When it comes to researching scholarships, the Arkansas Student Loan Authority has you covered with its Fund my Future website, www.fundmyfuture.info.
ASLA’s Fund my Future is a quick way to locate “hundreds of scholarships and grants for all type of programs and areas of study” with a click of a mouse, says ASLA Technology and Solutions Support Specialist Caroline Rieger.
Most of these scholarships are specific to current Arkansas residents or students pursuing higher education in Arkansas.
“It’s a great tool for Arkansas students, and an easy way to keep up with the latest information,” she says.
While the Authority has long provided Arkansans with scholarship and grant information in traditional ways, ASLA’s free Internet search allows it to reach more people with the most up-to-date information and “at their convenience,” Rieger says.
Since going online about two years ago, more than 565,000 people have logged on, including high school counselors, parents and students.
This year, the Fund My Future Website underwent a revamp and its main menu includes a link to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with information about the new Post 9/11 GI Bill (also known as the new GI Bill).
The website also makes the search as simple as “one-click” for students who are considering a career in nursing or teaching to find scholarship and grant money. These occupations are experiencing critical shortages and Fund My Future has put together a centralized location with educational, licensure and employment information, Rieger says.
This year, the department added My Backpack account, a private way that allows students and parents to keep track of the previous research.
LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL — WHAT NOW?
Choosing the college that’s right for you and will send you on your way to the career of your dreams can be an intimidating process. Several websites can help make your research a little easier:
www.real-lifearkansas.com. This is the website of the state Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and the Arkansas Workforce Center.
www.careeronestop.org. This U.S. Department of Labor website is a valuable resource for career options, higher education opportunities and many other career development tools.
www.eCampustours.com. This site allows students to take virtual tours of campuses across the country as well as create a portfolio to save favorite tours, helpful articles, and important information related to applying for college.
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
Start building your future: Earn an Academic Challenge Scholarship. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education has laid out a simple four-step plan for Arkansas high school students. Follow these steps and you can earn up to $12,000 over four years to attend any Arkansas college. Are you ready?
Step one: Complete the high school core curriculum. What’s that, you ask? 4 units English, 2 units of the same foreign language, 3 units natural science (with labs), including physical science, biology and chemistry or physics, 4 units math (1 unit beyond algebra II and geometry), 3 units social studies
Step two: Know the requirements: Be an Arkansas high school graduate. Study hard to meet the minimum GPA and make a good ACT score. Family income limits are $65,000 or less for a family with one child (add $5,000 for each additional child and $10,000 for children in college).
Step three: Take the test: Take the ACT as many times as you need to meet the minimum score requirements.
Step four: Apply. Complete the application between Feb. 1 and June 1 of your senior year.
For complete details regarding scholarship, application procedures, and for other information, visit the Arkansas Department of Higher Education’s website, www.ADHE.EDU, or contact their office at 371-2050, 371-2000 or 1-800-54-STUDY (toll free). Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to the Academic Challenge Scholarship, the state offers a number of financial aid programs to assist Arkansas students. Program information with eligibility guidelines, deadlines and applications can be found at www.adhe.edu or by calling the Arkansas Department of Higher Education at 1-800-54-STUDY. A few of their programs are highlighted below:
GO! Opportunities Grant Program is a grant based on financial need and is available to recent Arkansas high school graduates or GED recipients who are accepted to an Arkansas college or university. The grant amount is $1,000 per academic year for full-time students and $500 a year for part-time students, and is renewable up to $4,000. For more information, contact the Arkansas Department of Higher Education at 371-2000 or log onto www.adhe.edu.
The Governor’s Scholars Program encourages academically superior high school graduates to attend college in Arkansas. Governor’s Scholars receive $4,000 per year, while Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship recipients are awarded up to $10,000 per year. Apply from Jan. 1 to Feb. 1 at http://gs.adhe.edu.
The State Teacher Assistance Resource (STAR) Program assists education majors willing to teach math, science, special education, foreign languages or other subject shortage areas and/or are willing to teach in an area of Arkansas with a critical shortage of teachers. Eligible students may receive up to $6,000 per year in forgivable loans. Apply from Feb. 1 to June 1 at www.adhe.edu.
The Law Enforcement Officers’ Dependents Scholarship is for dependents of Arkansas residents killed or permanently disabled in the line-of-duty. Visit www.adhe.edu.
The Military Dependents Scholarship assists dependents and spouses of Arkansans killed or missing in action, prisoners of war or who meet certain criteria for disability. Eligibility information and applications are available at www.adhe.edu.
The Arkansas Health Education Grant provides assistance for Arkansas residents attending certain out-of-state accredited health and medical professional schools for graduate or professional programs that are unavailable in the state. Information and applications are available at www.adhe.edu.
The Minority Teachers Scholars Program offers forgivable loans to African-American, Asian-American, Native American, and Hispanic college juniors and seniors seeking an education degree leading to an initial teacher licensure. For information and applications go to www.adhe.edu.
The Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program is designed to allow undergraduate students to conduct in-depth research projects in their specific fields of study with the assistance of faculty mentors. For more information, to to www.adhe.edu.
