Indiana Foundation for Home Schooling

OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

AAA Travel Challenge scholarship application deadline is 12/31. 9th-12th graders (includes homeschoolers) can compete for up to $100,000 in scholarships. Last year a homeschooler was one of three national winners! The first phase of the competition is on-line, then state, followed by national. The competition tests students travel literacy by focusing on travel destinations.

Indiana University Air Force ROTC. Contact Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Unit Admissions Officer Captain Joshua Hedges for details about their program and scholarships. E-mail: hedgesj@indiana.edu

Apologia Educational Ministries Sponsors a $2000 renewable David McIntosh college scholarship. Any student in the State of Indiana who has been homeschooled throughout his or her high school career and plans to attend a 4-year college or university is eligible for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit alone. Financial need is not considered.

Indiana University Army ROTC program is a place where deserving young adults can find another way to fund college, while gaining critical leadership and management skills that will put them out in front of their peers in the corporate market once their service is complete. APMS, Scholarship & Enrollment Officer: Major Todd Tinius, ttinius@indiana.edu. The US Army Cadet Command link for 4-year scholarships is: http://www.rotc.usaac.army.mil/scholarship_HPD2/fouryear/index.htm.

AXA Achievement Community Scholarship is for high school seniors honors students who have excelled in extra-curricular activities, the community or the workplace. Indiana will award 10 $2,000 scholarships. The focus is on non-academic achievement.

Best Buy awards scholarships annually. Details available in January on their site and applications are due in February. Range $1000- $25,000. Community Service, Academics, and Essay evaluated.

Black Excel Black Excel has presented gateways to well over 1000 Scholarships for minority students nationwide.

Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) Sponsors scholarship endowment funds for college bound students in Central Indiana. Their website has good links to information about college, financial aid, and scholarship searches beyond their program. Some of the scholarships are specific to area high schools, some are specific to certain intended college majors or even specific colleges. The link for their current booklet for scholarships they sponsor is http://www.cicf.org/Scholarships/PDF/Scholarship_Booklet.pdf

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides 250 college scholarships for high school seniors (includes homeschoolers) in the fall. Deadline annually is Oct 31st. 50 scholarships are for $20,000 each and 200 are for $4,000 each.

The Congressional Award is about challenge. It is a fun way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you would like to try for the first time. To earn the Award, you set goals in four Program Areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. You select an adult advisor who will help you set challenging but achievable goals and plan activities to reach those goals.

Hoosier Heroes scholarship competition for 11^th and 12^th graders is sponsored by the Indiana Dollars for Scholars and is open to homeschoolers too. You can get details and an application form at the linked site.

Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program An annual program for Kohl’s to recognize and reward kids, ages 6-18 who volunteer in their communities.

Monsanto’s Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Monsanto established the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Program in 1999 and has awarded nearly three-quarters of million dollars to 450 students for their interest in agriculture.

The NFIB Education Foundation The NFIB Free Enterprise Scholars program is a national effort to identify and recognize high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative.

National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur awards given through NFTE to young entrepreneurs.

Navy ROTC Scholarship covers 100% tuition, regardless of school or major. Like the Naval Academy, this program guarantees a Commission as a Naval Officer upon graduation from college. However, NROTC affords the student over 150 Universities to choose from nationwide. Basic program information, eligibility requirements, and the application can be found at the site. NROTC Project Coordinator: AMS2(AW) Marvin Vinluan. Email: rotc1_ind@cnrc.navy.mil

Newsweek/Kaplan "My Turn" Essay Competition Any high school student can enter the $5,000 scholarship competition.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award The VSA is a Presidential recognition program for Americans of all ages, who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer service. The program recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period. Your local support group or the service organization could validate your hours for this award.

Excel Awards is a creative arts competition which award scholarships. Sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, it allows high school authors, poets, artists, songwriters, filmmakers and performers the opportunity to express themselves on topics of interest and vital importance to Indiana teenagers. It is open to home schoolers.

Simon Youth Foundation Awards community scholarships for seniors who are planning to attend a 2 or 4 year accredited institution. You can pick up applications at area Simon Malls in the fall. Deadline is December 1st.

State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI)

The SSACI has scholarships and grant programs for Indiana students – some of which homeschoolers may be eligible.

The SSACI has a list of other sites offering on scholarships and grants.
The SSACI administers the Twenty First Century Scholarship program. Homeschoolers are not eligible for these awards. Students must attend either a Performance-Based Accredited school, a charter school, or a freeway school in the 7^th or 8^th grade when they apply to the program in order to enroll in the program. Students who enroll in the program must also graduate from a high school that is accredited by the Indiana Department of Education in order to utilize the scholarship. Questions about this can be directed to 21stScholars@ssaci.IN.gov.

USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships USA Funds scholarship program is open to high school seniors and current college students. They are for needy families with adjusted gross income of $35,000 or less. 50% of the awards are given to minority students and physically handicapped.

The Sam Walton Community Scholarship Every Wal-Mart store and SAM'S CLUB will award one $1,000 scholarship to a local high school senior. This money can be used toward the student's first year's tuition, books, or on-campus room and board. More than 3,000 scholarships will be awarded this year. Private and home schooled seniors are also eligible to apply for this scholarship. The deadline for entries is the first of February of each academic year. Contact the Community Involvement Coordinator at your local Wal-Mart store or SAM'S CLUB or apply on-line. The link above also highlights the scholarships for Wal-Mart employees and employees' children.

Please e-mail us and share details about scholarships your student receives. You can help us help other families by sharing about your student's award.

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HELPFUL SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SITES

FastWeb

College Board Scholarship Search

GoCollege

Indiana College Answers Scholarship Search

Also, see our College Prep section on this site. It has information about other links for financial aid and scholarships. One place that is a good source for scholarship information is your local high school guidance office. Many now list their scholarships online at the school's website. A few of the better guidance sites we have seen are listed near the bottom of the College Prep page.

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COMPETITIONS

Most people have heard of the success homeschoolers have had in the National Spelling Bees and Geography Bees, but below are a few other competitions you may not know about.

Camp American Essay Contest Annual essay competition is open to students age 7-18.

Future Problem Solvers Competition FPSP features curricular and co-curricular competitive, as well as non-competitive, activities in creative problem solving.

Hoagie’s List A great list of contests and awards can be found on this site. ( not home school specific)

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Sponsors an essay contest, photo contest and an art contest annually. There are several age categories age 12-19 for the essay contest and ages 7-19 for the art contest. Details for the contests are on their website.

Homeschool World Homeschool World is beginning to list contests that home schoolers may compete in.

Indiana Association for Home Educators (IAHE) Sponsors three competitions annually: Spelling Bee, Art, and Essay.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Contest Voice of Democracy is an annual national audio essay contest that is designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to voice their opinion about their personal obligations as an American and address their responsibility to our country.

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