Scholarships

Look into all scholarship and grant opportunities. The number of scholarships that are offered might surprise you.

Scholarships are "free money" and should be taken advantage of at every opportunity. Many scholarships are not need based or based on academic standing, but may be based on your ability, your area of study, geographic location, and ethnicity to name just a few. With persistence and the willingness to search them out, scholarships can be an excellent source for paying for college.

There are a number of ways to search for scholarships. Scholarship locator sites such as www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.com enable you to develop a personalized profile allowing you to search for scholarships based on your personal choices.

Consider these sources:

• Talk with your high school counselor
• College resource centers
• Scholarship reference books
• Check your specific college's web site for scholarship information
• Community organizations and financial institutions

Be wary of scholarship locator sites requiring payment. "Free money" should be just that. More information about scholarship scams and how to report them can be found at www.finaid.org.

B.E.S.T. College Night Scholarship

Eligibility:  Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville High School Seniors who will be graduating in December 2011 or May 2012.  One scholarship will be given to a senior from each of the schools. The scholarship funds will be presented directly to the college, university, or trade school after a copy of college registration is submitted or other documentation is provided, depending on the school.
Directions:  This application must be filled out completely and accurately.  Legible, hand-printed applications are perfectly acceptable.  APPLICATION IS DUE between 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the B.E.S.T. College Night on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at the Bastrop High School Cafeteria. All entries must be received by that time for consideration.  All entries will be judged by a panel of school faculty, credit union members and credit union officers. The panel's decision will be based on extra-curricular activities, community involvement, scholastic achievement and the essay.