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.

Wal-Mart Scholarships — Wal-Mart has four national scholarship programs for graduating high school seniors. The scholarships range from $1,000 renewable scholarships to $10,000 awards paid out over four years of college study. Three scholarship programs are open to employees or their dependents. The last program is open to applicants without an employment connection to Wal-Mart and is called the Sam Walton Community Scholarship. The recipient will receive a one-time $3,000 scholarship. This needs based scholarship also reviews academic achievements & community involvement. Take the Eligibility Quiz online at www.walmartfoundation.org. All applications are due by January 31.

SAMMY Awards (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year) — The got Milk?/Milk Mustache campaign in partnership with USA Today recognizes 25 graduating high school student athletes throughout the nation with a $7,500 scholarship for their achievements in academics (minimum grade point average of 3.2), athletics (NHS sport or club sport), and community service. Winners will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Disney World. Teachers, coaches, principals, guidance counselors, athletic directors, and relatives are encouraged to nominate a student athlete for the SAMMY 2011 Awards. As part of the nomination form each applicant will be required to write an essay of no more than 250 words. Applicants must register and apply online at www.bodybymilk.com by March 4.

Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition — This competition is open to high school juniors and seniors who conduct an outstanding research project that applies epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue. Scholarship awards will range from $2,000 to regional finalists and up to $50,000 for the top two national winners. Applicants must register online at collegeboard.com and then link to the YES Competition registration and guidelines. Written reports of research projects must be uploaded by February 1. Interested students should go to www.collegeboard.com/yes for complete details.

DuPont Challenge Science Essay Awards Competition — Students in grades 7 through 12 who are United States citizens are eligible to participate in this annual science essay contest. Essays must be between 700 to 1,000 words discussing a scientific discovery, theory, event, or technology application. The top prize in each category is an all-expense-paid trip to Disney World and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The top cash prize is a $5,000 savings bond. Complete details are available at www.thechallenge.dupont.com. All submissions are due online only by January 31.

AXA Achievement Community Scholarship — Every branch office of AXA Advisors will award up to 12 scholarships of $2,000 to local high school seniors in cooperation with Scholarship America. Applications can be obtained at www.axa-achievement.com. Mail completed applications directly to the address listed on the application by February 15. Applicants are asked to describe an outstanding achievement in a nonacademic activity or project. The accomplishment may be a long-term achievement, an activity or a project that occurred in their school, in the community, or in the workplace. Primary consideration will be given to the applicant’s demonstrated achievement in a nonacademic area as reported by the applicant and supported by the appraisal completed by an adult who is not related to the applicant. Consideration will also be given to other extracurricular activities in school and community, work experience, and the applicant’s academic record over the past four years. Scholarship winners must demonstrate ambition and drive, determination to set and reach goals, respect of self, family and community.

Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Colonel’s Scholars Program — The KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program is looking for outstanding graduating high school seniors with financial need and entrepreneurial spirit. Applicants must enroll in a public college or university in September 2011 in their state of residence. Selection criteria will include: financial need, a GPA minimum of 2.75 and US citizenship or permanent residence. The application process is online at www.kfcscholars.org. The deadline is February 9. In order to prepare, seniors should complete their FAFSA information.

Union Plus Scholarships — The children of American Federation of Teachers members or other unions are eligible for scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $4,000. Awards will be based on academic achievement/potential, character, leadership, social awareness, career goals, and financial need. All applications must include a verification of union membership. A 500-word essay describing career goals, aspirations, and community service must be included with the application. In addition, applicants will be asked to highlight their relationship with the union and the labor movement, how it has personally affected their lives, and explain why they are a good choice for a union scholarship. Applications are available at www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships. The deadline is January 31.

John F. Kennedy Profile In Courage Essay Contest — The annual John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an original 1,000-word essay about an elected official who has demonstrated political courage. Winning essayists will receive awards totaling up to $13,500. The first-place winner will be invited to accept the award at the Profile in Courage Award Ceremony hosted in May by Caroline Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. To encourage student leadership and civic engagement, the nominating teacher of the first-place winner will receive a John F. Kennedy Public Service Grant for $500. Submissions can be made online www.jfkcontest.org or by mail. The deadline is January 8.

Proton Energy Scholarships — This scholarship is fueling the next generation of scientific innovation by recognizing and awarding high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding promise in the field of science, engineering. or technology and who plan to pursue higher education in these fields. Selection criteria includes: demonstrated leadership, work ethic, community involvement, and financial need. Four-year undergraduate scholarships with a total value of $100,000 will be awarded as well as honorable mentions of $500. Program rules and guidelines are available online at www.protonenergyscholarship.org. Applications are due by February 11.

American Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist Awards — This program invites students to plan and conduct their own scientific investigation to include observations, questions, predictions, trips into the field to gather data, and analysis. Submit an essay that includes tables, charts, or graphs and artwork or photographs that help illustrate your findings. Applicants are not expected to make a new scientific discovery. However, their investigation should provide them with a new understanding. Essays can be mailed to the museum currently, and must be received no later than March 1. A panel of judges will review each essay, and 12 winners, two from each grade (seventh-twelfth), will be chosen. Winners will receive cash awards dependent upon the grade level. In May, they will be invited, along with a parent or guardian, on an expense-paid trip to New York City to attend an award ceremony at the museum and to take a behind-the-scenes tour. In addition, their essays will be published on the museum’s website. For more information regarding the awards and research questions, visit www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/select.html.