Toyota Community Scholars Program - $20,000 scholarship opportunity

High schools nationwide are asked to nominate one student for the Toyota Community Scholars program. The school's nominee should have a consistent record of academic excellence, be active in school programs, and be recognized as a leader by his/her peers and instructors. In addition, the nominee must have initiated or be actively involved in a service program that addresses a school or community need.

Students who fit this profile should contact the school guidance counselor at their high school to learn more about the nomination process.

Contact
Toyota Community Scholars Scholarship Coordinator
Educational Testing Service
P.O.Box 6730
Princeton, NJ 08541

Phone
609-771-7878


Application Deadline
Application materials are mailed to high schools nationwide in September. Applications are due in early December. Contact school guidance counselor for details on nomination process.

Number Of Awards
100

Maximum Amount
$20,000

Website Address
http://www.toyota.com/about/community/education/


For more information, please click on the "Community Scholars" link at:
http://www.toyota.com/about/community/education


Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with a huge resource section to help you deal with all phases of attending college including essay writing tips!

Scholarship Winners Dish on Secrets to Success

It may be difficult to convince yourself to write a scholarship essay. All of that work, and you’re not even guaranteed to win? I mean, for all you know, there are hundreds of people competing against you, and they’re all overachievers. Yes, yes, you know that it’s silly to work for months for this money and not give a scholarship opportunity a few hours. Still, it’s just that there are no guarantees. If only you knew what the winners were doing, things would be different. Well, we’re here to help with that one. We have gone through winners’ testimonials to find out the secrets of their success. Here is what we found.

Be Persistent. Most of the winners who have contacted us have received numerous scholarships. Coincidence? Probably not. To win numerous scholarships, you have to apply regularly. Stephanie Sylvester, a college student who has received several scholarships is a great example. “Just because I’m a sophomore in college doesn’t mean I’ve quit the scholarship search here at Scholarships.com,” she said. “I’m still searching and don’t count me out.” Stephanie began her search as a junior in high school and is still going strong. You don’t need to throw your hands up if you haven’t received a scholarship by the end of your senior year. Systematically apply, and you will see results.

Apply Early. The same hints that apply to college applications apply to scholarship ones. Applying early may significantly increase your chances of winning. Once deadlines draw near, applications may be skimmed through by overworked readers. You have a greater chance at having your essay thoroughly reviewed if you get a head start. Let your seriousness and responsibility shine through by getting things done early. Readers are likely to take notice.

Carefully Read Required Qualifications. This is crucial. Your time is precious and so is that of the judges who will be reading your submission. Your ability and willingness to follow simple instructions is often one of the first things scholarship providers will look for. Using your profile, Scholarships.com will help you find scholarships that apply to you. To maximize the amount of scholarships you qualify for, make your profile as detailed as possible. Nikki from Chicago had this to say on the topic, “Scholarships.com was incredibly helpful in my search for scholarships that fit my criteria. When I knew that I wanted to study abroad, I went to Scholarships.com and found so many scholarship programs for students like me.” We can help you too. If you give us the details, we’ll show you the scholarships.

Stay Positive. Many scholarships are open to all prospective college students, regardless of GPA. Just because you are an average student doesn’t mean that you cannot write an excellent essay. That is what numerous scholarship reviewers are looking for. When you are asked to write an essay on a given topic, do your best to give solid support for your thesis. Do some research and include personal thoughts as well as applicable facts. Scholarship readers aren’t looking for the perfect person, but they are looking for someone who has put obvious effort into their essay. You may feel average, but your attitude doesn’t have to be.

There are plenty of scholarships out there, for all students. By taking the advice of those who have been awarded scholarships, you may save yourself the trouble of learning what works and what doesn’t first hand. You can get a lot more than a penny for your thoughts, but you have to share them first.

Start your scholarship search by visiting Scholarships.com today!

You could win $1,000 just for referring a friend to Scholarships.com!

As a member of Scholarships.com, you could win cash prizes just for helping us spread the word about our free college scholarship search. All you have to do is enter up to ten of your friends’ names and email addresses. If they join the site, you’ll both be eligible for the $1,000 sweepstakes. The more friends you refer, the more entries you’ll get!

For more information, visit Scholarships.com today!

Knocking on Opportunity’s Door: Scholarships for Grad Students

Paying for four years of college is a steep bill, so steep in fact, that even if attending grad school would be profoundly beneficial, most students feel as though affording it is an impossible feat. Though grad school is not the best option for all students, for many (depending on their career choice), it can be the difference between a mediocre career and one that is fabulously fitted to your abilities. If this is the case, consider the many financial assistance options available before writing grad school off altogether—you may find that it is not nearly as impossible as you thought.

Grad Scholarship Categories

Grad school scholarships are much less common than undergraduate scholarships but they are out there. If you distinguish yourself in college by getting involved on campus, participating in your community, and earning the grades that match your social contributions, getting assistance for grad school is not as hard as it seems. The competition is tough when financial assistance is at stake, but there are also fewer students vying for the prize. If grad school will help you obtain the position that you want, boost your salary, and build your qualifications, by all means, pursue a master’s degree fervently and seek out scholarship opportunities.

