Financial Aid Information: Paying for College

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) 

The Fort Valley State University Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) has one of the best track-records in the nation for recruiting minorities and women in science and engineering disciplines. Since 1993, CDEP has provided over twelve million dollars in scholarships for students. These students are creating a human resources pool that addresses the issue of diversity in America’s STEM workforce. Deadline: January 15, 2025.

CDEP Application

CDEP Scholarship Requirements

University of Georgia (UGA) Scholarships

If you are interested in applying for the Foundation Fellowship scholarship (Deadline: November 1), you must apply Early Action. As always, students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships by applying for first-year admission.

Make A Difference Foundation (MADF) Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to any student currently enrolled in an accredited community college, undergraduate, or graduate program in the United States. This includes incoming first-year college students who are high school graduates or possess a GED. The scholarship candidate must be interested in making a difference in the community, as demonstrated by past and present volunteer, professional, and educational experiences. All eligible candidates must be in good academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Deadline to apply is April 17, 2024. Click link below for scholarship details.

Click Here: Scholarship Details

Lurlene B. Arnold 2024 Impact Scholarship

The American Business Women's Association Airport Charter Chapter awards scholarships to graduating females that plan to attend college in the fall of 2024.  A guiding principle of the Association is that education is key to women's personal and professional growth.  The application deadline is April 10, 2024.  Interested applicants should apply.  Click the link below for details.

Click Here: Scholarship Details

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes  

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Winners each receive $10,000 to be applied to their higher education or to their service project. The Barron Prize does not discriminate against its applicants based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The application deadline is April 15, 2024. The prize details are linked below:

Click Here: Barron Prize Applications 

The League Foundation Scholarship

The LEAGUE Foundation provides financial resources for America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender high school seniors entering their first year of institutions of higher learning. LEAGUE Foundation scholars are selected through a multi-round process where applicants academic, community involvement, and educational goals determine LEAGUE Scholars. Application deadline is April 30, 2024. The details are linked below.

Click Here: Scholarship Details

Verplank Foundation Scholarship 

The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation provides annually, renewable college scholarships to students beginning their undergraduate studies of up to $10,000 to be used toward tuition, student fees, and books. Scholarship is for eligible high school senior diagnosed with childhood Type 1 diabetes.  Recipients must have at least 3.0 GPA.  Scholarships are renewable for up to a maximum of four years for any one recipient based on completing the renewal requirements.

Click Here: Scholarship Details

Alcorn State University Scholarship

The Metro-Atlanta Alcorn Alumni Chapter of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association is currently accepting Fall 2024 scholarship applications for incoming freshmen. Deadline to submit an application is May17, 2024.

 Click Here: Scholarship Details

SMAC- 2024 Cancer Fighter Scholarship

The Cancer Fighter Scholarship awards $1000 to up to 10 high school seniors who have been leaders in the fight against cancer. Some have battled cancer, some have helped a loved one or friend through their fight and some have been leaders in their school and community in the fight against cancer. The scholarship is open to graduating seniors from a public or private high school planning to attend a post-high school institution within the United States. The Application Deadline is April 1, 2024. The details are linked below.

2024 Cancer Fighter Scholarship 

The Joyce Rodgers Healthcare Scholarship is open to individuals pursuing a career in healthcare. Applications are now to individuals who live in the primary service area of Piedmont Henry (Henry, Clayton, and Butts
counties), current Piedmont Henry employees, or direct family members of employees.  The deadline is April 10, 2024. The details are linked below.

Joyce Rodgers Scholarship 

Clayton-Henry National Pan-Hellenic Alumni Council Scholarship

The Clayton-Henry NPHC Scholarship Program is designed to recognize and support outstanding students who demonstrate not only academic excellence but also a commitment to community service and leadership. This scholarship aims to empower and uplift individuals who embody the values of the NPHC organizations. Scholarship deadline is April 15, 2024.  The scholarship detail linked below.

2024 NPHC Scholarship

 Drs. Anna & Subra Bhat Henry County School District Scholarship

Drs. Bhat have been awarding this scholarship for the last 14 years. Drs.Anna & Subra Bhat Henry County School District Scholarships, also instituted by the Bhat Foundation, are awarded to top graduating high school senior students who have excelled in their curriculum. Students must major in the healthcare field.  Scholarships applications are due by May 15, 2024.  The scholarship information is linked below.

2024 Bhat Scholarship 

 2024 Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia (COAG) Scholarship

Each year, the Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia accepts applications and essays from high school seniors in Georgia for one of its multiple scholarships.  The scholarship committee reviews and rates the essays in anonymity.  Submissions are due by midnight March 15th.  The scholarship information is posted below. 

