Scholarship season offers dozens of opportunities

Note: The content box has been updated with more scholarships since initial publication. 

Spring is upon us and with it comes scholarship season. No need to panic, parents — many local scholarships are still accepting applications.

See the sidebar with the article for links to scholarship opportunities. 

A LITTLE ADVICE

Even if students aren’t certain of their ability to receive awards, Burke County Public Schools (BCPS) Director of Student and Family Services Dr. Dillon Sain said they should “apply anyway. Apply to as many as they can and follow the directions carefully.”

Although school counselors often direct students to certain scholarships, Sain suggested a few tips:

• Start early in exploring scholarships — as early as junior year.
• Focus on interests, background, and goals. Some scholarships have requirements based on income, GPA, degree field, and more.
• Small scholarships add up. Don’t ignore those.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for references and recommendations.
• Don’t let rejection slow down the process. It’s normal.

LOCAL COLLEGES

Many local college foundations require either an application to the college, an application to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), or both to be considered for scholarships.

The Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Foundation and the Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) Foundation offer more than 100 opportunities each.

WPCC also compiled a list for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students.

However, for non-citizen applicants filing for these scholarships, the college directs students to contact the organization providing the scholarship for more information past the initial application links.

The Catawba Valley Community College Foundation also provides opportunities after completing a FAFSA application. For all three of the community colleges, one application opens the door for multiple scholarships.

The deadline for CCC&TI Foundation applications is July 1, with a priority deadline of March 31 to allow students to “take full advantage of the most opportunities” since funds are limited.

While the CVCC Foundation’s priority deadline fell on March 6, Executive Assistant Susan Propst still encouraged everyone to apply since they accept applications year-round.

“We give away so many to high school students, that we like to give those out on awards day,” she said, explaining why the early priority deadline was emphasized.

The WPCC Foundation’s deadline is July 15.

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The BCPS website hosts an extensive list of nearly three dozen opportunities, organized alphabetically with deadlines in the descriptions.

The Pilot Club of Morganton Scholarship offers $1,000 and is open only to Patton and Freedom High School seniors, requires references, and must be postmarked by March 31. Students can speak with their counselors for more information.

Some aren’t limited to traditional education, with a $1,000 Self-Help Credit Union Community Scholarship being available for technical, trade, and vocational institutions as well as universities and colleges. The deadline is March 31.

WPCC Financial Aid Counselor Lindsay Stump said, “Students should also remember to talk to their parents’ employers, their employers if they work, and any groups they or their parents are a part of, such as churches or community organizations, as many of these offer scholarships for their members and members’ dependents.”

The trustees of the First Baptist Church of Morganton announced the church is offering four scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 for active members of the church and covering a variety of academic pursuits.

Applications are available at the church office and Chuck Benfield is the church’s contact. The deadline for applications to be turned in is no later than 4 p.m. on April 6.

CASTING A WIDE NET

The DeMayo Law Offices, LLP, award 10 high school seniors across 24 counties in two states $5,000 each as part of the Arrive Alive scholarship.

This unique scholarship requires students to submit an “essay, billboard, brochure, website home page, or music video presentation that discourages underage drinking and driving and distracted driving.”

Applicants must be accepted for full-time enrollment or planning to pursue a degree at an accredited four-year college or university and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Submissions should be postmarked by March 23.

SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS

Just like any program dealing with money, scammers stay on the prowl for families looking for financial help.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), some scammers offer to fill out FAFSA forms for a family, falsifying the inputs to qualify students for more financial aid than they’re allowed.

Not only can families lose money, but they could also get hit with hefty fines of up to $20,000 and even jail time.

The FTC website says, “Never pay to apply for a scholarship. If a company promises you a scholarship or grant in exchange for a ‘processing cost,’ ‘redemption fee,’ or other upfront payment, walk away.”

Although there are legitimate companies that sell lists of scholarships and others that charge upfront to compare a student profile with a database of opportunities, they will never guarantee or promise an award.