The Coyner and Donna Smith Diversity Scholarship application, Administered by Lutheran Family Services, opens Monday, October 2, 2023.

The Mission of the Smith Diversity Scholarship is to provide a post-secondary education to Nebraska’s graduating seniors from underrepresented backgrounds, facing financial barriers, who display academic aptitude, leadership, determination toward goals, and a spirit for making an impact.

In 2024, we will award four renewable scholarships of $25,000 per year to four-year institutions; and two renewable scholarships of $12,500 per year to two-year trade school institutions. Students can attend any accredited institution.

Due to the flexibility of these funds - which are intended to help students beyond the traditional tuition, books and housing - this is one of the most unique scholarships available in the country.

Please note: 

• Application is open October 2, 2023 - January 28, 2024.

• Students will need to upload the following in the application:

  • Essay

  • High School Transcript

  • Proof of Household Income (parent/guardian(s) most recent W-2, most recent Tax Return or FAFSA Submission Summary)

• Recipients must be an ethnic minority with a household income under $65,000.

• Recipients must be graduating high school in 2024 from a Nebraska High School.

• Students do not need to be a U.S. citizen.

The ASF Scholarship Competition for Creative Writing

 Any high school senior who plans to attend college may apply. Only one submission per student.

 Submissions must take the form of one of the following genre:

· Poetry or song lyrics
· Short fiction of all subgenres
· Play, movie, or television script
· Speech or letter
· Memoirs or diary entry
· Biography/autobiography
· Personal essay
· Other (We understand creative writing can take many forms. If there is a question about your desired form, please contact us by email or text.)

 Submissions do not have to be newly created, but must be original work.

See attached document for more details and submission directions…or stop by guidance office.

 Creative Writing Scholarship Information Sheet

Submissions are due no later than March 22, 2024

Horatio Alger Association Scholarships: 4 types of scholarships

1-State Scholarships
2-National Scholarships
3-Career & Technical Scholarships
4-Targeted Scholarships

The State & National Scholarships are for HS Juniors who meet the eligibility criteria.

The Targeted Scholarships are for HS Seniors.

The Career & Technical Scholarships are for HS Graduates or GED equivalency

 As one of the nation's largest need-based college scholarship programs, the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs specifically assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. While many programs are directed primarily to recognizing academic achievement or leadership potential, the Horatio Alger Association seeks students who have exhibited determination, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity, as well as have critical financial need.

https://scholars.horatioalger.org/about-our-scholarship-programs/

State scholarships are awarded to eligible students in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. The program specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The scholarships are funded by Horatio Alger Members who, like the Scholars, have experienced challenges but ultimately overcame them to become successful business and civic leaders.

To be eligible to apply for a Horatio Alger State Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria*:

• Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States

• Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)

• Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required)

• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities

• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity

• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and

• Be a United States citizen

The undergraduate application is now closed and will open for high school juniors on December 1, 2023.

ELKS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS: State/Nebraska & National

For Applications & Information to the following 5 scholarships, go to: https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

(1) ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION MOST VALUABLE STUDENT (MVS) SCHOLARSHIP
Online applications:  https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

Scholarships are available only to students who enroll in four-year undergraduate degree programs at accredited U.S. American colleges or universities. It is acceptable for a student to enroll in a two-year college for the first two years of the four-year program. An independent selection committee will evaluate the applications and select the recipients considering:

• Leadership

• Academic achievements and records

• Community involvement

• Financial need

DEADLINE: One site says: Online Submission deadline date November 13

(2) ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION LEGACY AWARD
Who is Eligible?

1. For the 2024 contest, any child or grandchild (or step-child, step-grandchild, or legal ward) of a living Elk who joined the order on or before April 1, 2021, or a charter member of a Lodge that was instituted on or after April 1, 2021, is eligible to apply. The Elk must also be a paid-up member through March 31, 2024. Great-grandchildren are not eligible.

2. The applicant must be a high school senior.

3. The applicant must apply online only. The 2024 Legacy Awards application deadline is February 5, 2024, 11:59 a.m. Pacific Time.

4. If the applicant's parent and grandparent are both Elk members, the applicant must apply through the parent's Elks Lodge.

5. We have waived the standardized test requirement for the 2024 Legacy contest. You do not need to submit ACT and/or SAT scores.

