Anyone who has gone through the process of trying to pay for education, knows that there are various ways to fund (or not to fund… as the case may be) a post-high school educational program. There are many options: mainly loans, grants and scholarships. Scholarships come in many forms. Some of them are full-ride sports or academic scholarships, while there are others that conditionally gift you a small amount of money in exchange for writing an essay, performing some kind of service or meeting other requirements… or simply by applying because you "deserved" the scholarship based upon an arbitrary factor (say, the color of one's skin, gender, age, ethnic group or something that has little or nothing to do with the willingness or ability to learn).
Most of us are not fortunate enough to earn a full-ride scholarship, so we have to scrape up the funds from various sources, ultimately having to rely on loans. There just isn't enough scholarship money to spread around and those who need the scholarships the most seem to be those who may not qualify for them.
I have a list of a few suggested scholarships that I would like to see:
The Sober Student Scholarship
This would be more of a loan conversion. The student applies for the loan at the beginning of his/her tenure in school. The loan has a cap amount per year or semester in college. The loan is unconditional besides the conventional standards for getting any type of credit. The conversion to a grant/scholarship is based upon the student's pledge to remain sober until graduation. The pledge is signed by the student, who not only submits to random drug testing, but criminal and school disciplinary records and personal references are also checked to ensure compliance of remaining drug and alcohol free. This scholarship has a two-fold purpose: 1) It ensures that students are not getting into trouble and wasting their time with drugs and alcohol. 2) If you have money for drugs and alcohol, you certainly don't need to receive financial assistance for school.
School of Hard Knocks Scholarship
Most students apply for college right out of high school and have not endured many of the things that help make us more mature and learn how to live in the world. This scholarship is for those who have learned many things on their own (no, computer gaming doesn't count). The student writes an essay about the things he/she has learned without having the privilege of a formal education and a panel may approve or disapprove the application based upon the criteria. Examples of such skills and knowledge might include: repairing your own car, remodeling rooms in a home, volunteering for the Red Cross or CERT, taking care of children or an aging parent, performing in a rock band or a play, working on a farm or coaching a children's soccer team. There are many other things that could be considered, but keep in mind that this scholarship requires meaningful past experiences that might otherwise require special training or classes.
The Mid-Life Change Scholarship
Many adults find that after a number of years, they find it necessary to go back to school because of a career change. For a number of reasons (career obsolescence, injury/disability, displacement… even burnout), middle-aged people find themselves wanting to change career or being forced to do so. The requirements for this scholarship are that the potential student is at least 35 years old and has worked at least 10 years. It isn't necessary for the student to have worked the same job or even the same type job though. Requirements for this scholarship are that the student provides proof of age and job history.
The Americana Scholarship
This could also be called the anti-Affirmative Action scholarship or non-protected class scholarship. This scholarship is granted to those who are not eligible for other arbitrary scholarships that are based solely on the color of skin, gender, ethnic group, disability, national origin or any other factors that are usually covered under Affirmative Action or scholarships based upon similar criteria. The student must submit a form indicating demographic information that qualifies him/her for the loan.
The Non-Covered Veteran Scholarship
There are many programs that provide educational assistance or rehabilitative training such as GI Bills, VA Disability Rehabilitation and other educational assistance. Some veterans may have not meet the requirements or may not have had the foresight or ability to invest into the GI bill or other programs while on active duty. This scholarship is available when other means have been attempted and exhausted. There would also be scholarships for those wishing to extend their education beyond or outside of the scope of what would be authorized for such programs (for instance, graduate school or additional classes/training not included in their individual degree program).
The Good Citizen Scholarship
A criminal background check and courts record search could reveal the qualifications for this scholarship. This scholarship is given to those with a clean record, with the exception of allowing for one minor traffic offense. The student applies and gives authorization for a criminal and courts records search of all residences for the entire life of said student.
The Past Academic Excellence Scholarship
The student provides proof of exemplary grades in any learning institution. Proof might include certificates, transcripts or special awards. This may also include extracurricular merits such as sports achievements, plays, mayoral recognition or other accomplishments that denote extraordinary performance or any indication of rising above mediocrity.