2024 COAG Scholarship

 2024 Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship Application

The 2024 scholarship application is available at www.hcacdst.org or contact your school counselor. Application Deadline is March 15, 2024.

GEORGIA UNITED FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Named for the credit union's founder and notable board members, the program offers an opportunity for high school seniors to showcase their scholastic achievements and creativity through a video competition. This year a total of $17,500 will be awarded to 12 students. Each scholarship will be split evenly among two recipients.

FVSU CDEP STEM Scholarship

BigFuture Scholarships for Sophomores and Juniors

Students can now qualify for BigFuture Scholarships as early as 10th grade. Beginning this December, all sophomores and juniors in the classes of 2024 and 2025 can earn chances at scholarships by taking steps in BigFuture to explore careers, plan for college and pay for college. Students who complete one or more steps on their BigFuture dashboard, beginning with starting a career list and building their college list, will be entered into one monthly drawing for $40,000 scholarships and another for $500 scholarships. 

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

Frito Lay Scholarship

 Four scholarships will be awarded to students with good grades and a passion for the community. A $25K scholarship is available.

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here  

2024 Scholarship for Young Women

Henry County Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation Scholarship is open. The deadline is midnight, January 17, 2024.  The scholarship information is contained in the application and on the website.

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

The National Scholarship Directory:  By FastWeb

Fastweb is the go-to source for students looking to find and apply for scholarships, grants and financial aid opportunities. The state-of-the-art scholarship database helps you save time by filtering through thousands of scholarships. Each scholarship and every grant is individually vetted by our research team before it reaches the national scholarship database.

The huge directory organizes millions of scholarships and grants into simple categories. Whether you’re a high school student or parent looking for ways to fund your/your child’s college education, or you’re a current college student wanting to pay your way without racking up student debt, Fastweb’s scholarship directory is THE place to start.

Think of its national scholarship directory as your scholarship sandbox—sift through scholarships by category, school year, unique or weird circumstances. Dig in to find the perfect scholarship opportunities to help you pay for college.

Take your scholarship search to the next level by registering for a FREE college scholarship profile. Our state-of-the art algorithm uses your profile — what makes you unique— to find and send you perfect scholarship matches. You’ll also be notified of any new and hot scholarships you should apply for quickly.

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here 

Minority Scholarships

African American scholarships are available in colleges and universities across the United States and beyond.  This listing provides various minority scholarships.  Deadline:  Varies for each scholarship

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here   

2024 Atlanta Black College Expo

The National College Resources Foundation presents various college resources on March 9, 2024.  More than 50 Colleges will be present. Scholarships offered at the event. .Application Fees Waived. 

Registration Required: Click Here  Win a Scholarship - Deadline: 2/27/2024 

2024 AKA Educational Advancement Foundation Scholarships 

The AKA Eductional Advancement Foundation South Atlantic Region Cluster Endowment Fund 2024 Scholarships are available.  The deadline to apply is January 5, 2024.  You can access the qualifications by scanning the QR code or go to AKAEAF.org/endowments.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Scholarships

UNCF manages various scholarship programs and each program has its own eligibility criteria, open/close dates, and required documentation.  To apply for a UNCF scholarship, students must apply using the online application process.  Deadline:  Varies for each scholarship

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

College Covered: Discover Student Loans Scholarship

Sign up for emails to get helpful college tips and resources, and enter for a chance to win a scholarship!  Throughout the year, twelve (12) eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award!  Deadline:  Monthly scholarship sweepstakes

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here  

Varsity Tutors College Scholarship

Monthly chance to win a $200 scholarship for submitting an essay.  Deadline:  Varies each month

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Scholarships are an integral part of TogetherATL, their commitment is to advance equity and shared prosperity in our region.  Attainment of a college degree is a key to economic and social mobility, and their scholarships help students to afford college and access new opportunities.  Scholarships also gives its donors a chance to make a direct impact on the lives of students in our region.  

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

Clemson University Call Me Mister Program

The mission of the Call Me MISTER^® (acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) Initiative is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader more diverse background particularly among the State's lowest performing elementary schools. Deadline:  Visit website

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here

Ron Brown Guided Pathway Support Program

The Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) is a FREE program designed to help college-bound African American high school juniors and seniors navigate the admissions process by directing them to the most comprehensive and reliable resources available, including – 

• Access to GPS College Advisors
• Weekly college and scholarship advising webinars
• College scholarship, essay and supplement reviews
• Scholarship application assistance
• Access to SAT fee waiver
• FAFSA and CSS profile application assistance
• Test prep tools
• College interview prep  

  Deadline:  Applicants are accepted year round.

