities

File this one away for next year as the deadline for this year has passed, but it’s a great opportunity!

• Five scholarships of five-thousand (5,000) dollars are awarded  per academic year in healthcare-related fields to full-time undergraduate students 
• Five scholarships of five-thousand (5,000) dollars per academic year in healthcare-related fields to full-time graduate students
• Students must be Alaska Native or American Indian permanent Alaska residents.

CPAI 2008 Scholarship Program
Another future scholarship! The ConocoPhillips Alaska scholarship program is open to Alaska high school seniors planning to attend an institution of higher learning, academic or trade school.

• Seven $5,000 in-state scholarships and thirteen $3,000 general scholarships will be awarded to Alaskan high school seniors.
• A panel of judges will select the winners based on each student’s future potential to contribute their knowledge and talents in Alaska. In addition, each student’s service to their community, service to their school, school achievements, and financial need will be taken into consideration.

Here are some great accounting scholarships for those who love your 1, 2, 3’s!

John L. Carey Scholarships

The American Institue of Certified Public Accountants scholarship program provides financial assistance to liberal arts degree holders pursuing graduate studies in accounting and the CPA designation.  

• Obtained a liberal arts degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States prior to enrolling in graduate accounting program.
• Have been accepted into, or are in the process of applying to, a graduate program in accounting that is accredited by AACSB International or ACBSP. This program will enable you to sit for the CPA Examination. Students who are already actively participating in a graduate accounting program are not eligible for this scholarship.
• You intend to pursue a CPA certificate.
• You will be a full-time graduate (9 semester hours or equivalent) student for academic year 2008-2009.
• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green-card holder).

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship are made to juniors and seniors in college and gives a maximum of $7,500 a year for students to cover tuition, books, fees and room and board. The trustees of the scholarship seek to award up to 300 scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year!

Eligibility:

• Must be nominated by school.
• Be a full-time sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education during the 2008–2009 academic year.  Sophomore nominees can expect to receive a maximum of two years of support. Students in two-year colleges who plan to transfer to a baccalaureate program at another institution may be nominated.  Junior nominees can expect to receive a maximum of one year of support.
• At least a "B" GPA
• US resident, permanent resident or US national
• Pursuing a career in Mathmatics, Natural Sciences or Engineering.
• Deadline January 30, 2009

Here are some great grants just established by the 2005 Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005. Remember, grants do not need to be repaid. Whoo hoo!

Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005

Two new student aid grant programs were created by a federal law that went into effect on July 1, 2006. They are the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant). See below for more information about each grant program.

Academic Competitiveness Grant is available for first year undergrads up to $750 and second year undergrads up to $1,300.

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen;
• Federal Pell Grant eligible;
• Enrolled full-time in a degree program;
• Enrolled in the first or second academic year of your program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution;
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year (if you are a second-year student).

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant
The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) is for third- and fourth-year undergraduate students who are eligible to receive up to $ 4,000 each year.

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen;
• Federal Pell Grant eligible;
• Enrolled full-time pursuing a major in physical, life or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language; and
• Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

If you’re not out of school yet, take heart, you’re almost there and with the extra free time, why not pad your college dollars with a few more scholarships? These puppies all have a June 15th due date so make copies of your scholarship resume, double check your application and get a move on it!

Garden Crusader Awards from Gardener’s Supply Company

-Given to those who are improving the world through gardening!

Dorothy Payne Scholarship -American Association of University Women

-$5,000 grant for high school seniors who attend a public school in Buffalo, Niagara Falls or Lackawanna, New York school districts.

Polonia Foundation of Ohio, Inc. Scholarship

-Ohio State University students of Polish ancestry will receive grants between $750 - $1,500.

The Thomas P. Quinn Scholarship Fund

-Residents of New London County who will attend a four year college can win awards between $2,000 and $4,000.

-Students also need four letters of recommendation.

-Students must also submit SAT scores.

While Memorial Day was the official day to recognize the contributions Veterans have made to the society, however any day is a great day to recognize those who place their lives on the line for us each day. So for veterans and their families we have a great load of scholarships for you!

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

ELIGIBILITY

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

• A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
• A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
• A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
• A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.

Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Uniformed Services Members of the United States who served in Afghanistan, or contiguous air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or in Iraq, or contiguous waters or air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense, may apply for a scholarship if they are:
• A veteran who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts
• An active duty member of the Armed Forces who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts
• A member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above; or
  • a son, daughter, or spouse of:
  • a veteran or active duty member of the Armed Forces who is serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts at least 60 days, as defined above; or
  • a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above.
  • Applicants must be residents of Maryland, must be accepted for admission or enrolled in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible Maryland institution, or be accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible Maryland institution. Students must be enrolled as either a full-time (12+ credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester) undergraduate student.

