The Programs Zone - $31 Million in NSBE’s ‘Scholarship Vault’!
By Sharifa Vinson, NSBE Programs Coordinator
Need more money for school? NSBE’s website (www.nsbe.org) now offers a huge repository of scholarships, which includes NSBE corporate, national and regional scholarships, as well as grants sponsored by universities or offered by our partner organizations. In addition, there are sections devoted to Pre-College Initiative (PCI) scholarships and scholarship grants for NSBE Alumni.
This resource, NSBE’s Scholarship Vault, was created to address the high demand and need for financial assistance for students in NSBE. It is meant to serve as a one-stop shop for NSBE members who are looking for more resources to fund their education. The NSBE Scholarship Vault is continually adding new opportunities for students and now boasts a total value of more than $31 MILLION in scholarship awards. The repository is primarily geared toward the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, but it also offers scholarships for non-STEM students, such as engineering bachelor’s degree-holders pursuing MBAs.
NSBE closed its ”Cycle 2” scholarship applications on June 30, 2011, offering 23 scholarships totaling $125,000 from six corporate sponsors, including Atkins, S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Life Technologies, Owens-Illinois, Inc. and Chevron Corporation. A record-breaking total of 649 applicants applied for this year’s Cycle 2 scholarships, more than seven times the number who applied last year. Our current scholarship cycle began this past Aug. 1 with even more opportunities for students.
Remember: to apply for NSBE scholarships, you first need to e-mail a copy of your unofficial transcript to scholarships@nsbe.org. We encourage you to send in a transcript after every semester to keep your membership account current and keep yourself competitive. Members often ask, “How can I increase my chance of getting a scholarship?” Here are the top five ways to increase your chances:
- APPLY! If you’re eligible for it, you should apply. Don’t assume that you won’t get a scholarship because there are too many applicants. Employers are often looking for unique talent, and they could be looking for someone just like you!
- Apply EARLY! Don’t wait until the day before the deadline. The quality of your application will be affected by the time you put into it.
- Follow Directions! Be sure to read the questions carefully and answer appropriately. It is always a good idea to tailor your answers to the organization offering the scholarship.
- Keep your grades up! Most scholarships (not all) have a minimum GPA requirement. Talk to your chapter president and school staff about resources to help raise your GPA.
- ASK US! If you have any questions or concerns, e-mail us at scholarships@nsbe.org. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
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