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.

Sandy Hook Elementary School PTA Scholarship — The Sandy Hook PTA will be awarding two scholarships for $1,000. Applicants must be graduating seniors who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School and have been accepted to a post-high school academic program. All applicants must complete the two-page Scholarship Form. Each applicant must submit two letters of reference. An interview may be required. The Career Center has applications. Completed applications should be sent directly to Sandy Hook School. Completed applications must be received by Friday, April 24, at 3 pm.

Middle Gate PTA Scholarship — The Middle Gate School PTA will award one $1,500 scholarship to a graduating senior from Newtown High School who attended Middle Gate School. Applicants must complete the application form and include two letters of reference. A letter of acceptance to a post-high school program must also be included. Applicants must be available for an interview that may be required as part of the scholarship selection process. Applications must be received at Middle Gate School by Tuesday, April 21. Applications are available from the Career Center.

John M. Bailey Memorial Scholarship — The CT Criminal Justice Educational & Charitable Association will award three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors and undergraduates who plan to major in any of the public service fields of study such as criminal justice, fire study, homeland security, legal studies, etc. The awards are based on character and leadership qualities in school and the community as well as scholastic aptitude. Applications may be downloaded from www.CCJECA.org. The deadline is May 1.

Will to Win Scholarship — Schering-Plough will award ten $5,000 scholarships through this national program to graduating high school seniors with asthma who have achieved a level of excellence in one of the following: performing arts, community service, athletics, visual arts or science. Applicants must also hold a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship winners will be required to supply documentation of the following: US citizenship, acceptance to an accredited US college and enrollment in college in the fall of 2009. Applications are available from www.schering-ploughwilltowin.com. The deadline is April 30.

Horticulture Club of Newtown — This award will be for a graduating senior from Newtown who is interested in studying horticulture, ecology, environmental studies, conservation or forestry at a postsecondary institution or college. Applicants need to prepare a well-written summary of the reasons for choosing their field of interest and discuss their career plans. Applications may be downloaded from Naviance. Applications should be returned to Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by Thursday, April 30.

Head O’ Meadow PTA Scholarship — The Head O’ Meadow PTA will award a scholarship to a graduating high school senior(s) from Newtown High School who attended HOM. Applicants must have been accepted into a postacademic program and be in compliance with the Code of Conduct of Newtown High School. Applications are available in the Career Center or may be downloaded from Naviance. The procedures include two letters of reference, high school transcript and letter of acceptance to a postacademic program. All candidates will be interviewed at HOM and will be notified of the date and time. The deadline for completed applications is April 20.

Bright Horizons Scholarship — The Connecticut Sun Foundation will award one $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year) to a Connecticut high school senior who will be attending an accredited college or university in the state of Connecticut. The basis of the scholarship is financial need. To qualify, you must: demonstrate financial need; be a senior enrolled in a Connecticut high school; have a minimum 1300 SAT or 28 ACT score and meet minimum GPA requirements; provide information detailing extracurricular school activities and honors; secure a letter of recommendation referencing academic and community status; and write a 500-word essay describing individual commitment to the community. Applications are available in the Career Center. The application deadline is May 15.

ConnTESOL Scholarships — The Connecticut Teachers to Speakers of Other Languages will award two scholarships to graduating high school seniors. One award of $1,000 will be given to a graduating high school senior presently or previously enrolled in ESOL or bilingual education classes, who is planning to attend a four-year college in the fall of 2009. The other award of $1,000 will be given to a graduating high school senior who is planning to attend a community college in the fall. Applications are available in the Career Center. The application deadline is April 30.

Quota International Scholarship — Quota International will award one $1,500 scholarship to a local graduating high school senior, college student or graduate student. The applicant must be pursuing a career in a field benefiting the deaf or hard of hearing such as audiology, speech/language pathology, teacher of the deaf or be a student who is deaf or hard of hearing. The application includes a 150 word essay stating the reasons he/she should receive this scholarship. Applications are available in the Career Center and must be received by April 30.