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.bbg.org or 703-276-0100.

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

UCB Family RA College Scholarships — UCB Pharmaceuticals is offering 30 one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 to students diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA who is studying to receive a post-high school degree. Students of all ages are welcome to apply. The scholarship can be used for an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or trade school certificate. Interested students should go to www.reachbeyondra.com/scholarship for complete details. Applications must be postmarked by March 20.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships — Scholarships for up to $7,200 per year is available for minority high school seniors who are US citizens to attend the four-year accredited college or university of their choice. Applicants must meet SAT score requirements, demonstrate leadership potential and financial need. Applications must be completed online at www.jackierobinson.org. Official transcripts must be sent by mail. All parts of the application must be postmarked by March 31.

Isidore Wise Scholarship Program — The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation will award three scholarships of $5,000 to worthy graduating high school seniors who have been former or are current patients/students the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (formerly Newington Children’s Hospital) or the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center School. Applicants must be attending an accredited postsecondary undergraduate institution in the fall. Applications are available from www.ccmckids.org. The deadline is March 31.

Komen College Scholarship Award — Seven $10,000 scholarships will be awarded through this national program which are based on scholastic achievement, community service and participation, financial need, and demonstrated leadership potential. Recipients will be expected to be ambassadors for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the breast cancer movement within their social networks and on their collegiate campus. Applicants are eligible if they have lost a parent to breast cancer. High school students who will graduate by June 2009 are eligible as well as current college students. Students must plan to attend a state-supported college or university in the state where they permanently reside. The application deadline is March 20. Complete details are available from www.komen.org/scholarship.

Glenn Moon Scholarships — The Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut will award one $2,000 renewable scholarship and three one-time $1,500 grants to high school seniors. All 2009 graduates of Connecticut high schools, public or private, are eligible, provided there is a serious intention to pursue a career in teaching in public or private schools, hopefully in Connecticut. Personal and educational qualifications will be evaluated in the following order: scholarship record; financial need; character and personality and interests and educational activities. The deadline is March 31. Applications are available from www.ctretiredteachers.org.

Dunkin’ Donuts Scholarship Program — This program will award 75 separate $1,000 scholarships to well-rounded high school seniors from Connecticut. Qualified applicants are those students who excel academically, demonstrate leadership qualities and have been involved in activities within their schools and communities. Applicants must plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in fall 2009. All students must show a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) or better to be eligible. Financial need is not considered. The application procedure requires that all students register and complete an online application at www.dunkindonuts.com/scholarship by March 15.

Hanna Griswold Grant — The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International will award one $750 scholarship to a minority graduating high school senior from Connecticut who is planning to major in education. Applicants must be planning to enter a teacher education program appropriate for certification in Connecticut. All applicants must demonstrate the qualities consistent with the promise of leadership in education, including scholarship and community service. All applicants must submit three references, an essay fewer than 500 words, transcript of work through January of the senior year of high school and a completed application form. The Career Center has applications. The deadline is March 18.

Elizabeth Sonier Grant — The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International will award one grant of $750 to a graduating senior planning to major in music education. Applicants must be residents of Connecticut and demonstrate the qualities consistent with the promise of leadership in education, including scholarship and community service. All applicants must submit three references, an essay under 500 words, transcript of work through January of their senior year and a completed application form. The Career Center has applications. The deadline is March 18.

Connecticut Building Congress Scholarship — Graduating high school students from Connecticut entering college-level programs in architecture, engineering, construction management, surveying, drafting, planning or other courses of study leading to an associate, BA or master’s degree in the construction field are eligible for the CBC scholarships. The awards will be given for academic merit, extracurricular activities, potential and financial need. The scholarships may be renewable each year based on performance in school and available resources. The number of awards as well as the amounts may vary at the discretion of the CBCSF Board of Directors. In the past, scholarships have ranged from $500 to $2,000 per year. Applications are available from www.cbc-ct.org. All hard copy applications must be received by March 20.

Danbury Drum Corps Scholarship — The Danbury Drum Corps is offering a scholarship for up to $500 for local high school musicians who are members of the drum corps. The performance season runs typically from mid-March through the end of October. The performance season is usually between 25 to 30 performances primarily at firefighters’ parades throughout the tri-state area, along with concerts, competitions, and special events. The corps rehearses from September to May. High school students in grades 9 through 12 may apply. The candidate must maintain a 3.0 GPA and must make 65 percent of rehearsals and performances. If the criteria are met, the disbursement of the scholarship funds will be distributed directly to the postsecondary institution. The Career Center has application information.