AFCEA Educational Foundation Disabled War Veteran Scholarship

ELIGIBILITY:

• Currently enrolled and attending either a two-year or four-year accredited college or university in the United States.
• Students may also be enrolled in an accredited distance-learning or online degree-granting program affiliated with a major, accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States.
• Freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior undergraduate students enrolled at the time of application either part time or full time in an eligible degree program as stated below.
• Candidates must be major in the following or C4I-related fields of electrical, aerospace, systems or computer engineering; computer engineering technology; computer network systems; information systems security; computer information systems; information systems management; technology management; electronics engineering technology; computer science; physics; mathematics; or science or mathematics education. Majors directly related to the support of U.S. intelligence or national security enterprises with relevance to the mission of AFCEA will also be eligible.

In addition to an application, letters of recommendation and a possible essay, many scholarship committees want to a copy of your resume. Writing a resume can be a daunting task for many adults so it’s no wonder students feel a little clueless. This week we will focus on all things resume.

Purpose
A scholarship resume is like a typical work resume in many ways - it portrays experience, abilities and activities in a positive light - yea you! It also helps committees identify the characteristics and skills you posses that coincides with what they look for in recipients. It differs in that its focus is setting you up for scholarship monies, instead of a job, focusing heavily on your academic career and extracurricular activities.

Another great byproduct is when you see all of your accomplishments, activities and interests in one place, you are better able to identify the types of scholarships that best suite you.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at what to include in your resume.

Unfortunately, these scholarships don’t mean a lifetime supply of free soda, but on the plus side you may be able to graduate without owing Uncle Sam your first born!

The Cocoa Cola Scholars Program

The foundation awards 50 four year, $20,000 scholarships and 200 $10,000 four year each year to eligible high school seniors.

Apply AUGUST 1 - OCTOBER 31

Eligibility:

-Current high school or home-schooled seniors attending school in the US.
-US Citizens; US Nationals; US Permanent Residents; Temporary Residents (in a legalization program); Refugees; Asylees; Cuban-Haitian Entrants; or Humanitarian Paroles.
-A minimum 3.0 GPA by junior year.

Many students know APA from the little style guides English teachers pass out before term papers are due. Well, besides telling people where to put a comma and how to cite books, the APA is also a place where psychology students, specifically graduate students can apply for a number of scholarships.

Psych students, break out your curriculum vitae and get moving, most of these scholarships are due on May 16th - yep, three days from now!

The Carol Williams-Nickelson Award for Women’s Leadership and Scholarship in Women’s Issues

Eligibility:

• Be a female American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS).
• Be in good academic standing in a doctoral program
• Not an APAGS officers or subcommittee chair.

Required Materials:

• A cover letter that includes the name of the award and introduction to application packet
• A curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• Essay

Other APAGS Scholarships:

The Ellin Bloch and Pierre Ritchie Honorary Scholarship

The Nancy B. Forest and L. Michael Honaker Master’s Scholarship for Research in Psychology

Diversity Dissertation Scholarship

Personal recommendations. You’ve got to have them for most scholarship applications, internships, grad school applications and a host of other education related scenarios. Some may think that getting a good recommendation is as easy as asking for one, but there are some things you should consider:

Ask Early. Most people have a pretty busy schedule, this is no different for former teachers, bosses, school counselors, etc. In fact, these people are often so bombarded for recommendationst they have to turn away some students’ requests. Asking early for a recommendation allows the writer to have time to really give attention to your letter as opposed to firing off a generic "Angela is a great student, I think she will do well in college. Signed Student Counselor Overworked."

Set an Early Deadline. Give your writer a set time by which the letter needs to be written and sent to the committee or given directly to you - and make sure their deadline is well before the scholarship deadline.

Ask and Remind Gently. Remember, you are asking for a favor, don’t ride your recommendation person until they send the letter and don’t ask, beg, demand or hint at a positive recommendation. Obviously you want a postive one, being a demanding stalker won’t get you there.

Give Clear Instructions. Explain and send an accompanying sheet to the writer specifying what the letter is for, what organization or scholarship, whether it needs to be on specific letterhead, i.e. school, whether the letter is an open or closed letter and then instructions on when, where and how to mail the letter and how many to mail. This allows the writer to address the scholarship committee directly and helps them formulate what they are going to say about you so they can show you in your best light.

Choose Wisely. Once a letter of recommendation is sent you can’t get it back. So be careful about who you choose to write it. Your batty neighbor next door may love you, but if she can’t write a letter that is accurate and contains a certain amount of eloquence, you’re sunk. Likewise, asking someone you don’t know, or someone you are on rocky terms with, i.e. a professor whose class you failed, isn’t going to score you any points, in fact it can negatively affect your chances.