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.

Discover Scholarship Program — The Discover Scholarship Program is for high school juniors for exemplary accomplishments in community service and leadership and who have faced a significant challenge or roadblock. Up to ten scholarships of $25,000 will be awarded to support post-high school education or training certification, licensing, two or four year trade and technical school, or two or four year college. To be eligible, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75. All applications must be submitted by January 31. The website www.discoverfinancial.com/community has details, applications and information about previous winners.

Holocaust Remembrance Essay Contest — This is a national essay contest for high school students of any grade designed to encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. Students should research and prepare an essay of no more than 1,200 words. Refer to the website http://holocaust.hklaw.com/index.asp to upload an entry form and essay by April 15. Students compete for ten first-place college scholarships of $2,500, including an all-expense paid trip to a leading Holocaust museum being held in South Florida tentatively scheduled for early July. Cash prizes also awarded for second and third place winners.

BrainDance Awards — The Institute of Living and Hartford Hospital are sponsoring an art and academic competition designed to decrease the stigma of mental illness and promote students’ interest in mental healthcare. The BrainDance Awards encourage students in all high school grades to gain knowledge about psychiatric diseases and develop a more tolerant and realistic perspective toward people with severe psychiatric problems. The project is due by February 1, and can be in any format, including research studies, reviews, essays, paintings, poems or short stories. An award of $1,000 will be given to the best overall submission and up to $1,000 may be given to the best projects. BrainDance applicants must register online at www.nrc-iol.org. All the applicant’s teachers, family, and classmates will be invited to a research day hosted by the Institute of Living on April 29.

Angela M. Sequenzia Memorial Scholarship — The Greater Danbury USBC Bowling Association scholarship will be awarded to a current member, son, daughter, or grandchild of a currently sanctioned member of the Greater Danbury USBC. The applicant must be a high school senior who will enter an institution of higher learning in the summer or fall of the semester following graduation. The top three male and female candidates will be required to attend a personal interview. The application form is available online at www.greaterdanburyUSBC.org. Completed applications with all required material and typed essay must be postmarked by February 15.

Bright Lights Scholarship — The Bright Lights Scholarship recognizes the outstanding achievements of high school seniors with disabilities by providing financial educational assistance. Candidates must be Connecticut residents who have a disability as defined by the Special Education Law or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and plan to attend a postsecondary school or training program in Connecticut. Applications are available at www.gcyd.org. The student’s guidance counselor must review and sign the application prior to submission. All completed applications, supporting materials, and the essay must be postmarked by January 10.

Komen College Scholarship Award — The Komen College Scholarship Award recipients are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, financial need, and demonstrated leadership potential. Recipients will be expected to be ambassadors for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the breast cancer movement within their social networks and on their collegiate campus. Applicants are eligible if they have lost a parent to breast cancer or are breast cancer survivors themselves. High school students who will graduate by June 2011 are eligible as well as current college students. Students must plan to attend a state-supported college or university this fall in the state where they permanently reside. The deadline to submit application is January 15. Complete details are available from the website www.komen.org/scholarship.

American Chemical Society Scholars Program — The American Chemical Society offers renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 per year for underrepresented minority college students who are high academic achievers in chemistry/science and who plan to major in chemistry or chemistry-related sciences. Applications are available online at www.chemisry.org and must be submitted by March 1.