In my last articles, I wrote about handling debt and finances. Recently I helped my younger sister to get a scholarship for her bachelors so I did a good amount of research on minority scholarships. One of the biggest entry barriers in higher education remains its cost, and that’s a situation that’s likely not going to change anytime soon. There are various issues that the average student has to overcome in this regard, and things only get more complicated when one considers the situation of the member of a minority. In many of these cases, the situation for students is significantly worse than that faced by their peers from non-minority households.
When it comes to debt, it’s important to use every resource available to you to minimize your impact while finding ways to decrease the amount you have. I helped my sister to get a student credit card to manage her small expenses and shared with her a credit card payoff calculator so she never misses paying her credit card dues on time.
The scholarship is a great tool to continue your expensive college education. It’s sad to see so many students underutilizing the potential of this tool, as scholarships can be very effective in assisting those unable to pay for higher education, especially minorities. Below is a round up of five scholarships for minority students to keep on your radar.
1. Ron Brown
Ronald H. Brown was a black politician who perished in a plane accident, but his memory lives on and his name has been a major driving force in the education of many black students over the years. His scholarship is aimed at black students trying to chase their dreams of going to college and grants the sum of $10,000 a year for a total of four years.
Eligible students can choose any academic field to pursue and they don’t have to limit themselves to any particular areas, although it does require students to prove that they firmly believe in the values of the program.
2. Out to Innovate for LGBTQ Students in STEM
Among the many scholarships offered for LGBTQ students, this one, in particular, is targeted at those wishing to study a STEM degree. Other than that, there are no restrictions on who can take advantage of it regarding the path of their studies, as long as they’re a member of the LGBTQ community, and it’s offered to undergraduates and graduates alike. It is necessary to have completed a minimum of two years of college so far though, at which point students can be granted a $5,000 award.
3. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Jackie Robinson was a prominent baseball player, with a scholarship established in his name that grants up to $30,000 for a period of four years to high school students from minority classes. It’s important to demonstrate one’s financial needs properly though, and on top of that, strong leadership skills must be demonstrated to be eligible for the scholarship.
The organization also considers the SAT and ACT scores of their applicants, and the application itself includes four questions that must be answered in essay form. In the end, an in-person interview is performed which determines a candidate’s eligibility for good.
The scholarship is offered through a partnership between the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the NBA, granting $10,000 a year for three years to successful applicants. Students are also given the unique opportunity for an internship at the NBA league office, a unique chance that has proven to contribute a lot to the development of young people’s leadership skills and other relevant abilities.
Students need to have a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to be able to apply, and similar results must be maintained on an annual basis in order to retain the award. The resume submitted in the application process must demonstrate community service, employment history, and strong leadership skills.
Another program that came about as the result of a partnership, this one is the product of a collaboration between Colgate-Palmolive and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. The size of the award is not set at a hard value, ranging between $2,000 and $15,000 depending on circumstances. It’s important to demonstrate an excellent attitude towards one’s studies, as well as strong leadership skills. And while there is a preference towards certain fields in the program, it’s not that strict in this requirement.
The most popular degree choices for candidates include business, community service, education, media and entertainment, and of course, STEM. Candidates are required to have a Hispanic heritage in order to be eligible for the program, and they must be enrolled full-time directly after graduating high school. Other than that, the application process is relatively simple and straightforward, although it does involve a ceremony that candidates have to attend on their own time and resources.
