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.

Middle Gate PTA Scholarship — The Middle Gate PTA will honor a graduating senior from Newtown High School who attended Middle Gate Elementary School. A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded and presented at NHS Senior Awards Night. Applications, available in the Career Center, two letters of reference and an acceptance letter to a post-high school program must also be included. An interview may be required as part of the scholarship selection process. Applications must be received at Middle Gate School by April 18. The scholarship recipient will be expected to speak at Middle Gate’s Fourth Grade Celebration, date to be determined, about his/her experiences while attending Middle Gate Elementary School.

Newtown Scholarship Association — The Newtown Scholarship Association provides scholarship awards to graduating high school seniors from Newtown who plan to continue their education. The scholarships are based on financial need and require personal financial information. An interview with the Newtown Scholarship Association Awards Committee is required. Interviews will be held at NHS on May 3; sign up for a time slot with Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center. Applications may be downloaded via Naviance. The deadline for applications is April 15; only complete applications will be considered.

Feile Scholarships — Feile, Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of Irish culture, will award six scholarships of $1,500 to graduating high school seniors who will be entering accredited institutions of higher learning in 2011. Applicants need not be of Irish heritage to participate. Awards will be based primarily on the submission of an essay with additional consideration for school, community, church activities and overall academic achievement. The 500-word essay topic is “Why do the Irish consider it so important to preserve the Irish language?” Scholarship winners will be notified by June 1, with presentations during the June 2011 Fairfield County Irish Festival. Complete details, instructions, application, and essay requirements are available at www.feileinc.org. The application may also be downloaded from Naviance. Applications must be submitted by April 22.

Sons of Portugal Scholarship — High school seniors from greater Danbury area who are of Portuguese descent living at least one full year in the local area are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The applicant or his parent(s) must be an active member in a Portuguese cultural organization including: Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury and/or its active groups, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Danbury and/or its active groups, Sons of Portugal Band and/or Sons of Portugal Folklore Dance Group. Awards will be made on the basis of: Portuguese community involvement, scholastic record, leadership skills, and character. The application, the check list of required documentation, and the essay rubric are available to download from Naviance. Scholarships will be granted to any accredited educational institution up to a maximum of four years per recipient. Applications must be mailed by April 9 to the address on the application only.

Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholarship — This scholarship program is for high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in an approved engineering program and who live in communities where Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems has a major presence. Graduating high school seniors residing in Fairfield County and New Haven County are eligible for two scholarships of $2,500 per year renewable for four years. The required minimum composite SAT score is 1700 or an ACT score of 27. Applicants must also have a grade point average of 3.5 (grades 9–12). A 500-word essay about career goals and three letters of recommendation are also required. Applications must be received by the Scholarship Committee by March 31. Scholarship packets may be downloaded from www.es.northropgrumman.com/community.

Dennis Malone Memorial Scholarship Award Program — This scholarship award program, sponsored by the Connecticut Parks Association, is named in honor of Dennis Malone, the former president of the association and founder of the scholarship program. The scholarship is open to high school graduating seniors planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college and pursue a career in park management, forestry, horticulture, agronomy, or a closely related field. Scholarships may be awarded up to $1,000, depending on the number of recipients. Selection is based on financial need, academic achievement and involvement in activities related to the intended course of study. Applications are available online www.ctparks.org under “Meetings and Resources” or via Naviance. Return the completed application and brief essay to Gerald G. Toner, Chairman, CPA Scholarship Committee, 26 Ridge Road, Simsbury CT 06070 no later than April 15.

Horticulture Club of Newtown Scholarship — The Horticulture Club of Newtown offers an annual award to a graduating student who is a resident of Newtown and seeking to pursue a two- or four-year course of study in environmental studies, horticulture, agriculture, ecology, conservation or forestry. Applicants are required to write a 500-word essay, to submit a current academic transcript. and a letter of recommendation. Applications are available in the Career Center and should be returned to Mrs Latowicki by April 7.

Sandy Hook PTA Scholarship Award — The Sandy Hook PTA will be awarding two scholarships for $1,000 to NHS seniors who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School and have been accepted to a post-high school academic program. Two letters of reference, a transcript, an essay, and a letter of acceptance to college must accompany the completed application. An interview may be required. Applications are available in the Career Center and must be received at Sandy Hook School by April 14 by 3 pm.