Accomplishment in Literary Works Scholarship
The student submits several works of literary accomplishment to apply of this scholarship. A panel reads those works and judges them based upon the merits of literacy and/or creativity. Examples of these works may include: Poetry, songwriting, novels, non-fiction, journals, plays/screenplays, scripts, blogs or documentaries. Submissions should be in tangible, written form and may include a CD or DVD showcasing how those works were made into a final media product (if applicable).
The Unique Skills Scholarship
A student submits an outline that showcases a unique skill or talent that he/she has developed to a panel and must demonstrate that unique skill for the panel for approval. The demonstration may be in person or by sending a DVD showcasing the skill. Such skills may include: riding a unicycle, juggling, singing, standup comedy, debate, mountain climbing, cartooning, coin-snatching or just about any other unique talent that may or may not normally lead to academic scholarships. The student may not have already received any type of scholarship for that unique skill. The skill does not necessarily need to be anything of a bizarre nature, but just above and beyond normal skills. For instance, someone applying for the singing scholarship must be able to have above average vocal ability.
The Traveller Scholarship
An applicant either keeps a journal or writes an essay in outline format describing details of a trip. The trip may be either domestic travel or international. Whether in journal or essay form, the document must include photos and descriptions of those photos. Submissions are accepted based upon readability and literacy as well as being informative and entertaining.
The Good Health Scholarship
The applicant must be currently in good physical condition, not excessively overweight based upon BMI charts and/or body fat measurements and have established an exercise routine and dietary regimen for a minimum of 6 months. A chart showing cardio as well as other approved calisthenics for the past 6 months (or more) is submitted with the application along with current weight, height and body fat measurements. A dietary schedule for the past 6 months is also submitted.
The Non-Smoker Scholarship
A person submits a form that states that he/she has not smoked within the past 6 months. Blood or urine tests may be necessary to confirm that the applicant is tobacco free. Similar to the Sober Student Scholarship, the two-fold purpose for this scholarship include: 1) Promoting healthful living to the student as well as those living or riding in vehicles with him/her. 2) If a student can afford tobacco products, he/she does not need financial assistance for education.
The Non-Ink/Body-Hardware Scholarship
Similar to the Non-Smoker Scholarship and the Sober Student Scholarship, this scholarship promotes living within ones means and healthful body attitudes, but it also encourages students to maintain a professional body image by refraining from tattoos and excessive piercings. A full-body photo (front and back) of the student in reasonable swimwear as well as a headshot with profiles (both left and right) must be submitted as well as a pledge to refrain from tattoos and body piercings for the duration of school until graduation and upon graduation the student is encouraged to continue ink and piercing free by periodic letters and/or email subscription. Female students are permitted to have one piercing in the ear lobe and to wear reasonably professional earrings or posts.
The Good Driver Scholarship
Students must be licensed drivers and have a minimal infractions or accidents on their driving record. A maximum of one traffic citation and one parking ticket are allowed - provided that those tickets have been cleared (paid for). Drivers must pledge that they will not text and drive or talk on their cell phone while behind the wheel and will not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Applicants must submit a current driver's license, insurance company information and a release for courts records.
The Frugality Scholarship
Going to school costs a lot of money. Many students run into trouble with finances because they do not know how to budget their money or they squander their student funds on things that are unnecessary. To reward students for being good stewards over their finances, the Frugality Scholarship is awarded. Potential students must keep track of all their incoming funds and make a detailed and accurate accounting for all their expenditures for a minimum of 6 months prior to applying for the scholarship (one year for subsequent scholarships). Receipts are required for all purchases over $20.00 and originals or copies are submitted along with the scholarship application. Students who consistently make unwise purchases are not eligible to receive the scholarship.
The Good Idea Scholarship
Upon submitting an original invention or idea that could improve life or society, the student receives a monetary scholarship for each idea submitted (with a reasonable cap). A drawing, essay outline and/or prototype must be presented for each scholarship applied for. Ideas and inventions remain the property of the applicant and review panel members must sign a non-disclosure agreement so that applicants can be able to trust scholarship panel with their proprietary ideas.
Well, that's it for now. I have run out of ideas, but you can get the gist of this by reading this. Someday, I hope to be in a position to where I can donate money to academics, and if that day ever comes, you can bet that some of these scholarships will be on that list of donations.
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