Celebrating 30 Years of Fastweb: Empowering Students, Parents and Educators

In the mid-1990s, as the internet was rapidly expanding, Fastweb emerged as a pioneering force in the world of education. Launched on May 22, 1995, Fastweb became the world's first online college scholarship search website. Fastweb proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of simplifying the scholarship search process and providing invaluable resources to students, parents, and educators. JUMP TO ENTER Fastweb’s $3,030 Scholarship Anniversary Sweepstakes

The History of Fastweb: A Trailblazing Journey

Fastweb's story began with a vision to make finding scholarships easier. Larry Organ, Fastweb's founder and an internet trailblazer, recognized that students needed a centralized, accessible database of scholarships. Organ believed that students should have access to a database to find scholarships without paying for a service. In an era when the internet was still in its infancy, Fastweb was among the first 100 commercial websites in the United States. On its launch date, Fastweb helped 270 students discover college scholarships. In 1999, Fastweb joined forces with Finaid.org, a leading financial aid and student loans authority. This merger expanded Fastweb's offerings and solidified its position as a comprehensive resource for students seeking financial aid, federal student loan and private student loan information. By this time, Fastweb's database had grown to include 400,000 awards. The growth and influence of Fastweb attracted the attention of Monster Worldwide, a global online employment solution. In 2001, Fastweb was acquired by Monster Worldwide, further enhancing its services to students by integrating tools for internship and part-time job searches, in addition to college search and application resources. Now, Fastweb is part of CareerBuilder + Monster, offering the same services to students.

Key Benefits of Fastweb Today

Today, Fastweb is a comprehensive platform that offers a wide array of resources designed to support students throughout their academic journey: Scholarship Search: Fastweb's core function remains its robust scholarship database. The platform provides personalized scholarship matches based on students' unique qualifications, backgrounds, and interests. Fastweb's researchers and editors work diligently to ensure that the scholarship listings are up-to-date, legitimate, and scam-free. Students can organize their search and sort scholarships by school year, ethnicity, race, and unique situations. Financial Aid Information: Beyond scholarships, Fastweb offers expert financial aid advice on topics such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student loans and more, helping students and parents navigate the complexities of paying for school. Internship Search: Fastweb recognizes the importance of work experience and financial support and helps students find internships. College Search and Admission Resources: Fastweb provides tools and information to assist students with the college search and application process.

Fastweb for Students: A Personalized Approach

Fastweb understands that each student is unique, and the platform is adaptable for students. Students can create detailed profiles that include information about their extracurricular activities, career objectives, colleges of interest, employment history, and other relevant experiences. This information enables Fastweb to provide highly tailored scholarship and internship matches, ensuring students know all the opportunities they may qualify for. Fastweb saves students time by delivering customized scholarship matches. Fastweb leaders have participated in and supported various student organizations and their events nationwide. Some of these events include:

College Access Network Symposium

LA Cash of College

Gotham Girls FC - College Recruiting Information Series

National Society of High School Scholars - College & Career Series

TeenLife Live College Prep Expo

California Student Aid Commission Workshops

Boys & Girls Club of America - Keystone College & Career Expo

The Red Sox Scholars Foundation Sophomores and Juniors – Education Event

Fastweb for Parents: Navigating the Financial Aid Maze

Paying for college is a significant concern for many families. Fastweb supports parents and guardians by providing resources and information to help them navigate the financial aid process, explore scholarship options, and make informed decisions about financing their children's education. In 2023, Fastweb launched a dedicated Parent Channel, providing even more tailored content. Lee Pallotta, Vice President of Digital Media and Fastweb Operations said, "Fastweb has been a trusted resource for students and parents seeking scholarship opportunities for thirty years. As a parent, currently guiding my own high school senior, I understand firsthand how stressful preparing for college can be. I’m proud to be part of a team that supports families through this important part of their college journey.”

