Soroptimist Scholarship

Have you applied for the Soroptimist Scholarship? The deadine is December 15th and, to my knowledge, no one has submitted an application for the $1,800 award. The locals clubs usually award several scholarships to COD students.
A requirement to apply is that the student be female and financially responsible for a child(ren) or a family member. The money can be used for childcare, transportation, books etc - you are not limited to using it for tuition.

SCAD Distinguished Scholars Award

$20,000 a year--applicable to attend SCAD in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah or online eLearning.

• Minimum 1220 SAT combined math and critical reading score, or ACT composite score of at least 27



• GPA of 3.75
  Outstanding visual arts, performing arts, writing or riding capabilities.



• Honors and awards from competitions, or other recognition.



• Leadership skills demonstrated through co-curricular or extra-curricular involvement.



• Application deadline February 15, 2012

American Public Works Association Scholarship

COD and local high school students who have been accepted or have applied to a four-year college or university with a major in a public works related field such as CIVIL ENGINEERING, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING OR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, may apply.

A 100 to 250 word essay describing yourself and your career choice in public works.
Copy of transcripts.
Copy of application to or acceptance letter from a four-year college identifying your major.

Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on March 12, 2012

Coca Cola Scholarship

The scholarship deadline has been extended to December 7th. This scholarship is also open to students who are not members of Phi Theta Kappa. The GPA is 3.5 for college level classes. Must have a minimum of 36 semester units.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful day.

You still have time to apply for the Jack Kent Cooke & Coca Cola scholarships.

Very few people have picked up applications for the Scholarship Club Scholarships. There are eight $250 scholarhips.

Error on Textbook Scholarship

As I attempted to look at the application for this scholarship, I discovered that on the email that I received the deadline was December 9th. When reading the terms, I discovered that the contest ended on November 1st. Sorry about that. Will try to make a contact with the organization.

Free Textbooks for a Year Scholarship

Education-Portal.com Facebook Page
Fill out the Brief survey to answer the question: What is the most creative way students can reduce textbook costs.
Share the scholarship with your regular friends. Facebook friends and Twitter followers. If you refer the most scholarship entrants, you will win an iPad.

Deadline: December 9, 2011.

$1,000

New Scholarship

In the next few days I will be posting a new scholarship (Margo's Scholarship). It is a small one $300, but it is based on merit and not on need. Stay tuned in for the details.

2012 All-USA/Coca-Cola Community College Scholarship

The Coca-Cola Scholarship deadline is on December 01, 2011, BUT the COD deadline is November 28th. Time is running out. You will need to check with me for the ENROLLMENT KEY#. emandrews@collegeofthedesert.edu

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

For those of you who have met the minimum eligibility requirements, please complete the application, but DO NOT submit until you have had some direction on your personal essay. It must be powerful.

Scholarship Club Scholarship Application

The scholarship application is now available in the Counseling Center and the Transfer/Career Center.

Personal Essay for Scholarship Club Application

The Scholarship Club application will be available at the next club meeting. You might want to get a head start by working on your personal essay. The topic is the Importance of Community Service. What is the value to the community and those served? What have you learned about yourself? What impact do you believe that it will have in your future?

No more than 750 words.

Remember that the first paragraph needs to be powerful.

American Liberty Scholarship

Yearly award is $5,000. You must enter monthly. There will be two monthly Finalists who will receive Fifty ($50.00) Gift Certificate. The Finalists will compete for the yearly award of $5,000.

http://http://www.americanlibertyscholarship.com/

Scholarship Club Applications

The application for the Scholarship Club scholarships will be available by Monday, November 14, 2011. We may be able to award eight (8) separate awards. Stand by for an update.

BrainTrack Scholarship Programs

BrainTrack's scholarships help current college students fund their education and at the same time offer help for future students. Essay questions ask applicants to share their experiences and guidance as related to their studies and careers.

Winning entrants are selected based on the creativity, focus, overall thoughtfulness, accuracy and practical value of their responses.

BrainTrack is running scholarships for students currently in programs for teaching, nursing, computer science and business/management.

The MoolahSPOT $1,000 Scholarship

Based on:
Short Essay
Family income, grades and test scores are not used.

Deadline December 31, 2011

www.moolahspot.com/scholarship

Good HouseKeeping Sweepstakes

Grand Prize $250,000
24 First Place Winners @ $1,000
24 Second Place Winners @ $100

Deadline: January 31, 2012

http:www.goodhousekeeping.com

Fundraiser

Please, please won't you come to the Halloween Hip Hop dance tomorrow night from 6:00 to 10:00? It should be alot of FUN!!! We have a number of bands, a DJ, costume prizes, door prizes and a Food Truck will be available.

All of the proceeds are going to the Scholarship Fund. Members of the Scholarship Club will be eligible to apply for the scholarships.

Please let me know if you are planning on atttending by using my comment option. I will give 100 points extra credit for community service for attending or for any contribution you are able to make. (Tickets are $5.00 presale or $7.00 at the door.)

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

Be on the lookout for important informaton on the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship. It is $30,000 a year - very competitive, but worth all the effort it takes. The COD deadline is November 21st and the minimum GPA is 3.5.

Rogers Scholars

Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to dinner for the 18 students who received the Rogers Family Scholars Award. I was the guest of one of my former students who is now a senior at CSUSB.
I must say that as many luncheon and dinners that I have attended over the years, it is always inspiring to listen to the stories and hear how so many students have conquered hardships. Also, to see the pride in a mother and father's eyes when their child is the first in the family to attend college.
Should you be applying to CSUSB, be sure and apply for the Rogers Scholarship if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Scholarships for Women

Just a reminder that there are a number of scholarships for women. Please google the following for more information.