Essay scholarships. Most essay scholarships can be applied toward any level of post-secondary education. The great thing about an essay scholarship is that if you find it early enough you have a unique opportunity to knock the socks off your audience. Find a peer or even a past instructor and ask for feed back on the piece that you are going to submit. Then make the changes. Essay judges are most likely no different than the people who surround you every day so their opinions are priceless. The more time you invest the greater the potential reward will be.

Employer sponsorships/ professional development scholarships. Already in lodged into a profession? Find out what incentives your employer offers for employees pursuing an advanced degree. Most employers offer some form of tuition reimbursement, possibly up to one hundred percent. If your employer does not have a sponsorship program, see if they have scholarship opportunities available for employees.

Major specific scholarships. Have you decided what master’s program you are interested in? If so, look for major specific scholarship opportunities. You will have a better chance at these scholarships because of your interest in the subject and your commitment to studying it.

Research grants. Do you have a degree related research project that you are interested in working on? If so, you may qualify for a research grant either through a university or an independent sponsor that has a vested interest in the topic you are pursuing. There is a network of support available for students committed to learning through the research process because no amount of classroom time competes with the invaluable knowledge gained through hands on experience.

Sweepstakes. However difficult they are to actually win, sweepstakes scholarships are still worth entering. Why? Because the chance to earn several thousand dollars towards your degree is worth the five seconds that you invest. Your chances of winning a scholarship sweepstakes are much much higher than winning say, the lottery, and participation is one hundred percent free. Additionally, there are few restrictions on eligibility requirements which means that even grad students can participate.

There are many scholarship and grant opportunities for graduate students at Scholarships.com, along with some great tips in our resource section!

National Peace Essay Contest

Now here's a great opportunity for today's youth to voice their thoughts and beliefs on resolving conflicts and building a lasting peace among nations.

The National Peace Essay Contest

• Promotes serious discussion among high school students, teachers, and national leaders about international peace and conflict resolution today and in the future;
• Complements existing curricula and other scholastic activities;
• Strengthens students' research, writing, and reasoning skills; and
• Meets National Contents Standards.

Contact:
United States Institute of Peace

Address :
1200 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20063

Phone:
202-457-1700

Email Address:
education@usip.org

Application Deadline:
February 1, 2008

Awards:
Potentially 53 Winners in all.

• $10,000 1 National First Place Winner
• $5,000 1 National Second Place Winner
• $2,500 1 National Third Place Winner
• $1,000 1 State Winner in each state plus 1 winner for U.S. territories, 1 winner for the District of Columbia, and 1 winner for American Students abroad.

Eligibility:
Open to all high school students (grades 9 - 12) attending school in the United States regardless of citizenship. Foreign exchange and visiting students attending high school in the U.S. may enter. Only U.S. citizens if attending high school in countries other than United States.

For complete contest details (essay topic, guidelines, rules, etc.), the United States Institute of Peace web site.

Remember, there are millions more scholarships and grants at Scholarships.com, along with a huge resource section to help you deal with all phases of attending college including essay writing tips!

Scholarship Strategy: Creating a Savvy, Successful Approach

One of the best things about scholarships is that for the most part, they reward the applicants who put forth the most effort. Like teachers who can instantly spot a sloppy homework assignment, scholarship judges can identify poorly composed applications without lifting a finger. Depending upon the award and how many students participate, the process of eliminating underqualified students can be competitive at best, and downright ruthless at worst. You may already be thinking "They won’t pick me, so why waste my time?" The answer: the financial assistance that is obtainable through scholarships is worth it, even if you don’t receive an award from each and every scholarship that you apply to.

Most of the students who succeeded in earning scholarships did so for two reasons:

1. They met the criteria outlined by the scholarship sponsor.
2. They approached the application process strategically and were selective in their pursuit of scholarship opportunities. It’s that simple.

There is no magic recipe that will help you win a scholarship. What there is, however, is a time tested strategy that many students find incredibly helpful in organizing their scholarship search. The students who apply these techniques usually come out ahead in the end.

Make a list. Gather the information for all of the scholarship offers that you are qualified to apply for. The latter part of this suggestion is essential—do not spend valuable time applying for scholarships for which your GPA, major, community involvement requirement, or any other criteria does not meet the standard. There are likely hundreds of awards for which you specifically qualify, so focus your attention on those. Read through your list and eliminate all awards that you are not qualified for.

Assess each individual opportunity. This will take time, but in the end your investment will pay off. After narrowing down your list so that it only includes the scholarships that are most relevant, consider the following categories:

• Deadlines. How long do you have to complete the scholarship?
• Difficulty of preparation. Considering the deadline, do you have time to thoroughly prepare for this award?
• Award amount. How much is the award worth? If it is only worth a couple hundred bucks, consider whether or not you are willing to spend your time on it. Keep in mind that every little bit does help and that you have a greater chance at receiving slightly smaller awards as opposed to full tuition grants, simply because they are less competitive.

