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Scholarship AdviceWatch the New Video: Scholarships for Beginners If you want the best advice on scholarships, why not go to the source? As a special favor to students, four sponsors have agreed to share their scholarship advice here on ScholarshipStreet.com. Pay attention to their advice even if you can’t apply for their particular scholarship. So you think you can dance, sing or act? The Scholarship Lady interviewed Jo Schuman Silver, producer of the San Francisco-based musical Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon. This is a very generous scholarship for the performing arts, the winners are selected purely on talent and the sponsor cares personally about finding young talent. Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship for the Arts From the Steve Silver Foundation Synopsis: Talented youth in the San Francisco Bay area are invited to submit their best audition in acting, singing or dancing for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship for college. Website: http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/scholarship/index.shtml VISIT HERE for CRITERIA and APPLICATION WHY DO THEY OFFER THIS SCHOLARSHIP? This scholarship was inspired by Jo’s late husband Steve Silver, the founder of Beach Blanket Babylon, the country’s longest-running musical revue. When he passed away, a charitable foundation was established to support education, health, children’s needs and the arts. In 2002, Jo Schuman Silver honored her husband’s dream by creating the Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship for the Arts. WHAT’S THE COMPETITION and HOW ARE APPLICANTS JUDGED? In the first year, about 100 applicants applied for the scholarship. In 2008, more than 400 applicants sent in auditions via tapes, DVDs, and CD-roms. Every single tape is reviewed. “We don’t care what they look like, what their background is, or who they know,” said Ms. Schuman Silver, “This is purely based on talent.” It can take weeks for the judges to view and review all of the materials submitted but eventually the list is narrowed down to about 10 students per category - voice, dance, acting. From there, a team of creative professionals who serve as judges heavily discuss and review the applicants and select nine finalists, three in each category. Those students are then invited to do live performances. “We meet them in person and that is the most fun. We love it!” said Ms. Schuman-Silver. The students and their parents, drama teachers or voice coaches attend and past winners come back to tell their story about what the scholarship meant to them. WHAT ARE WINNING TRAITS? The winners are very talented. The best of the best. WHAT
DO STUDENTS DO WRONG? They
don’t read the instructions or they send audio when the instructions clearly
ask for videos of their performances. Some
applicants submit a performance clip that exceeds the requested three minutes. FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THIS SPONSOR: From Jo Schuman Silver: “We want students to just do their best and really send in their very best performance so that they have a chance.” — Peace + Vegetarianism = Scholarship? The Scholarship Lady recently conducted an e-interview with a representative from The Vegetarian Resource Group. If you are a vegetarian and can prove your commitment to the cause, check this out. Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship Synopsis: Graduating high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities can apply for this scholarship and provide evidence of their work through an essay, letters of recommendation and other documentation such as photographs or news stories. Website: http://www.vrg.org VISIT HERE for CRITERIA and APPLICATION WHY DO THEY OFFER THIS SCHOLARSHIP? “A member of our organization wanted to inspire and reward high school students who promoted vegetarianism and a more peaceful world. This member, who has promoted vegetarianism in numerous ways, funds the scholarship. The scholarship is not a need- or academic-based scholarship. Students are judged on the work that they did to promote vegetarianism. We are a vegetarian organization, so this fits our mission.” “The anonymous funder of the scholarship wrote: ‘To bring about change, the world needs people with courage and kindness in equal measure, and clearly our $5,000 scholarship winners have both. To be a vegetarian in high school is especially important because most young people want to go along with the crowd. Intentionally choosing a path that is not the most popular is to expose yourself as a curiosity. We at the VRG celebrate for the scholarship entrants and congratulate them on their many acts of kindness and courage.’” WHAT’S THE COMPETITION and HOW ARE APPLICANTS JUDGED? “The judging is based on overall strengths related to the contest, school activism, ‘movement’ activism, activism outside of school or separate from ‘the movement,’ long term commitment, and influence among family and friends. All else being equal, we may look at other factors such as need (though it is not primarily a needs based award), where the student lives, and reasons to give or not give to the student. There is a somewhat detailed application process to narrow down the submissions to only serious applicants. Out of 100 students, about six to ten are chosen as semi-finalists (A group) by a first reading. The submissions are divided into A, B, C, and other groups. A second reading by volunteers can move additional applicants into the ‘A’ group. After follow up questions with the finalists and their references, two students are chosen to win $5,000 each for post-secondary education in the United States. If a person does not gear their application towards the contest and does not look at past winners, they are not likely to make the A, B, or C list. If students send in scholarship applications early, all being equal, they have a better chance since there is more time for follow-up questions and requests. It seems too many students wait until the last minute.” WHAT ARE WINNING TRAITS? “Winning students exhibit an ongoing commitment to the subject of the contest, not just one grandiose project. They are responsible and follow through on commitments. They go beyond what other students may do. They show a seriousness about promoting vegetarianism. They accomplish their tasks in a positive way. They influence others in a unique way. If you summarize their application in a few paragraphs, it should be obvious to others why they won. Passion and honesty in the application are nice. References are very important and in most years make a difference concerning who wins. Often the references cause us to move a person into the A group. In many cases, a reference points out accomplishments the students haven’t or makes a case the student wouldn’t by him/herself. There are only a few references which are above and beyond what most students receive. It appears as if the reference really knows the student is special.” WHAT DO STUDENTS DO WRONG? “A)