The Girl Friend Factor
Soroptimist
American Women's Association
Patsy Mink Scholarship
AARP
American Busniess Women
American College Women
Jeanette Rankin Foundation

Remember not to limit yourself to women's scholarship. There are billion of dollars out there for the general student population.

Dell Scholars Program/High School Seniors

This is a program that looks beyond academic performance and grades. You don't need the highest grades to apply. It rewards your determination to achieve great things through higher education.
www.dellscholars.org/HowToApply.aspx
Application opens on November 1, 2011
Deadline: January 15, 2012

Nancy H. Bacon Art Scholarship

$750 for full and part-time Declared Art Majors. Deadline: Friday, October 14th.

Applications: Eve-Marie Andrews or in the Arts and Sciences Division Office (Soc 1)

Dumont Scholarship

The Dumont application is now available. The scholarships range from $250 to $2000. Deadline October 14, 2011. Officially declared as an Art, Art History, Architecture or Digital Design/Production major.

Recording Scholarships

Most of you are doing a great job in submitting a new scholarship each class session. Now all you have to do is record each new scholarship on your scholarship organizer. Then, record on the calendar (red pen for the deadline and green pen for the mailing date) and file alphabetically in your portfolio.

As soon as possible complete the application and have it ready to mail or submit electronically. Remember to make a copy of each and every scholarship BEFORE submitting--this is an important step.

Keep searching for scholarships even if you have found the number required for the class. The more you apply for the better your chances.

Time Sensitive Scholarship $10,000

This is a new and recently endowed scholarship.

Single parent
Attending an accredited post-secondary institution
Receiving some type of financial aid.
Online degree program or program which has a material online component

Money can be used for:
Rent
Chidcare
Books and school supplies
Utilities-Gas and electric
Utilities-Internet
Groceries

ONLY THE FIRST 100 APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Emailed or postmarked by November 1, 2011

www.onlinecolleges.org/scholarship

If you qualify, HURRY!!

$2,700 Prize Package to Puerto Rico

Three night getaway to Wyndham Rio Mar Beah Resort & Spa in Puerto Rico

Application Start & Finish Dates
September 12, 2011 to November 12, 2011

womansday.com/giveaways

$25,000 Sweepstakes

Woman's Day Magazine--Dream of a Lifetime Sweepstakes
Grand Prize--$25,000 Cash or Dream Vacation
1st Prize--$2,000 Cash or Gift Certificate
2nd Prize--$1,000 Cash or Panasonic Blu-Ray Home Theatre System
50 3rd Prizes--$100 Cash or DeLonghi Coffe Bar & Espresso Maker
1,000 4th Prizes--Quartz Fashion Watch

Begins October 15, 2011 & ends January 31, 2012

www.womansday.com/sweeps

Happiness

"The secret to happiness lies not in getting more but in wanting less."
--Elaine St. James
Author of Simplify Your Life

Three FREE Places to Set Up Shop

A good way to make some extra money is to sell arts and crafts online. If you are not into crafts, you can sell vintage items or supplies. Here are some choices:

ArtFire.com
It doesn't limit you to your own handicrafts. You can also sell clothing designs and patterns, e-books, movies, music, art supplies, vintage collectibles and antiques.

Starting an ArtFire store is simple. Just sign up, enter your information and list your items for sale. You'll want to include useful item descriptions and plenty of pictures to entice buyers.

The first month of the service is free. After that, it's $12 a month to keep your store going - no per item or transaction fees to pay.

Etsy.com
This popular site operates somewhat the opposite of ArtFire. It's totally free to create a store and keep it open. However, you pay a per-item posting fee and a transaction fee when the item sells.

The posting is $.20 per item. You can keep the item active for four months. Etsy also takes 3.5 % cut of every transaction.

Zibbet.com
This site is probably the most versatile for creating a shop. You can set up a free Basic Account. It charges you no fees whatsoever, but limits you to 50 items.

The Basic Account gives you decent features. It lists your items on Google and Find.com, has respectable shop management tools and even offers free business cards.

Starting Your Personal Essay

Before you even start writing, it is important to read the scholarship application requirements first. Sit down with highlighters and/or colored pens and very carefully read and note details. Following directions is a vital first step - be careful not to skim over important information.

It is also critical that you find out about the organization offering the award. You need to know what they stand for and what is important to them. You want to be sure that you agree with their guiding principles. (Obviously, they will not give a scholarship to someone who has opposing values.)

Although scholarship and award essays have much in common with admission essays, the standards are higher for the scholarship essay. The competition for money (especially in this economy) is stiffer. Remember, it is important to create an outstanding personal essay.

Do You Know a High School Student?

KFC Colonel's Scholars Program has a scholarship for a high school senior. The awards can be up to $5,000 a year and the scholars could receive up tp $20,000 over four years. The deadline is February 8, 2012.

http://www.kfcscholars.org/scholarships

For other opportunities see:
http://scholarships.fatomei.com/college.html


Share what you learn in class with other students.

2012 Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards Program

Applications are now available for the Soroptimist Award. This is not a scholarship, but a $1,800 cash award to offset any costs associated with attaining higher education. (tuition, books, supplies, childcare, transportation).

In addition, it then goes on to regional and international competitions where the award money reaches $15,000.

To access, please Google 2102 Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards Program.

Although the local award (four will be offered this year) of $1,800 is pretty great, think beyond that to the $15,000. BUT, come in for help with your statement if you are planning on competing on the regional and international level. Your application needs to shine in order to be competitive.

This award is specifically for women who have primary financial responsibility for their families.

Deadline is December 15, 2011.

Winning Scholarships

In class I have talked about finding and applying for scholarships. I have stressed the importance of having several credible letters of recommendation and how critical it is to have an excellent essay. No doubt, a neat and professional looking scholarship application is vital, but being a winner of anything in life starts with attitude. Yes, being a winner is an attitude - it is believing in yourself.