6. Students may apply for more than one ENF scholarship; however, they may win only one. In cases where the student wins more than one, we will award the scholarship with the greater value. Students can accept local and state scholarships, which are separate from the awards at the national level.

7. Legacy Awards may only be applied to accredited US American schools, colleges or universities. (Note: Applicants from Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Philippines may apply Legacy Awards toward schools, colleges or universities in their respective homes.)

8. If you are selected as a 2024 Legacy Awards recipient, you will be required to perform three instances of service with an Elks Lodge during the four years you are receiving the scholarship. Click here for more information about serving with the Elks.

This can only be completed online  https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

DEADLINE: Online Submission: FEBRUARY 5

(3) ELKS-NEBRASKA PAST EXALTED RULER’S SCHOLARSHIP

Application can be found at this site: https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

Qualifications:

1. Open to any Nebraska high school senior.

2. The application blank must be filled out completely with all blanks filled in. All other information must be attached to the application.

3. BASIC EMPHASIS WILL BE ON NEED.

4. No restrictions on the type of school you will attend; I.e., may be Beauty School, Community College, Trade School, 2 or 4 year college.

5. The enclosed application blanks will be the only ones judged. All previous forms are null and void.

6. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN THIS APPLICATION IS SOLELY FOR THE USE OF THE NEBRASKA ELKS ASSOCIATION.

7. All applications should be returned to Dr. Candace Walton, 4019 Cannon Road, Grand Island, Nebraska 68803

 DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15

 
(4) NEBRASKA Elks Association GOLF SCHOLARSHIP

Required materials:

1) Submit one letter of recommendation from any of the following: Principal, clergy, teacher, local businessperson, or employer. Letters should describe your leadership and service to your community, school and/or service organizations as well as your ability to benefit from attending college with a scholarship. Up to three letters of recommendation will be accepted.

2) Letter from your high school golf coach, college golf coach, personal golf coach, or equivalent verifying your intent to play golf in college and attesting to your handicap for 18 holes.

3) Certified copy of your High School Transcript.

4) A written statement (no more than 500 words) describing the following: your high school leadership experience, your community service, and how you intend to continue to lead and serve after graduation.

5) A list of your high school extracurricular activities (include number of seasons/years you participated and detail any leadership roles).

 Application can be found at this site: https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

DEADLINE: Postmarked by February 15

Mail to: Dr. Candace Walton 4019 Cannon Rd. Grand Island, NE 68803 Attn: Elks Golf Scholarship

(5) ELKS-NEBRASKA VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP GRANT

This scholarship is intended to support high school seniors who wish to pursue 2-year vocational studies at a community college or other 2-year programs. This is a competitive, need-based, assistance scholarship.

Applicant must be: • High School Senior graduating from a Nebraska High School • Intending to study a vocational program after high school graduation • United States Citizen at the time of application.

 Application can be found at this site: https://www.nebraskaelks.org/scholarships.php

DEADLINE: Postmarked by February 15 RETURN ALL MATERIALS TO: Dr. Candace Walton, Nebraska Scholarship Chair, 4019 Cannon Road, Grand Island, Nebraska 68803

Hagan Scholarship
For the 2024-2025 Academic Year in College

Hagan Scholarship Application (The Application Link will be activated September 1, 2023)

Eligibility Requirements
1. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. Must attend a traditional public high school located in the U.S. that is governed by a school district.
3. Must have achieved a 3.50 Cumulative Grade Point Average.
4. Must enroll at an Eligible Four-Year College or University the first semester following high school graduation.
5. Must maintain a four year or less graduation schedule in college.
6. Must work 240 hours from January 1, 2024 until commencement of the 2024 fall semester in college. Work can be performed at recipient discretion. Work must be regularly scheduled employment performed under supervision for compensation.
7. Applicant’s Gross Household Income reported for 2022 Federal Income Tax Purposes must not have exceeded $85,000. “Household Income” is defined as the total gross income received by all members of a household living under the same roof.
8. Finalists must provide a copy of the FAFSA SAR showing their EFC.
9. Must apply for Federal and State grants if eligible.
10. Must not have a felony conviction.

The intended recipient is a high-achieving goal-driven student having substantial financial need.

The Submittal Deadline is December 1, 2023.  

https://haganscholarships.org/