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.bbg.org or 703-276-0100.

Full details on all scholarships are available at the high school Career Center.

Frame My Future Scholarship — Graduating high school seniors who plan to attend college during the 2009-2010 year are eligible to enter this scholarship contest by using an 8½-by-11-inch piece of paper to create and share a vision of their personal and professional life goals after college. Entrants should submit a photograph, essay, collage, drawing, painting, or other creation in that space that represents a frame of their future. The top five winners will be selected by popular online vote and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The top 24 finalists will receive a special “Frame My Future” frame for their entry. All contest rules are available at www.framemyfuture.com. Seniors must enter by March 31.

Hord Foundation Scholarships — The Hord Foundation Scholarship program is a need-based award program open to black students graduating from high school from the greater Danbury area (includes Newtown). The award criteria are: acceptance to an undergraduate program or other program of continuing education, academic standing, contributions to school and community, financial need, a personal interview and overall strength of the application. A completed application along with transcripts and two letters of recommendation are required. A student may apply and may be awarded a Hord Scholarship for up to four years of baccalaureate-level study. All information and forms for this program are available at www.hordfoundation.org. The application deadline is February 16.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter (AAFA/NE) to high school seniors who reside in New England who have asthma or significant allergies and plan to continue their education. Applicants should have attained a level of academic excellence, have strong extracurricular activities and be role models for others who suffer from allergies and/or asthma. The application includes an original essay. This year’s essay topic is “Growing Up With Asthma or Severe Allergies; Challenges I Faced & How I Met Them.” Two winners will be selected by the evaluation of the eligible students’ academic records, references and essays. All information and application materials are available at www.asthmaandallergies.org. The application deadline is February 15.