If you truly believe that you deserve to win a scholarship, you will convey that message in the application that you submit. To start, it will look neat and organized - the first impression carries a lot of weight. You need to follow directions to a tee - one of the reasons that I am adamant about following my instructions is to get you in the habit reading and listening and following through.

BUT, you need to perform like a winner. You need to convince the scholarship readers that you are a winner and that their award should be given to you. What you are learning in class is the method for developing an outstanding scholarship application which demonstates that you are special and a WINNER. A positive attitude and determination cannot be beat. Speak from the heart and read the directions carefully. You will WOW the reader with your excellence.

"To Whom It May Concern"

This opening has seen its day. It concerns nobody and only shows that the writer is not familiar with current forms. It is functionally counter-productive and handicaps your purpose from the beginning.

Ideally, you do a little researching and find the name of the person you are addressing - if you have a name, use it. If a person's name is not an option, you can use the name of the department. In the case of writing letters of recommendations for scholarships, simply use Scholarship Selection Committee - follow it with a colon (:).

Please encourage the people who are writing a letter on your behalf to read the Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Recommendation. A poorly written letter or one that uses outdated forms does not have much credibility. In fact, it can work against you. You need wonderful letters which look and sound professional.

By the way, don't even think of using the above salutation when writing to a company. To quote recent research, it is "cringe-worthy".

Tanabe Scholarship

Check out the Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship for $1000. The deadline is December 31, 2011.

Avoid Scams

If a scholarship requires a fee to submit the application, it may not be legit. Be super careful of scams - there are many out there.

Motivation

"People always say, "Motivation is great, but it does not last." I just tell them bathing doesn't last either, that is why I recommend it daily." Zig Ziglar

Scholarship Links

Although I will be posting the December scholarship links, you might want to check out the December scholarships. Go to the College of the Desert website and click Transfer Center. On the lower left click scholarships.

A special thanks to Amanda Phillips (instructor for the other section of Intro to Scholarships) for entering all of the materials in the scholarship binders to the Transfer Center site--it was a monumental task.

Even though so much of the work of searching for scholarships has been made easy for you, I want you to actively start your own research. Start with FastWeb and complete your profile. Remember to set up a new email account specifically for your scholarships. Make it sound professional--nothing cutsey or anything that might reveal a negative side of you.

Scholarship Essay

This week we will start working on the personal essay which is the MOST important component of your application. You will eventually have several versions of your profile and typical answers to essay questions. The following are some typical questions that you may encounter:
1. Discuss some challenge that you have faced and how you grew from that experience.
2. Talk about someone who has been a great influence in your life--it could even be a character in fiction or an historical figure.
3. Perhaps it is an issue of current concern.
4. On occasion something may come up on integrity, ethics, values and the meaning of love.

You will note that there are some questions in the textbook to give you a jump start.

Workshop on Monday

For extra info on scholarhip resources, you might want to attend a workshop (Scholarship Research and Resources)which I will be presenting in the Multi-Purpose room in the Cravens Student Services Center. It will be held from 1:00 to 2:00. The same workshop will be repeated on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 at the same place.

I'd love to see you there.

Basic Scholarship Tips

1. The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances.
2. You have a better chance by applying for small scholarships. Everyone is attracted by the big numbers, but the small ones add up.
3. Without a system, you will miss deadlines. Check out my websites for directions on setting up a portfolio. You'll also need more than one version of a scholarship essay.
4. Enhance your chances of winning by being aware of some of the common mistakes like:
Not following directions
Wrong or lacking information
Missing deadlines
Not being neat and organized--appearances do count
5. Apply all year round--set aside time each day for scholarships (treat it like a job).
6. By using Google, you will find scholarships that are suitable for everyone.
7. Start now--it is never too late to start the search.
8. Remember, finding money for your education is more important than ever.

Following Directions

One of the areas that is very critical when applying for scholarships is reading and following directions. Completing an application is not just a matter of filling in the blanks and submitting an essay along with all of the documents requested.

Being in college is preparing you for a future career and that involves learning how to complete work tasks following specific instructions. It also takes having pride in your work and demonstrating that by producing results that are neat and organized.

Everything you are instructed to do in the Scholarship Class is a means to that end. Although my expectations may seem too high and, at times, unreasonable, there is an important purpose for your getting in the habit of carefully reading directions and meeting deadlines.

In order for your application to be read, it must look as though you took the time to show your best effort and, yes, appearances do count. Expect that I will not accept sloppy work or missed deadlines. The competition is stiff for scholarships even though there are billions of dollars in scholarships. You need to stand out from the crowd - your application needs to shine.

You may have realized by now that this is a really tough one unit class. You are here to be a winner and be awarded as many scholarships as possible. I am teaching a system which allows the average student, who follows directions, to win $5,000 to $8,000. Your investment in the necessary materials for the class and your commitment to details and following directions will pay off.

As I have mentioned , this is a very unique class. Treat it like any other class and you'll get a grade and one unit credit which transfers to CSU as an elective. Listen and read directions carefully; take pride in the appearance of your binder and portfolio; and don't allow yourself to miss class or be late. That's what it takes to be a winner.

I have made a pledge to you to do everything in my power to help you succeed, but you must meet me at least half way. My high expectations of you will pay off and my reward is hearing that a student has won one scholarship after another. You still have time to catch up.

Deadline TODAY

You still have until 11:59 tonight to email your essay for the Real Simple Essay Contest. I'm sure you can use $3000. What have you got to lose?

Quote

"We all need someone who inspires us to do better than we know how."
Unknown

Real Simple Essay Contest Deadline

Everyone in the class qualifies for this contest unless you are under 19 years of age. The deadline is this Thursday, September 15th. This is a potential $3,000 - you must not forfeit this opportunity.

