Scholarships Available

The Newtown High School Career Center publicizes all scholarships of which it is notified.

A few of the scholarships, typically national ones, request that money be enclosed with the application. The Career Center believes that students should not have to pay to apply for scholarships. If a student chooses to apply for a scholarship that charges a fee, however, the Career Center strongly advises parents and students to check its authenticity through the FTC Consumer Response Center, www.ftc.gov or 877-FTC-HELP; the National Fraud Information Center, www.fraud.org or 800-876-7060; or the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org or 703-276-0100.

Full details on all scholarships are available at the high school Career Center.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation — The SME Foundation is a national grant program that awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors, current undergraduates, and master’s or doctoral degree students pursuing degrees in manufacturing and related fields at two-year and four-year colleges. Interested students should go to www.smeefscholarship.org; apply online by February 1.

Moody’s Mega Math Challenge — The 2010 M3 Challenge is open to teams of eleventh and twelth grade high school students from Connecticut and several other states. Teams will be presented with a realistic, open-ended, math-modeling problem that is unlikely to have an exact or uniquely correct solution. The demonstration of creative problem-solving abilities and originality in quantitative or qualitative reasoning is important. Each school may enter up to two teams consisting of three, four, or five students. Each team must have a teacher-coach who will coordinate the team on Challenge Day. The 2010 Challenge Weekend is March 6–7. Team scholarship prizes range from $1,000 per team for an honorable mention to the champion prize level of $20,000. Interested students should go to M3Challenge.siam.org for all details.  All teams must register to participate by February 26.

UCONN — 100 Years of Women Scholarship Award — This award will honor a current UConn undergraduate, graduate, or high school senior planning to enroll at UConn who has demonstrated a commitment to women’s issues through service to community or school. Applicants must be in need of financial assistance and demonstrate high academic performance. Application forms are available at womenscenter.uconn.edu/Application_10.pdf. The deadline is February 26.   

Robert J. Glander Scholarship — The Robert J. Glander Scholarship/Newtown Babe Ruth Scholarship Committee is pleased to offer two scholarships (one for a boy and one for a girl) each in the amount of $1,000 to a Newtown resident upon graduation from high school this year. These scholarships honor the memory of Robert J. Glander and his dedication to the youth of Newtown who participate or have participated in Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball and Newtown Babe Ruth Softball Association. The two recipients of the award will be selected by the committee and will receive the scholarship at his/her Awards Night. The Career Center has applications or they can be downloaded from this entry in Naviance. Make sure the completed application is submitted to Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by April 26.

Hord Foundation Scholarship — The Hord Foundation scholarship program is a need-based award program open to African American students graduating from high school from the greater Danbury area. The award criteria are: acceptance to an undergraduate program or other program of continuing education, academic standing, contributions to school and community, financial need, a personal interview, and overall strength of the application. A completed application along with transcripts and two letters of recommendation are required. A student may apply and may be awarded a Hord Scholarship for up to four years of baccalaureate-level study. Information and applications for download will be available shortly at www.hordfoundation.org. Check for the website for the latest information. 

Connecticut PTA Scholarships — Scholarships in memory of Christa McAuliffe, First Teacher in Space, will be awarded to graduating seniors from Connecticut PTA/PTSA high schools. Students must be planning to attend a four-year college to pursue a career in teaching. All applications must be returned to Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by February 18 to participate in the school nomination process. Newtown High School may nominate only one candidate. The essay topic for the award answers the question, “What is your reason for entering the teaching profession?” and should be limited to one standard page. Applications are available in the Career Center. Turn in all completed applications to Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by the deadline indicated above. Do not mail. Presentation of the awards will be during the Connecticut PTA State Convention on April 8 and 9 at the Trumbull Marriott Hotel.

Links College Scholarship — The Fairfield County Chapter of the Links, Incorporated will award one scholarship of $3,000 to a graduating African American high school senior from greater Danbury who will enroll full-time at an accredited college/university, junior college, or technical school. Candidates must have a “B” GPA and be in need of financial assistance. Participation in school activities and community service/volunteerism is considered. Applications are available in the Career Center. The deadline for applications is March 15. Scholarships are awarded for one academic year but recipients may reapply yearly for renewals. 

