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.

BrainDance Awards — The Institute of Living and Hartford Hospital are sponsoring an art and academic competition designed to decrease the stigma of mental illness. The BrainDance Awards encourage students to gain knowledge about psychiatric diseases and develop a more tolerant and realistic perspective toward people with severe psychiatric problems. The project can be in any format, including research studies, reviews, essays, paintings, poems, or short stories. Awards up to $1,000 will be given to the best submissions. Applicants must register online. Visit www.nrc-iol.org and follow the link to BrainDance for applications, information, and procedures. Submission deadline is February 1. All applicants, their teachers, families, and classmates will be invited to a research day hosted by the Institute of Living on May 31.

Latino Scholarship Fund — Scholarships provided by the Latino Scholarship Fund are available to college-bound Latino high school seniors from the greater Danbury area. Applicants must be of Latino heritage, United States citizens, and anticipate enrollment in a United States college or university. Selections will be based on character and integrity, academic standing, involvement in community activities and financial need. The amount of an award shall be determined based upon relative need and availability of funds. Applications and instructions are available from the website. Visit www.danburylatinofund.com for the application and guidelines. Submission deadline is March 15. Also, note that required interviews must be scheduled from the website.

Greenwich Youth Film Festival — The Junior League of Greenwich is sponsoring a film festival open to all high school students who attend high school or reside in Fairfield or Westchester County. Entries will be accepted in five categories. Entries are due no later than 2 pm on February 17; submit the film, entry form, and signed releases. Applications and guidelines are available in the Career Center. The event will be held on April 28 at 1 pm in the Cole Auditorium of the Greenwich Library.

Connecticut Bar Foundation – James W. Cooper Fellows Essay Contest — The Connecticut Bar Foundation sponsors a writing contest open to all high school students throughout the state. The 2011-2012 essay topic is, “Paying for Their Parents’ Mistake? Tuition and the Undocumented Student.” Entries from each school/home-schooler must be submitted to the Connecticut Bar Foundation in Hartford, postmarked no later than March 2. Visit www.cbf.ctbar.org for guidelines. The winning students, school contest coordinators, and principals will receive awards which will be presented at a ceremony presided over by Connecticut Supreme Court Justices at the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Pepsi-Hispanic College Fund Scholarship — The Hispanic College Fund is sponsoring scholarships for high seniors who are enrolling full-time as an undergraduate student for the upcoming academic year. Eligible students must have earned and continue to maintain a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and also demonstrate financial need. Visit www.scholarships.hispanicfund.org for the application process, eligibility and guidelines.

SAMMY (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year) — The 2012 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) campaign in partnership with USA Today recognizes 25 graduating high school student athletes throughout the nation with a $7,500 scholarship for their achievements in academics, athletics (high school sport or club sport), and community service. Winners will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Disney World and be featured in a Milk Mustache ad. Teachers, coaches, principals, guidance counselors, athletic directors, and relatives are encouraged to nominate a student athlete for the SAMMY 2012 Awards. Applicants must register and apply online at  www.bodybymilk.com by March 9.