For those of you who are too young to qualify, I would still like you to answer the question and submit your essay on this Thursday.

More October Scholarships

1. Hispanic Scholarship Fund
http://www.hsf.net/innercontent.aspx?id=34 - Various scholarships available.

2. Mexican-American Dream Scholarship
http://cofem.org/programs/scholarships.html - For students regardless of immigration status.

3. Miss Teenage California
http://www.missteenageca.com/ - For young women 13 - 19 years of age.

4. Wells Fargo College STEPS Scholarship Sweepstakes
https://wfefs.wellsfargo.com/csteps/rules.jsp - Fpr high school students.

5. Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship Program
http://www.xeroxstudentcareers.com/why-xerox/scholarship.aspx - For minority students enrolled in a technical degree program at the bachelor level or above.

Deadline Tomorrow

Grace period for having your textbook, portfolio or electronic portfolio is TOMORROW. You MUST have your materials in order to be successful in the class. If you are going to do the electronic portfolio, you need to go into http://www.thesearchforscholarshipsportfolio.com/ and print out a page from the site. NO excuses will be accepted.

Also, in order to received credit for past assignments, they must be in tomorrow.

Scholarship Links/October

1. AES Engineering Services
http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.php - For high school and all students
attending a post-secondary educational facility in engineering.

2. The American Association of Japanese University Women
http://www.aajuw.org/Scholarship.htm - For women attending cololege as an
undergraduate.

3. Building Industry Association of San Diego County
http://www.biasandiego.org/pdfs/College_Application_REVISED_09-28-10.pdf -For full
time two, three and four year technical, vocational and college/university students who are
pursuing a career related to the building industry.

4. Coca Cola Scholars Program
Google: Coca Cola Scholars Foundation-this one is for high school seniors(DEADLINE: October 31, 2011

COD Events

How about some free entertainment?
#1
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 10, Jazz and Jazz-Rock--original compositions by Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis with music instructors Mikael Jacobson (bass) and MAtt Howe (drums)

Pollock Theatre at 7:00 pm

#2
Art show: A Contemporary View of Pre-Columbian Art (Reception and Entertainment by local musicians). Wednesday, September 14, 5:00--7:00 pm COD's Marks Art Center

Here's your chance for some free entertainment and food at the recption. Treat yourself.

September 15 Deadline

Since everyone qualifies for the Real Simple Essay Contest, I'm making it a requirement for the class. If you haven't already done so, please google Real Simple Essay Contest. The prize is $3,000. You have this weekend to work on it. REMEMBER, the deadline is September 15th.

Due Tomorrow (Important)

Tomorrow is the deadline for having your textbook, portfolio and one inch binder. I will be checking them in class. IMPORTANT that you bring everything to class.

Scholarship a Class

Only two or three students did their assignments. Remember, you need to turn in one scholarship each class even if I gave it to you. It must be a scholarship for which you meet the eligibility requirements.

For Students in All Classes

Supplies Checklist

Being a top student starts with establishing good study skills; having an appropriate place to study and having the proper supplies. Although each student will have individual preferences, the following list of materials and tools have proven invaluable in preparing papers and maintaining study materials in an organized fashion.

Textbooks /Pencil Case/
College Handbook/ Eraser
Dictionary/ Extra Staples/
Thesaurus/ Glue Stick/
Index Cards/ Highlighters/
Card Box/Envelope/ Paper Clips/
Folders/ Paper Punch/
Labels/ Pencils #2 /
Notebooks/ Pencil Sharpener /
Yearly Planner/ Post-its/
Daily Planner/ Rubber Bands/
Daily Planner/ Ruler /
Audio Recorder/ Scissors /
Stapler/ Staple Remover/
White Out/ Staple Remover/
Blue Books/ Scantron Answer Sheets/
Computer/ Flash Drives/
Black Pen/ Colored Pens/
Book Bag/ Printer /
Calculator/ Paper for Printer /
Clipboard

FAFSA

For those of you who haven't applied for FAFSA, please do so as soon as possible. Remember, even if you don't qualify, you need to apply. Most scholarship applications will want a copy of your SAR's report (student aid report) as part of your scholarship application.

Sallie Mae Resources

Please google SALLIE MAE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH for potential scholarships. Become familiar with Sallie Mae and what it has to offer.

Letters of Recommendation

Please start working on your request for letters of recommedation. Here is a checklist:
1. Select at least three people.
2. Make requests in person. (Do you feel comfortable writing a wonderful letter in my behalf?)
3. Write a formal letter with the request. See sample in downloads on my website-- findingmoneyforcollege.com
4. Complete your personal data form--my website (downloads).
5. Complete your scholarship resume form--my website (downloads).
6. Printout a copy of "Guidelines for Writing Letter of Recommendation".
7. Once you have a personal essay, include it in the packet.
8. You'll need two white envelopes (8 1/2 X 11).
9. Give a deadline--two weeks is adequate.
10. Be prepared to frequently check on the status of your recommendation.
11. Once you receive your recommendation, send a thank you note or letter.
12. Go the extra step and include a bookmark, post-its or even a candy bar in your
thank you. Show your appreciation in some way, but don't go overboard.

Please stay on track and avoid being overwhelmed.

Real Simple Contest

How is your application for the contest coming along? Remember that September 15th is the deadline. If you haven't located it yet, please access through Google and type in Real Simple Magazine Contest. Be sure to keep a copy before you submit it. This is a great opportunity to win $3000. Good luck.

Portfolios

I got the sense yesterday that many students are interested in the hardcopy of the portfolio versus the electronic version. Since I held back on putting together portfolios for the bookstore, I will need to order the necessary supplies from Office Depot before three o’clock this afternoon. (I need a delivery from Office Depot tomorrow in order to assemble over the weekend.)