Fastweb for Educators: Empowering School Counselors and Educators

Fastweb recognizes educators' crucial role in guiding students toward higher education. The Fastweb for Educators program provides free resources, including printed materials and current scholarship information, to help school counselors and financial aid administrators support their students in college planning and scholarship search. David Reseigh, Purdue University Assistant Director of Financial Aid Outreach, said, “I have been using the Fastweb student handouts at our outreach events for prospective, admitted, and current students for many years. The handout provides clear, concise, and helpful scholarship search information from a reliable source. Great job, Fastweb!” High School Counselors and College Financial Aid Administrators have access to tools to assist their students, such as the Fastweb Scholarship Widget, a scholarship search tool accessible on their school’s website. Educators trust Fastweb as a reliable source of information and appreciate its efforts to vet scholarship opportunities and prevent scams. Academic Counselor at Salinas High School, Christina Peña-Macias, adds, “Fastweb is a trusted site that has vetted out all the scholarship opportunities, and families can trust that they are not getting scammed. But aside from scholarships they have a great deal of resources for students and parents to help them understand the college financial aid process and make informed decisions about pay for post-secondary education.”

Student Contributors: Voices of Experience

Fastweb believes in the power of peer-to-peer advice. The Student Contributor Program provides high school and college students a platform to share their experiences and insights with their peers. Contributors gain valuable experience in writing and working with an editorial team while providing useful content for Fastweb users. One of our 2024-2025 Student Contributors, Lillian Joyner, said, “I have enjoyed my experience as a Fastweb Student Contributor, as it has helped expose me to different types of writing and given me the exposure of my work on an online platform.” Since the program’s 2001 inception, more than 96 students have written for the Student Contributor Program.

Fastweb's Commitment to Innovation and Accessibility

Throughout its 30-year history, Fastweb has remained committed to innovation and accessibility. The platform continually evolves to meet the changing needs of students and educators, leveraging technology to enhance the user experience and expand its reach. Fastweb's user-friendly interface and comprehensive resources make it an indispensable tool for anyone pursuing trade school or higher education.

Celebrating 30 Years of Success

As Fastweb celebrates its 30th anniversary, it reflects on its accomplishments and reaffirms its commitment to empowering students, parents, and educators. With a database of over 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion, Fastweb has helped countless individuals achieve their academic goals. Senior Vice President of Fastweb, Mark Nelson, said, "For three decades, Fastweb has empowered millions of students to achieve their educational goals, a legacy I am proud to champion. Beyond our best-in-class Scholarship Database and Matching Engine, we provide vital guidance to students and families during this crucial phase.” The platform's dedication to providing accurate, reliable, and comprehensive information has made it a trusted resource for millions. Nelson adds, “Celebrating a 30th anniversary is a significant accomplishment, and I look forward with confidence to Fastweb's continued positive impact."

Enter Fastweb’s $3,030 Scholarship Anniversary Sweepstakes

Deadline: 5/30/2025 Celebrate Fastweb’s 30th anniversary by answering our favorite question: What’s your scholarship application goal? Enter daily for a chance to win a $3,030 scholarship. How to Enter: Be a Fastweb member. Answer a multiple-choice question. There's no wrong answer! Submit your entry by May 30, 2025.

Fun Fastweb Facts

The name Fastweb was derived from an acronym: Financial Aid Search Through the Web. In 2011, Fastweb gained its first mascot, Blue Belle. Her name and concept were derived from Mark Kantrowitz’s, Fastweb’s publisher at the time, prized Peterbald Russian cat, Bluebell. Fastweb’s first newsletter series was called The Scratching Post, where Blue Belle appeared in the header. An animated owl named Wisenheimer is Fastweb’s current, unofficial mascot.

The Future of Fastweb

Looking ahead, Fastweb is poised to continue its mission of simplifying the path to higher education. By embracing new technologies, expanding its resources, and fostering a supportive community, Fastweb will remain a vital partner for students, parents, and educators for many years.