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.

Latino Scholarship Fund — Scholarships provided by the Latino Scholarship Fund are available to college-bound Latino high school seniors from greater Danbury (Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Redding, and Ridgefield). Applicants must be of Latino heritage and United States citizens. A “Latino” is defined as any person, at least one of whose parents and/or grandparents were born in any of the recognized Spanish-speaking countries, or territory of the Uniwed States and who identify with what is commonly accepted as the “Latino culture.” Selections will be based on character and integrity, academic standing and/or potential, involvement in community activities and financial need. The amount of awards shall be determined based upon relative need and availability of funds. Applications and instructions may be downloaded from the website www.danburylatinofund.com. Two letters of reference and an essay must be submitted with the application. A required interview can be scheduled from the website as well. The application deadline is March 15.

Humane Society Shaw-Worth Scholarship — A $2,500 college scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from New England who has made a meaningful, long-term contribution to animal protection. Actions meriting the award may include direct work on behalf of animals; inspiring leadership in animal protection organizations; papers, speeches, or presentations on humane topics; and heroic animal rescues. There is no standardized form to complete. Applications should be written in letter form and include a narrative of the student’s achievements in animal protection, as well as a discussion of his or her attitude toward animals. Documentation of the activities cited, recommendations from at least three people, and a description of future plans for humane work are required. High scholastic standing and financial need are not prerequisites for this scholarship; please do not include academic transcripts with the application. Applications should include the student’s home address and phone number. The award recipient will be announced by May 15. The Career Center has complete information about this scholarship.

Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation Horticultural Scholarship — A $5,000 annual scholarship will be awarded to a graduating Connecticut high school senior who is accepted in a two- or four-year course of study beneficial to the horticulture industry. Current college students in accepted fields of study will also be considered for this program. Major fields of study include, but are not limited to, ornamental horticulture, landscaping design, nursery management, and greenhouse management. Students may attend an in-state or out-of-state institution. An important part of the criteria for selection will be scholastic standing and financial need. A copy of the student’s Student Aid Report (SAR), Financial Aid award letter, or current college transcript and personal recommendations must be forwarded with the application to the CNF office. The CNF Scholarship Selection Committee will interview finalists in April and notify the recipient immediately after selection. Download the application from www.flowersplantsinct.com; click on key documents. Submit application by March 11 via e-mail only to: TBodnar@whiteflowerfarm.com

Howard Jennings Scholarship — The Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation is coordinating a horticultural scholarship in honor of Howard Jennings, former nursery manager of Summer Hill. This $500 scholarship is a one-time grant to a Connecticut high school student who has been accepted by the University of Connecticut, majoring in the field of horticulture in either the two- or four-year program. The student is to complete the same application as the CT Nurserymen’s Foundation Scholarship and will be selected by the CNF Selection Committee in mid-April. The student will be awarded the scholarship based upon academics and financial need, with emphasis on nonschool work related to horticulture. If a student would like to be eligible for either scholarship, only one application need be submitted. The Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation Scholarship applications are available at www.flowersplantsinct.com; click on key documents.

UCB Family Rheumatoid Arthritis College Scholarships — UCB is offering 30 one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 per scholarship to students diagnosed by a physician with rheumatoid arthritis or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of someone with RA. The applicant should demonstrate academic ambition and embrace a way of life that overcomes the boundaries of living with RA. Students of all ages enrolled in an associate’s, undergraduate, graduate degree, or trade school educational program are eligible. The application details and criteria are available at their website www.reachbeyondra.com/scholarship and must be submitted by March 18.

Arrive Alive Scholarships — Carter Mario Injury Lawyers is committed to supporting higher education opportunities as well as promoting programs that deal with the prevention of distracted driving. The Arrive Alive Scholarship provides financial assistance in enabling students to pursue their educational goals as well as stressing the dangers of distracted driving while talking on the phone. The sixth annual Arrive Alive Scholarship program will offer ten $1000 scholarships to Connecticut high school seniors who will be attending a four-year college or university in the fall of 2011. An essay, video, or graphic presentation is required. Completed application must be postmarked by March 25. Complete details are available from the website GetCarter.com.

M. Fisher Scholarship in Innovation and Creativity — This scholarship rewards and encourages local students with exceptional innovation and creative problem-solving skills. Students who have solved artistic, scientific, or technical problems in new or unusual ways or students who have come up with distinctive solutions to problems faced by their schools, communities, or families should consider this scholarship. Academic and extracurricular information play an important secondary role in helping the committee get a fuller picture of the applicant, but these are not the basis on which the scholarship is awarded. Financial need does not play a role in determining the selection of applicants. After the scholarship recipients are selected, the amount of each award is determined solely on the basis of financial need. High school juniors, seniors and college freshman from Connecticut and New York City are eligible. The website has complete details about the application process and includes some information about projects that have won in previous years. Students should download applications directly from www.rbffoundation.org. All applications must be postmarked by April 18.