Please advise if you want to buy the portfolio alone and rent a book or buy the whole packet with the book. You’ll save money renting the book and buying the portfolio separately.

You have the option of putting your own portfolio together, but it must look exactly like the original. Directions are located in searchforscholarshipsportfolio.tk. You can also look in findingmoneyforcollege.com.

Look forward to seeing you in class tomorrow.

Welcome back!

Welcome to the first day of classes at the College of the Desert!!


Here are two money sources which apply to most students. One is a scholarship and the other a contest--start being alert to essays which are listed in many magazines. The good thing about contests is that you don’t need Letters of Recommendation, a good GPA nor financial need which means that more students are eligible.

The students in my scholarship class will be required to turn in one scholarship at each class meeting. I will need to see a printout of a scholarship for which you qualify. If you are serious about winning money for your education, you must be focused and spend a minimum of two hours a week searching for scholarships.

Please go to Google:
Scholarship: Short and Tweet Scholarship—the deadline is September 30, 2011
Essay: lifelessons@realsimple.com--deadline is September 15, 2011

There now, part of your assignment for this week has been done for you.

Welcome to the Fall 2011 Scholarship Classes

Hi, Once the fall semester starts, I will BLOG everyday with the exception of the weekends. Very important to check often. For those of you who are registered and on the waiting list for the Scholarship Classes, please start by purchasing your books--tomorrow I will post information on where to find your required materials at a reasonable price.

For now, check out my website (www.findingmoneyforcollege.com)and become familiar with what is available. Start finding 3 to 4 people (instructors, counselors, principal, boss) who will write Letters of Recommendation for you. On my website under downloads, you will find the Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Recommendation and a sample letter on Requesting a Letter of Recommendation.

A lot is happening during the first few weeks of class, you'll have a better chance of staying ahead of the game by taking care of your letters of recommendation.

Eve-Marie

Short and Tweet Scholarship

Check this one out.
Eligibility:
The Short and Tweet Scholarship is open to all U.S. citizens who are either currently enrolled in high school and plan to attend a U.S. Department of Education accredited institution of high education; currently enrolled in an institution of higher education or who have been accepted for the fall 2011 semester.

HACU Scholarship

This application has five separate scholarships:

Deloitte Scholars Program--$2,200 (Accounting Majors at 4-year college)

Kristen A. Sanchez Deloitte Student of the Year Scholarship--$10,000(Accounting at 4-year college)

NASCAR/Wendell Scott Sr. Award--$12,100 (Engineering, Business, Public Relations, Mass Media, Sports Marketing, Marketing, Management, or Technology at 4-year college)

The Deloitte Tax Scholars Program--$3,000(Accounting 4-year college)

United Health Foundation/Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarship--$2,000 Full-time undergraduate or graduate students attending 2- or 4-year HACU-member institutions (Clinical Psychology, Dental Technician, Nursing, (Pre)Optometry, (Pre) Dental. (Pre) Medicine, (Pre) Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Mental Health, or Behavioral Health)

DEADLINE: June 10, 2011

Free Tuition

National Merit Scholarship Finalists, valedictorians, and low income students may receive free tuition at over 150 colleges, should they beat out everyone else for that coveted acceptance letter.

Be Persistent

Applying for four or five scholarships is not enough. Even the most qualified applicants are rejected--remember that you are competing with thousands of valedictorians and salutatorians each year.

Make applying for at least two scholarships a week part of your regular routine. It is a numbers game and you have a better chance if you apply for many. AND, don't ignore the smaller scholarships--many students only focus on the big ones.

Documents to Shred

Shred junk mail and old papers tht include your birth date, signature, account numbers,passwords, PINs or Social Security number. Destroy deposit slips and credit card receipts right after you get your monthly statement. Shred used ailoine tickets, old medical bills, preapproved credit card applications, expired IDs such as driver's licenses and passports and cancelled checks you donb't need for tax pirposes.

New Scholarship

Easy one to complete. Deadline is April 22, 2011. Six prizes ranging from $2,000 to $500. Submissions must be between 500 to 750 words. www.NPG.org

COD Scholarship

If you haven't already done so, please complete the COD scholarship application. There is still time and it is not difficult to complete.

Great Site for Career Information

Please GOOGLE Career Cafe for some excellent information on CAREERS. Both Elise King (COD Counselor)and I are working with this group to inform our faculty and students about some great resources. Check it out.

Scholarship Resources/Career Center

Starting today, I will be in the Transfer/Career Center on Tues/Thurs from 8:00 to 11:00 and on Wed. from 12:00 to 4:00. Please use this time if you need to use the scholarship binders, do scholarship research on the computers or check your class assignments with me.

Remember that the portfolios are due before Spring Break--you have seven days before the deadline.

Desert Health Care District Scholarship

The Desert Health Care District Scholarship is now available online. The application Deadline is April 22. Remember, this scholarship is an automatic two year scholarship for anyone selected. Requirements are listed below. If a student has already applied to the Pathways To Success Scholarship, all they have to do is log on to the Desert health care scholarship and hit submit. If students missed the PTS scholarship deadline, this is a great opportunity for them to get in the running of another scholarship. If you would like us to come and give presentations to any of your classes, please let us know. Alex and I will be happy to pay you a visit.

