Scholarship Opportunities

Many of you have children about to graduate from High School.  Of course, every parent wants to be able to pay for college or technical school after high school, but with the economy the way it is now, the question is how?

Even though the amounts may seem small ($500, $1000) there are many scholarships available locally.   Take a look first at your family.  Are any of you members of industry associations, clubs, churches, sport leagues, credit unions? Where do you (the parents) work? Whom do you regularly pay bills to (utility companies, local governments, your landlord, etc.)?  Check there and see what opportunities might exist to apply for scholarships through those organizations. 

Then, look at your child... what interests does he have?  Where did she go to school (even a couple of local public elementaries are offering scholarships to alumni)? Does he want to work in the transportation, communication, farming, entertainment industries? Did she grow up as a "high risk" kid and beat the odds? Is he an Eagle Scout or does she volunteer every Saturday doing community work "just because"?  Check into what scholarships are available through those interests, too.

I put together a quick list of a few I found.  Of course, there are scholarships offered everywhere... if you just look around.

Best of luck to you and your graduating son or daughter.  This is an exciting and terrifying time.  

I have two 20-something sons myself.  One is pursuing an associates in Computer Networking; another going back to grad school for a degree in the Entertainment Industry.  We are struggling everyday to make ends meet and pay for school related expenses.  I KNOW how hard it can be.  Most local scholarships are available to seniors in High School... and both of my boys took a year off after high school to realize they needed higher education, so they don't qualify for these scholarships.  I hope that your children do.  If you know of others, please comment below, and I will add them to the list.

Dulles Greenway:

http://www.dullesgreenway.com/uploads/forms/2010%20Citizenship%20Award%20app.pdf

Loudoun Volunteer:

http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=297#scholarships

Inova Ladies Board: (Nursing Scholarships)

http://www.ladiesboard.org/

Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

http://www.loudounsoilandwater.com/2010/02/vaswcd-offers-scholarships/

Virginia Association for Pupil Transportation:

http://www.vapt.org/

NOVEC

http://www.novec.com/Community/scholarships.cfm

Loudoun Soccer Association:

http://www.loudounsoccer.com/

Cedar Lane Elementary (for pupils now in HS, but who attended Cedar Lane for 2+ years):
For information: scholarship@stevenshome.us
Virginia Housing Development Authority & Virginia Association of REALTORS
http://www.vhda.com/about/NewsCenter/Pages/2010VHDA-Scholarships.pdf

Washington Gas:
http://www.washingtongasliving.com/EnergyOfTheCity/Scholarship/VoteNow.xml

Verizon:
http://foundation.verizon.com/about/press/scholarship_program.shtml

Other Lo Co Scholarships:
http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/50990510143723/cwp/browse.asp?A=3&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=66352