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November is National Scholarship Month!
Mark Kantrowitz Publisher of FastWeb and Finaid.org
National Scholarship Month
The month of November is devoted to raising awareness of the need for scholarship support for postsecondary education. Scholarships help students realize their dreams. (National Scholarship Month was previously celebrated in the month of May from 1998 to 2007. It was switched from May to November in 2008 to coincide with the start of the main scholarship application season.)
Scholarships are a form of student financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded by foundations, philanthropists, non-profit organizations, businesses and colleges to help students pay for college. Some scholarships are awarded for academic merit, while others may focus on artistic or athletic talent or other personal characteristics. There are even a variety of unusual scholarships based on more esoteric talent such as duck calling or knitting with wool.
Students discover the scholarships for which they are eligible by searching one of several large scholarship matching sites, such as the FastWeb scholarship database.
National Scholarship Month is sponsored by the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA), the national professional organization for scholarship sponsors. NSPA promotes student access to higher education through scholarships. (National Scholarship Month was originally sponsored by Scholarship America, the largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization. ) For more information on creating a scholarship, see FinAid’s Scholarship Design & Management section.
Access and Choice
Scholarships not only make it possible for students to pursue a college education, improving access to higher education, but they also provide the recipients with greater flexibility. This allows students to choose the college that best meets their needs, without worrying about having to pay back large loans.
College scholarships also offer other benefits for students beyond the money. The act of applying for a scholarship can help the student clarify his or her goals and decide upon a career path. Winning a scholarship can be a mark of excellence, opening doors for the student to new educational experiences. Many scholarship sponsors provide their winners with long-term advocacy and support, through mentorship and other services. The scholarship recipients also get to interact with each other, building life-long friendships and creating a synergy that challenges and inspires them to strive for excellence.
Benefits of Investing in Higher Education
The Institute for Higher Education Policy’s report, Investing in America’s Future: Why Student Aid Pays Office for Society and Individuals, highlights the many ways in which investments in higher education benefit the nation.
Proposal for a Scholarship Sponsorship Tax Credit
Mark Kantrowitz, FinAid’s publisher, has written a proposal for a Scholarship Sponsorship Tax Credit.. This proposal would establish a tax credit to create a public-private partnership for leveraging increased private sponsorship of college scholarships.
This article originally appeared on . FinAid.org.


mdaniela09
about 2 hours ago
My name is Daniela Mercado. I am 17 years old and I am a senior at a charter school called College-ready Academy HS #4. I am part of class 2010 and I am looking forward to attend college. My problem is that there's not enough money to pay for my tuition and living expenses. I have six siblings and being the oldest I want to be a good role model for them. Right now I have been applying to Cal States, UCs, and private colleges. I have applied for scholarships and won't stop applying to them. I really want to go to college and major in Computer Engineering or Graphic Design. My family supports me and want to see me become someone in life and get the opportunities they wish they had when they were my age. I'd be really excited and thankful if I get this scholarship. I believe everything is possible.
ddeatsch
about 3 hours ago
Hello, my name is Danelle Deatsch. I'm 20 years old in the next month and half will be 21! I work full-time, but the catch to that is that i live on my own, and I have since I was 17. I graduated from high school a year earlier then what I was suppose to because i wanted to start working to save money for college. With a bunch of things that has happened since then with my health, abusive relationships and problems with parents, I really didn't succeed at saving much money! Like I said I live on my own, and I have nobody on either side of my family that's willing to help me out with financing for college because they don't have faith in me. I want to be the first one of my family to actually graduate from a university, and with your help this would make it possible! I really would appreciate if you could provide me with any financial help it would be much appreciated from me, and hopefully a future family!
Thank you to the supporters out there for scholarships because they can really make a difference to so many people, and in so many different ways.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you decide to give me a chance then I can be contacted any time of the day by phone or e-mail. I would really be thankful if you even considered me!
RousselRomeoT
about 10 hours ago
My name roussel ,wish to be granted a scholarship to help me pay my tuition,i am a male of 16yrs and i am 2.03metres tall and i play basketball,i am from a develop country name cameroon,i am in a first year university studying mathmatics but what i will like to do is information technology and my country donnot have such school for this program,since we lack the technical no how for such program,so my aim as a young boy is to study this program abroad so that i can help my country develop in IT,i donnot wish to study in U.S.A
KellyQ44
about 13 hours ago
Hi, My name is Kelly Quinn unemployed Constrution worker single dad attanding cleveland state for solar installation for now and dont think i can find the grants to keep going for spring semester need to find some help to finsh my degree dont whant to let my son down
nilaypatel044
1 day ago
Hi, My name is Nilay Patel and I am the oldest of two, and my parents only son. This running year is my senior year in the high school. I don't live with my parents. I live with my maternal side of the family because I am in abroad with them. I have so longed promised my parents to not worry about my college education, since my mom doesn't work and my dad works in dunkin donut in another state making 8 dollars an/ hour, while my mom is in my native country with my sister. I took the responsibility of myself and my actions and thus planning to attend the college with so little expected help from my dad since he is the sole independent in my family. I have worked last summer and still working and saved few thousand dollars because I also have to pay for my medications and personal expenses which extends to about $200 a month. I would appreciate as much help as possible because I would like to acheive my dream career and make my parents dream come true by building a free hospital for the poors.
j2sneish
1 day ago
My name is Jordan and I am currently enrolled in a SUNY School. While I was in High School I did no realize the importance of applying for Scholarships until I watched my parents struggle to come up with financing for my college eductation.