Website to apply: https://dhcd.cvscholars.com/

• Student must be a resident of the Desert Healthcare District (You can view boundaries on the application website, but basically, anything West of Cook St.)
• You or your parents must have been permanent residents of the Coachella Valley over the past 3 years.
• You must be a California high school graduate.
• You must apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ .
• You must demonstrate financial need (as identified by FAFSA or as defined by the academic institution).
• You must be applying as an undergraduate at an accredited college, university, or academic institution in the U.S.
• You must have a high school GPA of 2.0 or above, and meet college/university academic requirements for admissions and continued enrollment.
• You must be enrolled full-time and maintain full-time enrollment status (as defined by academic institutions).
• Preference will be given to students completing career academy programs in healthcare in the Desert Healthcare District high schools or healthcare majors at COD and CSUSB Palm Desert.
• You will be given preference if you have had previous involvement in college preparation program(s), demonstrate community leadership, have been involved in a career pathway program(s), and are first generation or first in family to attend college.

Free Travel

Travel Award Program seeks applicants --
Deadline is April 29
HACU and Southwest Airlines offer the Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success™ ¡Lánzate! Travel Award Program for eligible students. The program provides students who travel away from home to pursue a higher education the opportunity to apply for a chance to receive a travel award.
Award recipients may be awarded 1-4 roundtrip tickets for the student and/or parent to use when traveling to/from the college/university. The complimentary airline ticket(s) can be used for travel to any of the Southwest Airlines destinations.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Student must be enrolled in a college or university away from their designated home.
• Student must be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA and show financial need.
HACU will verify academic standing and financial need with the respective universities after the selection committee makes their final recommendations, prior to final selection and distribution of the travel award to the student.
• Applicants must be 18 years old or older and a legal U.S. resident.
All federal government regulations related to air travel and Transportation Security Administration rules must be adhered to, including but not limited to producing a valid government issued photo ID for air travel.
• One application per student must be submitted by the specified deadline (April 29).
• Needed travel must be to/from Southwest Airlines destinations.
• Student should specify extent of financial need or constraints.

Lindsey's Hope Nursing Scholarship

Awards vary from $1,000 to $2,500. Awards are made at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee based on the availibility of funds.

Applicant Qualifications:
1. Must be either:
a. Enrolled in a certified nursing program (preference will be given to
students attending College of the Desert's nursing program); or
b. A certified nurse seeking continuing education credits in the field of
oncology (preference will be given to nurses at one of the Coachella Valley hospitals).
2. Must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA for all completed courses.
3. Must demonstrate a personal and active faith in Christ.
4. Must display a history of life activity that reflects love and compassion for others through their service for those in need.


DEADLINE: May 1st for fall semester awards
October 15th for spring semester awards

The American Opportunity Award

With tax time just around the corner, you need to become familiar with this fairly recent tax credit.The American Opportunity Award was enacted for 2009 and 2010 tax years and replaced the existing Hope Scholarship tax credit. If you are eligible, it puts $2,500 back in your pocket.

Here's how AOTC works:
1. The first $2,000 in qualified expenses (tuition, fees, textbooks, and course materials) for 2010 receives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. In other words, if you spend $2,000 on qualified expenses in 2010, you will owe $2,000 less in federal taxes.
2. The next $2,000 you spend on qualified expenses receives a 25 percent credit. In other words, if you spend an additional $2,000, you will receive a $500 tax credit ($2,000 X 25 percent).
3. If you owe absolutely no taxes, meaning that even everything taken out of your paycheck for federal taxes was refunded to you, the AOTC might also be refundable at a rate of 40 percent. For example, if you earned the entire $2,500 credit and had no taxes to use the credit against, the IRS would send you 40 percent of the credit, or $1,000 ($2,500 x 40 percent).

Desert Outreach Foundation Scholarship

Applications for the 2011 Desert Outreach Foundation annual scholarship program are available to download online at the Foundation's website:

www.desertoutreachfoundation.org

Eligibility:
All persons residing in Coachella Valley
Students enrolled in any post-secondary educational program or to be enrolled in the fall of 2011

Amount: $1,500 per person.
Deadline: April 30, 2011
Finalists will be interviewed on May 21, 2011
Recipients will be notified on May 23, 2011.

Career & Job Fair Yesterday

A bucket of thanks to all of you who helped out yesterday!! Absolutely couldn't have done it without--you are fabulous!! We saw about 450 students and the employers seemed happy with the turnout. When I get the evaluations, I will let you know how many students were hired.

MESA Scholarship

The deadline for the MESA scholarship is April 01, 2011. Please check the following eligibility requirements. If you qualify, get that application completed and submitted.
1. Eligible for MESA, but don't have to be member.
2. GPA 2.7 (Math and Science classes) 2.5 overall
3. Completion or current registration in MATH 040
4. Two letters of recommendation--one form current mathematics instructor and a second must be from current science instructor , if possible.
5. 300 word essay describing motivation for pursuing a degree and a summary of career goals.

First Year--$3,000
Second & additional years at COD before transfer--$4,000
Transfer year--$5,000

Career and Job Fair TODAY

Be sure to attend the Career & Job Fair today. If you are searching for a job, please be sure to dress appropriately and have a resume with you. Have questions ready for the interviewer.

If you help out, you will get a letter verifying Community Service. If you visit, please be sure to have at least three business cards from employers you have met and you will be given a verification of attendance for extra credit.

COD Scholarship

Although the big "kick off" for the COD Scholarship is yet to happen, you now have access to the application by going into the COD website and clicking financial aid. Check it out--it isn't a difficult one to complete.

Scholarship Club Fundraiser

Tomorrow, March 20, 2011, at the Pollock Theatre on the College of the Desert campus, J. Scott Beaty will be performing a piano concert. Scott is a very accomplished pianist who has played at the Ritz Carlton and McCallum Theatre for many years. In addition to playing in many European countries, he has been invited to play at the White House twice--one of those times for the Presidential Inauguration of President Clinton.

His solo performances are too long to list, but most were with well know celebrities such as Placido Domingo, Johnny Mathis, Liberace, Jane Wyman, Loretta Young, Governor Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver and President and Mrs. Ford. In spite of the incredible talent, Scott is a delightful and very humble musician.