Scholarship Requirements:  Click Here  

Student Life 45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students 

 

 Additional Scholarship Information 

Finding scholarships can be quite a chaotic challenge; however, we have provided a kick-start to the process.  Need tips on how to write a college essay? Check out these sites: 

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/college-essay-tips  or https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay 

Scholarships and Resources for Low-Income College Students - www.onlinecolleges.me/resources/low-income-students/

 

Check out scholarships and colleges by creating an account on the following sites:  

• Scholar Snapp - A free, simple to use data standard that allows students to reuse their application information - including contact information, essays, transcripts, etc. - from one scholarship application to another thereby streamlining the college scholarship application process.
• Career One Stop- Search for more than 8,000 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid award opportunities. 
• Scholly – A mobile app that provides students with a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college. (Created by Christopher Gray, a Coca-Cola Scholar!)
• Peerlift - Proven scholarships, internships, summer programs, and more gathered by fellow students like you. (Founded by a team of 2017 Coca-Cola Scholars!) Learn more about the creation of Peerlift.
• Fastweb – Create a profile and let Fastweb do the research on scholarships, internships colleges and more for you.
• Questbridge- The National College Match: Are you a low-income high school senior who has excelled academically, but feels that the nation’s best colleges are financially out of reach? The QuestBridge National College Match can be your pathway to a top college. Through this college and scholarship application process, you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship from the college
• CashCourse – Information that helps college students stay financially informed.
• Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation – Educational and scholarship opportunities for students of all levels.
• Cappex – A free website where you can learn which colleges want you, before you apply and learn about more than $11 billion in merit aid scholarships.
• Scholarships360.org- Free scholarship search tool.
• Scholarships.com– A free college scholarship search and financial aid information.
• Scholarship America – Provides information and resources for your scholarship search.
• KnowHow2GO – Complete information on college prep, whether in middle school or seniors.
• HS Finder (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) – Scholarship information for Latino students.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund – Provides scholarships, programmatic and capacity-building support to the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Gates Millennium Scholars – Provides outstanding low-income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose.
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund – The nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
• American Indian College Fund – Provides Native American students with scholarships and financial support for the nation’s 33 accredited tribal colleges and universities.
• Dell Scholars Program – Recognizes academic potential and determination in students that have a definite need for financial assistance.
• UNCF – Awards 10,000 students each year through 400 scholarship and internship programs so that students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room, and board.
• Chegg – A place to connect with scholarships and learn about colleges.
• Reagan Foundation Scholarships - Scholarship opportunities for outstanding student leaders.
• Goizueta Legacy Scholarship - Provides scholarships for the children of Coca-Cola employees.
• American Indian Graduate Center & AIGCS - The largest scholarship provider to Native students in the United States, awarding $15 million in scholarships annually and more than $200 million since inception. For almost 50 years, AIGC has funded students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in any field of study at any accredited institution of choice, working with over 500 tribes in all 50 states.
• The NSHSS Foundation - The NSHSS Foundation fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability fields. Through special programs, including the NSHSS Honor Society, the NSHSS Foundation connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth, and career interests.
• Purdue Global - 45+ Scholarships for Minority Students.

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How-To Programs and Books

The Scholarship Workshop – Scholarship information from an award-winning author and scholarship winner.

The Scholarship Academy – Offers curriculum to help students identify tailored scholarship options and build a solid scholarship profile.

 

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SUMMER PROGRAMS

 

 

According to College Express, pre-college summer programs allow high school students to get a taste of college life, preview their dream schools, and give a boost to their college applications. Many colleges and universities offer summer programs, such as Boston University's Summer Challenge Program, Brown University's Summer @Brown, and Stevens Institute of Technology's Business Program.  It may be tempting to spend the entire summer at the beach or by the pool (and you certainly should do a little of that!), but why not use some of your free time to learn something new and make yourself a more attractive candidate for admission? In case you need convincing, here are just a few of the benefits of spending some of your summer on a college campus. College Express lists 5 reasons to engage in a summer program: (1) gift of time; (2) gift of space; (3) gift of attention; (4) a chance to learn the lay of the land; and (5) a chance to meet new people.

 

 

 

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CAREER INFORMATION

 

  

Choosing a career can be challenging! Attempt to focus on your aspirations, interests, and what problems you want to solve in the world. Taking career inventories and career interests surveys can assist, such as the inventories conducted in elementary, middle, and high school. Some additional career assessments can be located on your student's GCIS account in Infinite Campus. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2021