Dr Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! College Scholarship — Random House will award one $5,000 scholarship that will be paid directly to the student’s choice of postsecondary educational institution. Each applicant is required to write an original literary composition that must be in the personal essay/memoir format. Applications are available at www.ohtheplaces.org. All submissions must be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than 500 words. This year’s essay question is the following: Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! delivers an important message about the chances and the troubles that life presents. Thinking about the book, what kinds of opportunities and challenges do you think your education will present in the future? All entries must be postmarked by February 15.

Best Buy @ 15 Scholarship Program — The 2010 Best Buy @15 Scholarship Program will award one-time $1,000 scholarships to students based on their outstanding commitment to and involvement in community service, along with a solid academic performance. High school students in ninth through twelfth grade who are currently enrolled in an accredited US high school or a school in Puerto Rico with plans to enter a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational technical school are eligible to apply. Complete details are provided at the website. All interested students must register and apply online. The application deadline is February 1.

 Princeton University – High School Contests — The Princeton University Lewis Arts Center sponsors two national writing contests for high school students: the Leonard Milberg Secondary School Poetry Prize and the Ten-Minute Play Contest. The top prizes for these competitions are $500. Complete information is available at www.princeton.edu/arts/lewis_center.  The deadline is March 29.

Latino Scholarship Fund — Scholarships are provided by this organization for college-bound Latino high school seniors from greater Danbury (Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, and Ridgefield). Applicants must be of Latino heritage and US citizens. Selections will be based on character and integrity, academic standing and/or potential, involvement in and commitment to community, and financial need. The amount of awards shall be determined based upon relative need and availability of funds. Applications and instructions are available from www.danburylatinofund.com. Please note that required interviews must be scheduled from the website as well. The application deadline is March 15.

CT Nurserymen’s Foundation Scholarship — A $5,000 annual scholarship will be awarded to a graduating Connecticut high school senior who is accepted in a two- or four-year course of study beneficial to the horticulture industry. Current college students in accepted fields of study will also be considered for this program. Major areas of study include, but are not limited to, ornamental horticulture, landscaping design, nursery management, and greenhouse management. Students may attend an in-state or out-of-state institution. An important part of the criteria for selection will be scholastic standing and financial need. A copy of the student’s Student Aid Report (SAR), Financial Aid award letter, or current college transcript and personal recommendations must be forwarded with the application to the CNF office. The CNF Scholarship Selection Committee will interview finalists in April and notify the recipient immediately after selection. Applications are available in the Career Center and must be received by March 15.

Howard Jennings Scholarship — This $500 scholarship is a one-time grant to a Connecticut high school student who has been accepted by the University of Connecticut, majoring in the field of horticulture in either the two- or four-year program. This award, funded by the Jennings family and friends, is in memory of Howard Jennings, former nursery manager at Summer Hill Nursery and member of the CT Nursery and Landscape Association. The student is to complete the same application as the CT Nurserymen’s Foundation Scholarship and will be selected by the CNF Selection Committee. The student will be awarded the scholarship based upon academics and financial need, with emphasis on nonschool work related to horticulture. The application is available in the Career Center with the CT Nurserymen’s Scholarship packet.  Applications must be received by March 15.  

Arrive Alive Scholarships — The Arrive Alive Scholarship sponsored by Carter Mario Injury Lawyers is a combination effort to provide financial assistance in enabling students to pursue their educational goals as well as stressing the dangers of driving while intoxicated. The fifth annual Arrive Alive scholarship program will offer ten $1,000 scholarships to Connecticut high school seniors who will be attending a four-year college or university in the fall of 2010. A 500-word essay, video,or graphic presentation is required. Applications are available from www.getcarter.com. Completed applications must be postmarked by March 19.

Naugatuck Valley CC Scholarship in Electronic Engineering Technology — This scholarship program is for high school seniors or recent high school graduates who want to pursue a NVCC Associate’s degree in electronic engineering technology and meet the eligibility requirements of NVCC. The amount of the scholarship will cover full tuition and fees (including a book allowance) for up to two years of college undergraduate study at NVCC. Also included is a guarantee of a paid summer internship at Connecticut Light and Power. Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic record, placement test results, demonstrated leadership, extracurricular school activities, community service, work experience, goals and aspirations, and the completed application. Students completing the curriculum will have the necessary math and technical skills to enter the many challenging opportunities that the utility industry offers. Interested students should see Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center for an application and additional information. The application must be postmarked by February 5.