Prioritize your opportunities. Now that you have determined the value of the scholarships that you have selected based on when the deadline is, preparation required, and the amount of the award, create a rating system. A simple way to do this is to rate each scholarship with a ( + ) or (– ) sign next to the award. For example, an award with three plus signs is a scholarship for which you must apply. The deadline is far off, average preparation is required, and the reward it $2000. On the other hand, a scholarship with two minus signs might cause you to reconsider before taking the time to apply. It could be that amount of preparation required simply exceeds the amount of effort you are willing to exert because the scholarship award in only $100.

Begin applying. Alright, you’ve determined what scholarships you are actually interested in applying for. Chances are your list is a good bit shorter now, and much more feasible. Begin submitting to the scholarships that you have ranked highest in priority. Good luck!

Check out Scholarships.com for more scholarship strategies and search tips.

Scholarships Not Just for "A" Students Anymore

Often students think they don’t have much, if any, chance at winning scholarships if they haven’t achieved excellent grades in high school and I’m sure many scholarship providers do, in fact, prefer to invest in a student who has already proven themselves to thrive in an academic setting. Nobody is saying you don’t stand a better chance at some free college cash if you do happen to belong to three or four clubs and boast a 4.0 cumulative GPA or ace the ACT/SAT’s, but these are not the only criteria by which scholarship providers award cash these days.

Naturally, there are the odd-ball scholarships like the one for left-handed people or the one where you make a suit or dress out of Duck tape for your prom, but you probably already know of these, having read about them in almost every article written on scholarships over the last decade or so. In case you’re not familiar, though, the scholarship for lefties is only available to those planning to attend Juniata College in Huntington, Pennsylvania. The Duck tape one is actually a really cool scholarship contest that has no GPA requirements, offers a $2,500 grand prize and looks like a lot of fun. There are so many others out there, though, and you or your child/student could very well qualify for several or possibly dozens of them. Below are several types of scholarship that don’t necessarily favor the class brain.

Can you draw? Dance? Sing? Talent is the new brains
There are quite a few scholarships available to the more creatively inclined that don’t necessarily require good grades. Some may have a minimum GPA, but often they are a very attainable 3.0 or thereabouts rather than the “4.0, top-of-your-class” variety. I have seen drawing scholarships, singing auditions that could net a scholarship for the top performers and even scholarships requesting a video as an entry.

Write your own ticket. Essay scholarships could prove rewarding
You could pull down anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more just for reading a book and writing an essay on it- some don’t even require reading the book! Most of these scholarships don’t have a GPA requirement, nor are they concerned with any of the other famous three-letter acronyms (ACT, SAT). As a matter of fact, the Resolve To Evolve Scholarship doesn’t have any GPA, SAT or ACT requirements and you could win up to $3,000 with your entry. Even if you don’t take the top prize, you could win $2,000 or be one of five $1,000 winners! Conduct a free search at Scholarships.com to see if you qualify.

Apply for a "Major" Scholarship
There are so many scholarships out there for students interested in pursuing a particular major, from Advertising to Zoology. Sure, it wouldn’t hurt to have a perfect 4.0, but you still may have a chance at thousands of dollars in free financial assistance, or maybe even a full-ride. Give it your best effort- make a case to the scholarship provider and show them why you are the best candidate.

Employers may pay more than just your salary
Often times a scholarship will be available exclusively to employees or their children or specific companies like Kraft or even those in specific types of careers or industries, such as police officers or steel workers.

Location, Location, Location
Sometimes, your zip code or high school may qualify you for a particular scholarship. There are a number of scholarships available exclusively to those living in specific counties or attending specific high schools. If there is one for your county or school, it’ll be in your search results at Scholarships.com

All of the above types of scholarships will appear in your search results when you conduct a free scholarship search online at Scholarships.com. We ask the most pertinent questions possible in a (roughly) ten-minute session so that you will see which scholarships are available to you. The more complete and accurate the information you supply, the more accurate and complete your search results. You may be pleasantly surprised to see how many scholarships you are eligible for, A student or not, and who knows? You may even end up winning a few.

Scholarships.com "Tell A Friend" Sweepstakes - Win $1,000

You could win $1,000 just for referring a friend to Scholarships.com.

As a Scholarships.com member, you've gotten free access to customized, detailed scholarship searches and other financial aid information. Tell your friends how they can do likewise and you'll both receive a chance to win $1,000! Just enter up to ten of your friends' email addresses, and for every one you refer who fills out a User Profile at Scholarships.com, you'll both be eligible to win the $1,000 prize. Your friends will thank you for telling them about Scholarships.com (and giving them a chance at the prize), and you'll be entered once for every valid referral you give.

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