$200,000 in scholarships available for Colo. families from CollegeInvest
Online, October 30, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Denver, October 28, 2009--Colorado high school and college students can apply for a share of $200,000 in higher education scholarships from CollegeInvest, a not-for-profit division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
Applicants will have the opportunity to win one of 27 $6,000 Service Scholarships or 38 $1,000 Opportunity Scholarships. Students who will be enrolled as undergraduates at Colorado colleges and universities in the fall of 2010 are encouraged to apply by the April 1 deadline.
The scholarships are designed specifically to help families with financial need.
"I never thought I would be able to afford college," said Maxine Madden, 2009 recipient of the Service Scholarship. "Because of the help I received from CollegeInvest, I am now studying at Front Range Community College to get my degree in Elementary Education."
Applying for the scholarships is easy. There are no grade point average requirements and no essays to write; students can visit www.collegeinvest.org/scholarships to complete an online form.
"The two different types of scholarships meet the needs of many different Colorado students," said Janet Gullickson of CollegeInvest. "In these tough economic times, this money could bring college within reach to students who otherwise couldn't afford it or need a little extra assistance.It's best to start saving while children are still young."
The $6,000 CollegeInvest Service Scholarships are a chance to earn college aid while giving back to the community. To receive the award, students must attend a Colorado college as an undergraduate, demonstrate financial need and agree to perform at least 40 hours of community service annually for two years helping young people in an educational setting. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine scholarship eligibility.
"Volunteering for the Boulder I have a Dream Foundation has been such a great experience for me," said Madden. "Being able to interact with the kids gets me excited about teaching and being able to interact with kids every day."
"It's gratifying to hear about CollegeInvest Service Scholarship recipients who benefited not just from the financial aid but also from the experience serving their community." noted Gullickson.
The CollegeInvest Opportunity Scholarship is a simple way to get $1,000 for college. Thirty-eight $1,000 scholarships will be drawn at random and awarded to undergraduate students who attend a Colorado college, university or vocational school full-time in the fall of 2010. To be eligible, students must be planning to enroll in higher education in Colorado next fall as an undergraduate and demonstrate financial need. Students must also complete the FAFSA to determine scholarship eligibility.
"In high school, I thought the only way you could get a scholarship was by being good at sports," said Madden. "CollegeInvest opened my eyes to the other opportunities out there and is helping me to pay for my college education."