Numerous Scholarships For Students 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.

AXA Achievement Scholarship — The AXA Foundation will award one $10,000 scholarship to a high school senior from Connecticut and ten scholarships of $15,000 to national recipients. Applicants should be well rounded, determined to succeed and have demonstrated achievement — at a job, sport, or extracurricular activity. Applicants are asked to describe in detail an outstanding achievement they have accomplished in a nonacademic activity or project. To apply, download an application from the website and have an adult complete the appraisal. Completed applications must be submitted by December 15. The first 12,000 applications received, which have met the postmark deadline, will be considered. Download applications from www.axa-achievement.com or complete online.

Davidson College Scholarships — The Bryan Scholars Program offers two scholarships, one each to a female and male scholar athlete in each entering class. The scholarships are valued at $30,000 annually, totaling $120,000 during the recipients’ Davidson careers. Every finalist in the Bryan Scholars competition will be named a Davidson Scholar. The Davidson Scholars Program awards range from $5,000 to $20,000. A school nomination is required by September 25. A high school may nominate up to three individuals. Go to www.davidson.edu to download a nomination form and get nomination procedures.

PTA Reflections Program — The Reflections Program sponsored by the Connecticut PTA offers students an opportunity for creative self expression in the form of an original work in one of six areas of the arts. The talent areas are dance choreography, film production, literature, photography, musical composition, and visual arts. There are four grade divisions. The theme for the 2009 program is “Beauty is...” The winning entries at the local level in each age category will be forwarded to the state level. State winners will proceed to the national level. National winners will receive $200 and a medallion. Complete rules and entry forms are available at www.ctpta.org. The Career Center also has entry forms. All local entries must be submitted to the Reflections PTA representative by November 15.

Coca-Cola Scholars Program — Fifty $20,000 scholarships (payable in equal installments over a four-year period) and 200 $10,000 scholarships (payable over a four-year period) for use at accredited US colleges or universities will be awarded through this national program. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of demonstrated leadership, commitment to community, academic achievement, and employment. All applications must be completed online by October 31 in order to qualify. Semifinalists are notified of their selection in mid-December and are asked to submit supporting application documents by mid-January. Interested students should go to www.coca-colascholars.org for details.

Wendy’s High School Heisman Award — For the past 15 years, Wendy’s Restaurants and the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee have sponsored the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award that honors both male and female students who excel in academics, athletics, and student leadership. The application process is open to all senior student athletes (Class of 2010) who work hard, are dedicated, and have become role models for the school’s underclassmen. The application period extends through October 1 at 5 pm. Applicants must have at least a B average and participate at school in at least one of 27 sports. The online nomination form must be completed by students and reviewed and confirmed by a high school official by no later than midnight on October 6. Interested students should go to www.wendysheisman.com for complete information.

Horatio Alger Scholarship Program — This national scholarship program is for high school seniors with a strong commitment to pursuing a bachelor’s degree and critical financial need. Applicants should demonstrate involvement in co-curricular and community activities and have a minimum GPA. Students must submit an online application. All facts are available at www.horatioalger.com/scholarships. The application deadline is October 30.

Intel Science Talent Search — This is America’s oldest and most highly regarded precollege science contest. It encourages talented high school seniors to pursue careers in science, math, engineering, and medicine. Each of 300 students named as a semifinalist in the program will receive $1,000. Finalists receive larger scholarships. Complete information is available at www.societyforscience.org. The deadline is November 19.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards — For high school students of any grade who have had outstanding involvement in a volunteer community service activity performed within the last year. Newtown High School will select one applicant to be forwarded to the state round of judging. State level honorees receive $1,000. All applications should be completed online at www.prudential.com/spirit by November 2. One local honoree will be certified by November 9 that individual will go on to the state level competition. The state level honorees will be announced in February.

Skidmore College Filene Music Scholarships — The Filene Scholarship at Skidmore College provides a special opportunity for musically gifted students with high academic aspirations. The annual award is $10,000 per year for four years plus the cost of private music lessons. Remarkably, the Filene Scholarship Program does not require that scholarship winners major in music. However the Music Department requires all winners to remain active in its musical life, including participation in appropriate ensembles. Interested students should go to www.skidmore.edu/filenescholarship for complete information and apply by January 15.

Emory Scholars Program — The Emory University Scholar awards span four years of undergraduate study and range from two-thirds tuition to full tuition, room, board, and fees. A high school may nominate up to four outstanding seniors. The complete application must arrive in the Emory Office by November 1. In January, the Scholar Selection Committee will select approximately 350 semifinalists; these semifinalists will learn of their admission to Emory at that time. From that pool, approximately 70 finalists will interview at Emory. Interested students should go to www.emory.edu/scholarsprogram.

Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition — The Voice of Democracy scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9–12 that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The first-place winner, who competes with all the first-place VFW Department winners, receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s university, college, or vocational/technical school. This year the theme is “Does America Still Have Heroes?” In addition to scholarships, each top winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March. The Career Center has entry forms and basic information. Apply by November 1.

Eastern States Exposition Scholarships — There are three separate scholarship programs for high school seniors who will attend a two- or four-year college. Specific details are noted in the Eastern States Exposition website for the Trustee Scholarship, the ESE 4-H Beef Program Scholarship, and the Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship. Eligibility and award amounts vary. Important note: Please check the website link to make sure that the information is current for 2009-2010. Interested students may want to contact the Big E for the most current information. The first deadline is September 30. The website is www.thebige.com. Youth Design Competition – The Home Builders Association of Hartford County, Inc is sponsoring a youth design contest for high school students in grades 10–12. Entries should consist of a “presentation” drawing done in black ink or pencil on white paper of a single-family residence. All drawings must have been started and completed in a single school year or its equivalent and adhere to the stated rules and regulations. All information is available at www.cthomeshow.com. The first prizewinner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,500 scholarship. There are prizes for second, third, and fourth place entries. Interested students must register to enter the competition by February 15.

Freedom In Academia Scholarships — High school seniors from across the United States are invited to submit a well-written, in-depth essay (700–1,200 words) on individual freedoms on college campuses. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience — the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity. Essays should cover the betrayal of that liberty and violation of constitutional rights at American colleges and universities as documented by FIRE at www.fire.org/multimedia. The deadline for essay submissions is November 6.

National Federation of the Blind of CT — The state organization of NFBC provides several scholarships to recognize the achievements of blind scholars. The scholarships range from $3,000 to $8,000 each. NFBC scholarships are judged on the basis of academic quality, service to the community and financial need. All applicants must be legally blind and be Connecticut residents or attending school full-time in Connecticut. The scholarships will be presented at the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut State Convention in early November. Interested students should go to www.nfbct.org for additional information. The deadline is September 15.

Siemens Competition — The Siemens Competition seeks to promote excellence by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects. Research in math, science, engineering, and/or technology will be considered in this national competition. Individual entrants must be seniors who expect to graduate from high school with the Class of 2010. Team participants may consist of two or three members from any level of high school. Scholarships for winning projects range from $1,000 to $100,000. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. Interested students should go to www.collegeboard.com/siemens for complete information about the competition. October 1 is the deadline for research report materials.