In 2002 Scott was a student in my Introduction to Scholarships class and went on to win about $129,000 in scholarship awards. He now has a Master's Degree in Voice and Music Therapy and, to my good fortune, has become a mentor to my present scholarship students. The proceeds of the perfomance will benefit the College of the Desert Scholarship Club. Our hope is to start giving small scholarships in the fall of 2011.

The tickets for the Piano Concert of favorite tunes are embarassingly inexpensive for a pianist of this caliber--$10.00 for students and $12.00 for non-students. Please join us for an hour of songs that touch the heart.

Tylenol Scholarship

Deadline: May 27


• Must be a resident of the 50 United States, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia
• Must have completed at least one year of undergraduate or graduate course of study by the Spring of 2011 at an accredited two or four year college, university or vocational/technical school
• Must be able to provide proof of enrollment to a public health/health education, med school, nursing and/or pharmacy degree program
• Must have one or more years of school remaining


• 10 - $10,000 non-renewable Awards
• 30 - $5,000 non-renewable Awards
• Students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and are not past winners.
• The scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for course load.
• Institutions must be accredited, nonprofit two or four-year colleges/universities in the United States.
• A student may transfer from one institution to another and retain the award.


http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subptyschol.inc


https://aim.applyists.net/Form/LoadFaq/1581

Pathways to Success Deadline TODAY!

I do hope that you haven't missed the deadline for the Pathways Scholarship. If your portfolio is in order, you still have time to get your application submitted. The deadline is 12:00 midnight. Come on. What are you waiting for?

ABWA Scholarship

Palm Desert Trendsetter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) is funding 3 $1,000 Scholarships.Eligibility requirements are:
1. Must be woman
2. U.S. Citizen
3. Local resident
4. College first or second year level in Aug, 2011
5. Accepted or attending COD
6. GPA 2.5 or better

Please email cookieharvey@att.net

Cookie Harvey will give you access to the application.
Applications must be completed by May 15, 2011

Thank You/Scholarship Awards

By now, some of you may have received a scholarship award. Please be sure to get your thank you letters off immediately. Very critical to express your gratitude as quickly as possible. It is not only the courteous thing to do, but it might mean future awards.

Three Days Left

I do hope that most of you have already applied for the Pathways to
Success scholarship which is due this Thursday, March 17th. Please be sure to make a copy of your application before you submit it. You'll need to have it in your portfolio when I check for your final grade,but, more importantly, you'll need it when you will apply again next year.

This is an excellent opportunity so don't let this scholarship slip away. Remember you are only competing with students in Coachella Valley and they are giving away more than a $1,000,000.

Current Scholarships

Several scholarships have deadlines coming up. Be sure to check out the Pathways to Success; Desert Outreach Foundation; COD Scholarship. These are really excellent scholarships which most of our students have been awarded.

Desert Outreach Foundation Scholarship

The application was posted yesterday. Go to Google and type in the above title to access the application.

1st Paragraph Personal Statement

Remember that the first paragraph needs to be powerful. You want to hook the reader in--engage him/her. One important thing to remember is to speak from the heart. So many students write a series of facts which don't really allow the reader to know how you think or feel. I know it's a bit scary to allow yourself to be a bit vulnerable, but this is the most important document in your application packet. Write with enthusiasm and feeling.

More of Life's Little Instruction Book

11. Sing in the shower.
12. Plant flowers every spring.
13. Be the first to say "Hello".
14. Live beneath your means.
15. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
16. Wear polished shoes.
17. Floss your teeth.
18. Return all things you borrow.
19. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
20. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.




"Life's Little Instruction Book" by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Udall Scholarship

Just finished registering five students for the Udall scholarship ($5000). I could register an unlimited number of students, but ultimately can only nominate 6. I would have liked to register more students. Did you forget or did you just feel that you wouldn't qualify?

Thank You/Letters of Recommendation

By now, many of you have received some or all of the Letters of Recommendation that you requested. Please, please remember to get those thank you letters/cards out immediately. Someone has taken his/her time to write on your behalf so expressing your gratitude is the courteous thing to do.

Take it a step further. Include a bookmark, post its or even a candy bar in the envelope to show just how much you appreciate their efforts. Don't feel that you have to buy a gift--it is not necessary. Everyone knows that you don't have money to spare, but a small appreciative gesture is always welcome.

Winning Scholarships

When it comes to winning scholarships, it takes a good system and a lot of hard work. Scholarships require that you apply often and read the focus of the organization. Become familiar with their goals and spend a lot of time writng your personal essay. It is the most important document in the scholarship packet.

Importance of Completing FAFSA by March 2nd

Importance of Completing FAFSA Before March 2nd
Published on Friday, February 18th, 2011 by Caroline Category: College Scholarships And Grants

Why Do I Have to Complete it By March 2?It is importance to submit your FAFSA by March 2nd for two reasons: to qualify for a Cal Grant and to get first dibs on financial aid, grants, and work study opportunities. Just think of it this way–the earlier you turn in your FAFSA, the more money you will have a chance of getting. In other words, if you snooze, you lose. This is because FAFSA is given out on a first come first serve basis. Students who wait until after March 2nd to file their FAFSA may receive less aid than they would have if they filed it before March 2nd because they miss out on the opportunity to receive Cal Grants and students who filed by March 2nd get priority.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Be aware that scholarships do affect your ability to qualify for financial aid. The Finacial Aid office uses a formula to determine your need. If the income surpasses your yearly costs to attend, it is determined that you do not need financial aid.

This should not be a reason to stop applying for scholarships because you stand to make more money in scholarships than with financial aid. Although your finacial aid may be sufficient to cover your academic expenses while attending a community college, you will definitely need a considerable amount more when attending a four-year college.