Off target application. Obviously didn’t look at past winners, which are on
the website. FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THIS SPONSOR: “Sometimes we would like to award other applicants or more applicants. But we have to follow the donor’s intent (the anonymous funder of the scholarship). Because of a changing applicant pool each year, a student who might win one year wouldn’t win in another year. So if a student doesn’t receive a scholarship, they should realize it doesn’t reflect on them and they should keep trying. Always be positive when inquiring or responding.” —
The Bug Scholarship! – Okay, file this under “unusual scholarships.” The Scholarship Lady did an e-interview with Genma Stringer Holmes (The Bug Lady!), founding member and chairperson of Minorities in Pest Management (MPM) and council member for Professional Women In Pest Management (PWIPM). Even if you are not in this industry, you should read the profile! Why? Because Ms. Stringer Holmes provides excellent advice no matter what type of scholarship application is sitting in front of you. Minorities in Pest Management and Professional Women In Pest Management Scholarships Synopsis: PWIPM awards scholarships to promote careers in the pest management industry and further the careers of current pest management professionals. MPM scholarships benefit minority students studying urban pest management, entomology, or related fields and who plan to enter the pest management industry. Each scholarship has different criteria. The question is: are you currently a bug-blasting female professional or an aspiring bug-blasting professional who is a minority? That determines which scholarship is for you.
WHY DO THEY OFFER THIS SCHOLARSHIP? (Minorities in Pest Management) “The inspiration behind Minorities in Pest Management was directly from my (Genma’s) experience of entering an industry convention and seeing very few people of color at any of the events. I would be the only minority in attendance. I wouldn’t feel intimidated but I wondered how many people of color would be interested in the business. What about helping others get a formal education for work in the pest control industry? The rest was history.” WHAT’S THE COMPETITION and HOW ARE APPLICANTS JUDGED? “We
had over 600 downloads on the first
day on one of the social networking sites.” WHAT ARE WINNING TRAITS? “Our applicants have strong science backgrounds but we are encouraging business majors as well. Most are in post graduate research.” WHAT DO STUDENTS DO WRONG? “Incomplete information. If a question is asked that you do not understand, never, never, ever leave it blank. Call and get someone on the phone. If you can not get an answer put that on the application. Never lie. It always comes to light.” FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THIS SPONSOR: “Don’t leave out the kitchen sink! Give them every detail of your life, hopes and dreams. Individuals who send as much information as possible help me see beyond the GPA and major. Knowledge of your major is important but I like to see as much of the person as possible through the pages. Great stories about what motivated you to seek the scholarship are important. Mind and heart.” — Calling all nurses in New York! The Scholarship Lady e-interviewed Ms. Carolyn White, Manager of Membership Services for the New York State Association of Health Care Providers and scholarship administrator, about this unique scholarship for nurses who have an entrepreneurial spirit. The Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship Fund From The New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (NYSHCP) Synopsis: Awarded to an RN or LPN in New York who plans to start a home care business. Website:
www.nyshcp.org/edna
- VISIT HERE FOR CRITERIA and APPLICATION WHY DO THEY OFFER THIS SCHOLARSHIP? “This scholarship was established in memory of a beloved nurse, Edna Lauterbach, an RN who was a pioneer in the home care industry. Edna believed that skilled nurses were essential to home care and she often encouraged young people to pursue a career in home care through the nursing profession. By offering the Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship we help keep her dream alive. Our nation is facing a nursing shortage and no where is the shortage more acute than in home care. By 2010 there will be a 36 percent increase in demand for home care nurses, yet qualified nurses and students are missing out on educational opportunities because there isn’t enough funding to go around for the number of applicants. This scholarship enables more students and nurses to make their careers in home care and thus help address this pressing need for home care nurses.” WHAT’S THE COMPETITION and HOW ARE APPLICANTS JUDGED? “A committee or workgroup of professionals that are involved in the Home Care Industry are asked by the association to review the scholarship applications according to The Community Foundation for the Capital Region scoring process. An average of 20 applications are reviewed each year and one or two scholarships are awarded. The number of applicants continues to grow.” WHAT ARE WINNING TRAITS? “Many applicants exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit and often intend to begin their own home care agencies or home and community-based care focused businesses in the future. Most are dedicated, caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of the elderly, the disabled, or others who choose to receive care in the home.” WHAT
DO STUDENTS DO WRONG? “Be sure to read the criteria to understand what is being asked, and always complete each question. Applicants should provide details about their professional or entrepreneurial dream and how the scholarship will help them achieve that dream.” — |
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