Community Foundation Accepting Scholarship Applications thru March 29
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications online. The application deadline is Sunday, March 29. Apply online now by clicking here. [Editor’s note: The link to the application was disabled, following the close of the application cycle.]
The Community Foundation manages 45 scholarship programs and awarded over $140,000 last year to 89 local students. Graduating high school seniors, current college students, and adult continuing education candidates from Dare County, Currituck County, and Ocracoke are eligible to apply.
Scholarships range from one-time awards of $250, to four-year awards totaling $20,000.
“We have scholarships for a huge diversity of students,” said Lorelei Costa, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “Art majors, math majors, musicians, firefighters, tennis players, law enforcement majors, nursing students, community college students, vocational students, and more — all are encouraged to apply.”
The Community Foundation is offering several new scholarships this year, including Linda Porter’s Shear Genius Scholarship, which is open to high school seniors and adults who hope to study cosmetology or aesthetics, and the Scott Day Family Scholarship, which looks for high school seniors from Hatteras who hope to major in education.
From www.obcf.org, students can apply for any Community Foundation scholarship. Applicants begin the process by completing a short questionnaire, which quickly and easily directs them to the scholarships for which they’re eligible.
From there, students complete one common application, upload one transcript, submit any required essays, and apply for all Community Foundation scholarships for which they are eligible, all in one place. Teachers and community members can provide confidential recommendations online, without having to make multiple copies.
Though many of the Community Foundation’s scholarships are merit-based, the majority of awards consider financial need. For the need-based awards, students are required to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and upload the resulting Student Aid Report into their application.
“If I could give one tip to every applicant, it would be: Start early!” said Costa. “Please don’t wait until March 29 to begin your application. We have a strict deadline, and if you start too late, you might not get your recommendation letters and Student Aid Report in time.”
Scholarship funds have been generously donated from individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies to help local students pursue higher education. Any community member can establish a scholarship fund with the Community Foundation by calling Lorelei Costa at 252-261-8839.
All scholarship winners will be announced at their schools’ Senior Awards Night in May and June.