Each Financial Aid office functions a bit differently so you need to become familiar with the process at the college you will be attending. Since most scholarships are sent to the college with your name and the name of the college, the Financial Aid office is fully aware of all of your awards.

If you want to earn a college degree without going into great debt,scholarships are the answer, but you can't have both financial aid and scholarships if dollars earned through scholarships and grants far exceed the cost of attending the college annually. Financial aid is for UNMET NEEDS.

You need to think beyond the cost to attend a community college. Start preparing for paying tuition and fees at a four-year college/university. Do you want or can you afford to have $200,000 (the average student incurs a debt of at least $20,000) in student loans when you finish college?

By the way, even if you don't qualify for financial aid, you must apply because most orgnizations offering scholarships require proof that you have applied for FAFSA.

Now, be proactive and start the scholarship application process. The ideal time to start looking for scholarships is in the junior year of high school. Are you on track??

Life's Instructions

1. Compliment three people every day.
2. Have a dog.
3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
4. Remember other people's birthdays.
5. Overtip breakfast waitresses.
6. Have a firm handsake
7. Look people in the eye.
8. Say "thank you" a lot.
9. Say "please" a lot.
10. Learn to play a musical instrument

Taken from Life's Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Start a Routine

Get in the habit of doing scholarship searches at least two hours a week. Although I bring upcoming scholarships to class, you need to be proactive. Remember, it is a numbers games. The more you apply, the better your chances of being a winner.

Scholarships and Taxes

"Scholarships and grants are not part of income for taxation or subject to social security when spent on tuition or fees, books, supplies, or equipment required for courses. A tax liability situation may arise from scholarship funds that are used to pay for room and board, or exceed the amount spent for tuition, fees etc."

Taken from an article written by Jerald R. Gober for the New Accountant.

Barbara Wade Salm Scholarship

Should you be considering applying for the Nat'l Organization of Women's Scholarship (Barbara Wade Salm) be sure to come in for some help. You have about a week so don't wait until the last minute if you want my assistance. Remember, guys can also apply for this.

Good Source for Textbooks

Discovered a site that might be helpful when you transfer to a four year college.

Check out www.swoopthat.com

Portfolio Due

Remember that tomorrow, February 15th, is the deadline for purchasing your class materials. Please bring to class your textbook, 3" binder, and your organized 1 " binder.

Please be sure to attend class and arrive on time. Many very important announcements are being made re scholarships and the process of finding scholarships.

Letters of Recommendation

Although the information is in the textbook, I will quickly review the steps for formally requesting LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
1.Select a professor, counselor, employer or any professional person who knows you well.
2.Ask first if they feel comfortable writing a wonderful letter on your behalf.
3.Prepare a packet which includes a written request (sample on the website & book, completed personal data form and scholarship resume, personal essay if you have one completed,a 9 X 12 white envelope (self addressed)with postage and a copy of unofficial transcripts.
4.Be sure that everything is well formatted and edited.
5.Insert everything into a second 9 X 12 white envelope and submit.
6.Be sure to include a deadline--two weeks is a reasonable amount of time.
7.When you receive the recommendation, send a thank you letter or note immediately. A nice gesture would be to include a some attractive post-its, a bookmark or a candy bar.
8.It is really urgent that those letters get out immediately. You will need to do follow up every few days.

The Importance of a Thank You

Yesterday, Scott Beatty, a former student of mine, who received about $129,000 in scholarships, spoke to my current scholarship class. His message was powerful, but he reminded me of the power of a thank you note.

Most of us are aware of the importance of sending a thank you note when we are given a gift or when someone does something thoughtful. How many of us have thought to send a thank you note when we were passed up for a job or a scholarship?

Scott told the story of mailing a note in 1995 to a woman who had given him $50 to help with his career. Amazingly this woman kept the note on her desk for years and then later actually sponsored his last year in graduate school. Through the years, Scott has made it a habit to send a thank you note even when he hasn't received a scholarship and it has paid off.

Remember, even when you have been turned down for a job or scholarship, there is a magic that is cast by the courtesy of a note of appreciation.

Verbal Request for Letters of Recommendation

Have you identified professors, counselors, employer or any other professional that you think will write a wonderful letter on your behalf? On Thursday, I will be giving instructions on the process. In the meantime, the directions are in the book should you want to get a head start. It is really important that you start the process ASAP.

Welcome

Welcome to all of the three sections of the scholarship classes being offered this semester. Also, a special welcome to all of you who follow my post. I blog every weekday and on occasion I will send a special message on a Saturday or Sunday.

The purpose of the blog is to coach those of you who are seriously looking for scholarships. I follow along with the class presentations and also remind you of upcoming scholarships.

Please also visit my website www.findingmoneyforcollege.com where you will find current scholarships. For the most part the scholarships are for community college students, but there are also other categories such Women, High School Students and Variable Deadlines. Soon I will be adding Veterans, Disabilities and Graduate scholarships.

I invite you to take advantage of this FREE information and tips. Please post comments and questions. I'm happy to help you in any way that I can.

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship

This $30,000 scholarship has a deadline in the next week or so. If you qualify, you need to apply immediately. I'll be back on campus on Thursday, January 6th.

FAFSA

If you haven't already completed your FAFSA application, now is the time to do it. Don't assume that you don't qualify, but even if you don't, you need to apply. Just about all of the scholarships require your SAR (student aid report) which is generated from the FAFSA.

Don't let the lack of money prevent you from attending college. Financial aid is available to a great percentage of students.

Go to the College of the Desert website then click "financial". You should download the application worksheet to be sure that you have all of the required information to complete the form. You will be submitting it electronically--it is faster and 14%more accurate.

You will need to apply every year.