Applications for the Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family (NPCFF) scholarships are due tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 15, a date emphasized by NPCFF Executive Director Betsyann Wilson at the Snowflake Town Council meeting on Oct. 6.
From the Leg-Up scholarship to Fill-the-Gap scholarship as well as approximately eight other scholarships managed by NPCFF, Wilson encouraged students to apply whether they are currently in school or just starting.
“A lot of our students don’t see themselves as scholarship material. They think scholarships are for high school students or for valedictorians. But what they fail to understand is that a lot of scholarships are need-based and are looking at the challenges the student is facing in getting through their education.”
Wilson went on to say that there are many scholarships that go un-awarded because no one applies for them.
The funding from the NPCFF scholarships will be available for the 2019 spring semester. Beyond the NPCFF scholarships, the Northland Pioneer College (NPC) website maintains a search engine that lists more than 400 scholarships available on local, state and national levels.
“You have to look at scholarship search like a part-time job, if you spend four hours searching, writing the essay and get $1,000 then think of how much you made per hour,” shared Wilson, who also encouraged students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as she noted “that is the gold standard for evaluating the needs of the student. We encourage students to do that anytime they think they are going to go to school. The evaluation is based on the tax returns of either the parents or the student.”
The Leg-Up scholarship is for students who do not qualify for a Pell Grant. It provides $500 per scholarship with nine scholarships being awarded each semester to students representing the nine campuses and centers of NPC.
The Fill-the-Gap scholarship is the same as the Leg-Up with the exception that students receiving this can also qualify for the Pell Grant.
Other scholarships include the Charles E. Lisitzky and the Pres Winslow Memorial scholarships, as well as the Dr. Jeanne Swarthout Presidential Excellence Scholarship.
Another addition to the NPCFF scholarships is the Dr. John Graff scholarship. Wilson said, “John is from San Jose, California, and when he learned about our students and our area, he set up a fund that will become an endowment providing three $500 scholarships each semester.” One scholarship is for a college bound student; one is for Career and Technology student; and one is for a student that is just starting out.
Wilson said, “I will help any student work on their scholarships. They don’t know how and think they won’t win. There is no reason anyone can’t afford college. This is my campaign as an educator; I want people to know they can go to college without being saddled by debt.”
Councilman Greg Brimhall asked, “Can anyone set up a memorial fund for scholarships?”
To which Wilson replied, “Absolutely. What we do is help you figure out what kind of students the scholarship will benefit and how the funds will be managed.”
Mayor Lynn Johnson thanked Wilson for her presentation, saying, “My motto is the only thing better than an education, is a free education.”
For more information on the scholarships, visit www.npcfriendsfamily.org. To access the NPC scholarship search engine, go to www.npc.edu/scholarships.
