Free Advice

Institutes of advanced learning have established new scholarships and formed agreements with other organizations. Throughout the country, colleges and universities have worked this year to make continued education more affordable for students. In Detroit, a scholarship contest offered by Marygrove College, even offered free tuition, fees and books to winning high school and transfer students.

American Indians and Alaska Natives, on the other hand, are the beneficiaries of a new agreement formed between the Tribal Education Departments National Assembly and Herzing University Online. Herzing University, which is based in Milwaukee, is allowing Tribal Education Departments members opportunities to take a free online course with the institution. Students who enroll in Herzing University Online after the course are then provided scholarships, a Herzing University announcement noted.

The Tribal Education Departments National Assembly is a non-profit organization representing Education Departments of American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes members who join it. In addition, Herzing University-Brookfield in June announced that it had established a new scholarship for area residents. The Herzing University Community Commitment Scholarship follows the March opening of the institution’s Brookfield, Wisconsin, campus. The scholarship awards $3,000 to a first-place finalist and $500 to four other finalists.

Where the Herzing University-Brookfield scholarship was based in part on a candidate’s geographic location, a new scholarship awarded at Jacksonville University in Florida this year was intended specifically for aviation studies. The Dr. Winston S. Churchill scholarship, based on leadership abilities and academics, was awarded to Sarah Morris, a Jacksonville University senior and aviation and flight management major who co-captains the flight team. The scholarship was named for the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill.

Thanks to a grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Jacksonville University is also planning nursing scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year. The grants allow Jacksonville University to provide eight, $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing Scholarships to students who are typically underrepresented in nursing occupations. Jacksonville University plans to provide them to students participating in its accelerated nursing program, according to an announcement from the institution.

There were 62 other colleges and universities that were provided Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Association of Colleges of Nursing grants as well. Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR and Boston College also were among the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Association of Colleges of Nursing grant recipients. Additional recipients of the grant included Azusa Pacific University in San Diego, CA; Kent State University in Kent, OH, and the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.

Another grant, this one for $30,000, was provided to Kent State University as well. This particular grant is intended to serve as a scholarship endowment for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) minors. The Akron chapter of a group known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered individuals provided the grant to Kent State University, where a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Student Center opened earlier this year.

In addition to colleges and universities, large companies, non-profit organizations, professional associations and community and civic groups provide scholarships for college. Some are intended to increase diversity. Others are geared toward students who live within certain geographical regions, and are available for both on campus and online classes. These awards might also be based on academics, financial needs or a combination of factors. Many, if not most, private scholarships, as well as those provided by colleges and universities, require that students first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is available online.