Scholarships are payments towards a student’s education gifted due to their achievements.
In a recent Fielder survey, 38 out of 54 seniors polled will be attending college, yet only 23 have applied for scholarships.
“I don’t want to have to spend the rest of my life paying off college debt,” scholarship applicant Tommy Renzas, junior, said.
Any student who would like to save money can apply to multiple available scholarships endorsed by the school. Information can be found on Naviance, flyers around the school, grade-level Google Classrooms, or through emails sent by staff.
“Counselors are also happy to meet with students individually to go over any questions they have regarding the application process,” counselor Amber Witry said.
The link on the 12th grade Google Classroom is an up-to-date resource for all local scholarships available for seniors to apply.
Students are also able to apply for scholarships outside of the school.
“Students can search for additional scholarships on reputable websites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Cappex, GoingMerry, and the College Board’s Scholarship Search. Local businesses, community organizations, and professional associations also offer valuable scholarship opportunities,” Witry said.
Most students will only apply for large scholarships rather than smaller ones, yet this strategy is discouraged by teachers and counselors.
“Accumulating small amounts of financial assistance is helpful, but students often overlook it,” Rhetoric teacher Adam Depew said. “We need to encourage students to apply for a variety of smaller scholarships.”
Many seniors have admitted to not applying for scholarships for reasons stemming from bad grades to fear of the application process. Counselors encourage applying anyway.
“They underestimate the impact of smaller scholarships, or they find the application process intimidating. Others may simply not be aware of all the opportunities available to them,” Witry said.
Scholarships are an important resource not just to help students afford college but to prepare them for adult life.
“Besides financial benefits, scholarships help build a strong resume, demonstrate commitment to education, and open networking opportunities with organizations and professionals. Winning scholarships can also boost confidence and provide a competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate programs,” Witry said.