You see my mom has wanted nothing but the best for me for my future. A few years ago I came to realize how important it was for me to follow my dreams. My mom became very ill and almost died on me. She was in the hospital for a very long time and although she longed to see me would not allow me to see her attached to all the tubes and wires in intensive care. After 2 weeks I was finally allowed to see her. She was quite frail.
I hope to win a scholarship for next semester as to take off the burden of college tuition to my mom. Hope to be considered.
Jordan
ukranian
1 day ago
hello,
my name is yelena i am a high school senior and planning to go to 4year university for phisicians assistant. My family consists of 7 kids with me being the middle. My dad is the only one working in the family and i have a part time job at a fast food restaurant i get about $90.00 per two weeks. to persue my degree i neede a lot of scholarship money to help he pay my college and other living expences..thank you
LaurenW849
1 day ago
My name Is Lauren, and I am a freshman at a community college this year. Last year, as a senior, I applied to scholarships through fastweb! I was the recipient of two one-thousand dollar awards thanks to the help of this site. Getting money for college is such an important aspect for so many people. My dream of going to a University was put on hold because of finances, but my $2,000 in scholarships paid almost my entire way through Community College.
Thanks so much to all the donors for giving to such an important cause! Don't forget - We are the future!
JosephS689
1 day ago
Hello,
My name is Joseph and I am a senior in high school. I am the third of four children and the only son. As I prepare to graduate and enter into the college world, I am seeking scholarships to help pay for my education to releive some of the financial burden from my mother who is the sole provider of the family due to the fact that my father has partial disability. My mother is presently working two jobs and pursuing her Masters Degree in Business (using student loans) and my father has enrolled in college to pursue a degree in Christian Counseling. The ability to continue my education is important to me because it will give me the opportunity to pursue my dreams so that I can help someone else pursue theirs. My mother has always told us that we should "choose a career that will not only build our characters and abilities, but the characters and abilities of others. We get an education to help educate others." Thank you for caring enough to offer the much needed scholarships to help aspiring students (traditional as well as non-traditional) excel in their educational endeavors.
GiftyNaaA
1 day ago
I am a mother of two boys age of 4years and 9years and my husband is not working, I support the family in finance. I went to go back to school to pursue a BA degree in Business, with out a degree it is very dificult to survive in today society If I am able to go to back college I would be able to take care of my boys when the get to college. agiftynaa@yahoo.com. Thanks
AnhDuongD
2 days ago
I would like to find a scholarship or financial aid in winter or summer time
J_Thimothe
2 days ago
My name is Jasmine Thimothe and I am pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Public administration at Howard University. I graduated from Brooklyn College, CUNY with over a 3.0 GPA. I am also a scholar-Athlete in Women's Volleyball, a member of the Chi Apsilon Phi Honors Society and was on the Dean's List over four times. I am looking for a scholarship, assistance-ship or fellowship to help cover the costs of grad school. I currently live at home with my father who is suffering from high-blood pressure and diabetes. Any help would be much appreciated. Please contact me at J_Thimothe@yahoo.com.
MarianK3
2 days ago
I am a single mom with one class to complete my BA degree in Business. I started going back to school in 2006. Because the economy has dictated on how important a degree is in trying to survive in today's society. In order to answer the telephone most companies requires a college degree. Hopefully I will finish college at Paul Quinn College in 2010. I am only taken 3.5 hours. I can not recieve FinAid, due to the amount of hours I am taken. Paul Quinn College is a struggling school they didn't offer a lot of elective due to low enrollment. Therefore, I am seeking scholarship funding to help me in completing my education. My email address is lilliereggieviola@yahoo.com. Thank you for your assistance.
ChristopherT1032
2 days ago
My name is Christopher Lee Taylor. I am the youngest of two brothers. I have been going to college almost two years now and hadn't got any type of help at all besides loans and a couple of pell grants which never amounted to anything. My mom is sick and I'm having to help her. I'm broke, busted, and disgusted. It seems the harder I try the worse it gets. I would greatly appreciate any financial support available to me. My email address is chrislee_2008@rock.com. Thank you.
SethD117
3 days ago
My name is Seth Davis, I am the only child in a single parent household. I am a Natl. Honor Society Student in the top 15% with a 3.65 cumulative gpa. I am a 1st team all academic award winner for my baseball team. I am looking to play baseball at the next level as well as study architecture when I go to college in 2011. My mom is a single mom/school teacher and we could use any assistance that you could give us in getting financial support to help further my education. My email address is sgdavis24@yahoo.com. Thank you.