“Mary” is a young woman with Crohn’s Disease. The digestive disorder affects millions of people, disrupting their daily lives and making it difficult to handle even the simplest tasks, such as a trip to the grocery store or even working a full time job.
When Mary and her parents met with her high school guidance counselor about college applications and a scholarship search the counselor immediately told them about a special Crohn’s Scholarship Program from a major pharmaceutical company. The group awards thirty people with Crohn’s Disease a ten thousand dollar scholarship each year. The individuals must be diagnosed with the condition in order to apply, and the funds can be used simply to “fulfill their educational ambitions”.
There are currently thousands of conditions that make scholarship funds available to those who are suffering the affects of disease, discomfort and disability associated with many chronic issues. Anyone beginning a scholarship search should be aware of this and seek out assistance from foundations, organizations, charities and corporations that are working to combat or eliminate the disease or condition they are living with.
There are other scholarships available for special or unique circumstances. These include scholarships for those of a specific heritage or ethnic background. For example, there are scholarships available to people of specific faiths such as the Jewish religion. There are scholarships available to people from specific Native American tribes and Nations, individuals must have documentary evidence of their relation to a descendant of the tribe.
There are also affiliated organizations that make funds available for students in a minority who have demonstrated academic excellence. For example the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has partnered with NASCAR racing to make awards of fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars available to students maintaining a grade point average of 3.2 or higher.
There are some truly fun and unique scholarship opportunities available to people with special interests or activities. For example the Dog Writers’ Educational Trust makes funding available to students who have shown dogs professionally or who are affiliated with any professional dog activities such as breeding or grooming.
Students must also visit their school’s guidance office to locate as many local or regional scholarships as possible. For example, the Harvey R. Lewis Foundation makes scholarships to residents of Port Washington, New York. A student should inquire about such an opportunity in their area as well.
Hobbies such as reading can really payoff in unusual ways as well. For example, the Winch Fund awards scholarships for essays from college students about the one book that has affected them most since they entered college.
A student beginning a scholarship search must take every single factor of their lives, histories, interests and backgrounds into consideration in order to locate the most opportunities possible.