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.

CT High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Scholar Athletic Scholarship — The Connecticut High School Coaches Association will be awarding six $1,000 scholarships to three male and three female graduating high school seniors from across the state. Seniors are eligible to apply if they have earned at least one varsity athletic letter, have achieved a minimum 3.0 academic average, and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship and leadership. Each CIAC-member school many nominate one male and one female to participate in the final selection process for the scholarship. Only one athlete will be selected from each school. All applicants who would like to be considered for nomination must return a completed three-page Scholar-Athlete Nomination Form (available in the Career Center) to Mrs Latowicki by January 4. Athletic scholars and parents will be notified by the second week in April. The official ceremony will take place at the “Outstanding Coaches Dinner” held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington in May.

Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship — The Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship is searching for graduating seniors who have proven their ability to put the spirit of competition above winning while participating in a varsity level sport. Students must also have earned a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or higher and performed volunteer work in the community. Applicants must also complete an essay explaining how they have demonstrated the value of sportsmanship both on and off the field. Scholarship finalists will then be chosen by the community in an online competition. Schools, students, and members of the community are encouraged to visit Hood.com between February 15 and March 15 to vote for their “Good Sport.” The top ten applicants from each New England state who have received the most votes will be interviewed by a select panel of judges, and three from each state will be selected as winners. Applicants must enter online at Hood.com by 3 pm on February 1.

Princeton Prize in Race Relations — This $1,000 cash award is designed to recognize and encourage high school students who have made or are making efforts to improve racial harmony. Regional winners are invited to Princeton University’s campus for an all-expense paid weekend to attend the Princeton Prize Symposium on Race. The next symposium is scheduled for April 26–28. This year the Princeton Prize will be offered in Connecticut and 22 other locations across the United States. Apply online by January 31 at www.princeton.edu/pprize.

National Co-op Scholarship Program — The National Commission for Cooperative Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing high quality, college-level co-op education, offers a total of 155 $6,000 renewable merit co-op scholarships. To be eligible for a merit co-op scholarship a student must apply, be accepted and attend one of the seven partner colleges/universities: Drexel University, Johnson & Wales University, Kettering University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, or Wentworth Institute of Technology. Minority and female students as well as students interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) are encouraged to apply for this merit co-op scholarship. The website www.co-op.edu has the online application and complete information about co-op education. Early applications are highly encouraged for this program and applications must be postmarked by February 15.

Young Entrepreneurs Awards — Applicants for the Young Entrepreneur Awards should demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and initiative evident by establishing their own business. Participation is encouraged in organizations such as DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), or Junior Achievement, among others; or through other initiatives. There are a minimum of 100 scholarships including nonrenewable and renewable awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The selection committee will consider academic record, extracurricular activities, leadership, and entrepreneurial endeavors. NFIB recommends that students fully read all the application instructions and the frequently asked questions before beginning the online application, which is due by December 15. For complete information and FAQs refer to the website, www.NFIB.com/YEA.

Ithaca College-Martin Luther King Scholar Program — Ithaca College’s Martin Luther King Scholar Program is open to academically talented students from ethnic and racial backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the United States higher education. Interested students should complete the scholar program application, which is now available at myIthaca.edu. The application, recommendation, and two required essays are due by January 15. In addition, the completed Common Application and Ithaca’s supplement should be submitted online by January 2. In late February, finalists will be notified by e-mail and invited for an interview and special on campus programming in late March. Learn more about the MLK Scholars at www.ithaca.edu/mlk.

The Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities (GCYD) — The Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities is a nonprofit organization recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Connecticut high school students with disabilities and promoting educational opportunities to help students achieve their career goals. Each year the GCYD holds a scholarship awards ceremony at the State Capitol featuring legislators and members of the private sector, state agencies, and various educational institutions. At the ceremony, scholarship awardees are recognized for their hard work and achievements over the years that have distinguished them as future leaders. GCYD works diligently each year to increase the number of available scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $5000 per student. Refer to the website www.gcyd.org for eligibility criteria and the application requirements. All applications must be postmarked or received by February 17. Each application must have an authorized signature from a school official so it is important to contact Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by February 10 to coordinate the authorized signature.

Teachers Against Prejudice (TAP) Essay Contest — Teachers Against Prejudice is a national essay contest geared toward high school students of any grade. The contest requires a 1,000-word essay on a specific question regarding prejudice and the media. The specific question and rules are available at the website www.teachersagainstprejudice.org. The essay and the entry form must be e-mailed by midnight December 15 to contest@teachersagainstprejudice.org.

Bohdan Kolinsky Memorial Sports Journalism Scholarship — The Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance will award a minimum of $1,000 scholarship to a Connecticut high school senior planning to attend an accredited four-year college with the aim of pursuing a career in sports journalism. The scholarship is renewable annually, subject to the student’s ability to meet specified academic and other goals. Applicants will be judged on the basis of their promise as journalists and their ability to successfully complete college-level academic work. The application may be downloaded from the website www.ctsportswriters.org. The application and supporting materials must be sent via US mail; postmarked before 5 pm on February 3 or received by 9 am EST on Monday, February 6. The scholarship winner will be honored at the Alliance’s 2012 Gold Key Dinner on April 29 at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Scholar Awards — Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Scholar Awards are full-tuition scholarships offered for four years at the NJ campus. Refer to the website for scholarship criteria and admission details, www.fdu.edu. Students are required to fax or mail a nomination form, completed by NHS Guidance, by January 15. Contact Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center prior to the due date if you are interested. FDU admissions application and supporting documents are also due by January 15.

Weller Education Scholarship — The Weller Education $4,000 scholarship recognizes and financially assists an eligible senior planning to pursue a career teaching in public or private elementary or secondary schools. Applicants must be full-time students at Newtown, Joel Barlow, Masuk, Shelton, or Trumbull High Schools. An essay, 500 to 700 words in length, titled “Why I Have Chosen A Career in Education,” must be submitted with the application. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or a class rank in the top 20 percent at the end of grade 11 and a minimum SAT score of 1710 and/or an ACT score of 25. A completed application form with all required attachments must be received by Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by February 22. An interview with the judges will take place on April 2 and the Awards Banquet on May 1. Scholarship application forms are available in the Career Center.

Weller Medical/Health Sciences Scholarship — The Weller Foundation encourages and financially assists one local high school senior who has chosen a course of study in the field of medical/health sciences. Health care careers acceptable under this program are nursing, therapy, medical technology, paramedics, and other licensed health care workers who provide one-on-one health care to people. Programs leading to MD or PhD degrees are not eligible. The scholarship requires a 500–700-word essay entitled, “Why I Have Chosen A Career In Medicine (Medical/Health Sciences).” Students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0 and minimum SAT score of 1460 out of 2400 or ACT score of 20. All completed applications must be submitted to Mrs Latowicki in the Career Center by February 22. Applicants must attend a brief interview with the judges on April 3 and the Awards Banquet on May 1. Scholarship application forms may be obtained in the Career Center.