The eligible applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a high school graduate continuing their education at an accredited institution in the year in which they are applying. They must be a resident of Michigan and a youth exhibitor at the Michigan State Fair for a minimum of three years prior to the year of application
Many scholarships offered for the 2012 school year had a deadline of April 1. This one, while it is limited in scope, does not end until June 17.
So, if you are involved in 4-H or exhibit animals or know somebody who is – please tell them about the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship.
If you cannot access the Newsletter above please go to this PDF .
The Oakridge Counseling Center provides a quarterly newsletter which highlights information on local scholarship opportunities. This newsletter comes complete with online links to each particular scholarship. Go to that link and read up on the scholarship in question, note the deadlines, and complete the application.
Often students get all caught up in looking online for Fast Web type scholarships. That’s fine, however you must realize that the pool that you are competing with for these grants is a national audience. Your chances of winning scholarship moneys are best found through the Oakridge Counseling Center. Do ANYTHING that is local to Oakridge only first. Often, very few people even apply. So, make a plan, check deadlines, set up a calendar and get cracking on the local stuff.
Interviews are HUGE in the selection of Foundation Grant Winners.
Go here to sign up for and learn more about the Muskegon Community Foundation Scholarship.
The 2013 Muskegon Community Foundation Scholarship will soon available to Oakridge graduating seniors. The above video features Rachel Stewart ($4000), Autumn Woods ($5000), and Nyssa Swanson ($500), all recipients of the Muskegon Community Foundation Grant in 2010. They will provide an insight to their successful interviewing process. This video also features a lengthy interview with Marcy Joy, the Program Officer for the Muskegon Community Foundation. She is in charge of it All – so if you get an interview it would be to your advantage to watch this movie!
Facts on the Muskegon Community Foundation Grant
In 2010 515 people applied for the Foundation Grant.
In 2010 176 High School seniors were interviewed.
In 2010 approximately 110 of those interviewed received scholarships.
The Foundation promised $775,000 to 2010 graduates.
Tips on the Interviewing process…
Interviews are conducted by teams of one or two community volunteers.
Interviewers have read your application and will refer to it.
Sometimes they do a second interview with you.
The Foundation will gladly reschedule interviews around your time.
The most important part of the interview – according to all three gals and Marci Joy deals with the question – What do you intend to bring back to your community after you graduate from college? While the question deals theoretically with ANY community – if you can tailor your answer to Muskegon it would probably be to your advantage to do so.
Those who have donated their time and their money to help young people get a good start in college want to be reminded that you care about your community and your neighborhood and that no matter the university you attend or the degree that you pursue, you will return the goodwill to your fellow citizens. In essence those who will be interviewing you – see this donation and you as an investment in the world. They want to be reassured that you will return in kind.
Make sure in your interview to articulate your ideas for future community involvement. Make sure the interviewers feel your compassion and your gratitude. Be clear in laying out your goals for the future.
Please go here to learn more about the T.I.P. Program.
Michigan’s Tuition Incentive Program is one of the most valuable financial assistance programs that Oakridge students can qualify for. It is a Federal government plan administered thru the state and it is needs based. If you have qualified for Medicaid for 24 months in any 36 month period since eighth grade – even if you went off of Medicaid – you may qualify for the T.I.P. The financial assistance is extensive…so talk to your parents and our counseling center to make sure if you meet the criteria.
T.I.P. has two phases –
Phase One – which is accepted by some universities and almost all Community Colleges in Michigan (MCC & GRCC included) covers tution and fees for two years. The dollar amount will vary depending upon the college you are attending. At MCC TIP covers up to 24 credit hours per year at $85 per credit hour. At Northern and Ferris the dollar amount will be much higher.
Phase Two – pays for tuition up to $2000 ($500 per semester) at a number of state universities for years three and four after you have completed two years of college. CMU. EMU, WMU, UM take phase two.
Phase One & Phase Two – a few schools, of which Ferris State University and Northern Michigan University are included, honor BOTH Phase One and Phase Two. If you qualify for T.I.P. and are accepted into Northern or Ferris, a large majority of your college tuition costs will be covered by this scholarship.
So…make sure that you know all there is to know about the T.I.P. If you receive the scholarship keep in touch with the financial aid offices at your college after you are accepted in order to make sure that it is renewed each year. Check with your university to see if you have further requirements. Also, if you qualify for T.I.P. you are probably eligible for a PELL Grant as well. If so, and T.I.P. pays for tuition, you are free to use the PELL for room and board and living expenses. Any funds leftover are yours for living expenses. The T.I.P. Scholarship is probably the best education safety net that is available in the state of Michigan. Make sure to find out if you qualify, and if you do, take full advantage of it!
Remember you cannot get the T.I.P. unless you first fill out the F.A.F.S.A.
By April, seniors will be receiving letters from their perspective colleges. The letters sent by the Financial Aid offices lay out the expected cost of school for 2012-13 and the aid package proposed by the University. That package will include grants and loans and work study. The key is NOT the final amount which you are expected to contribute.
The key is how that package is broken down. You need to understand the differences between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Go here for that information. You also need to find out if you must maintain a specific GPA to keep your financial aid. You need to know if you must maintain full or part time status to keep your financial aid. You need to know if a specific grant or loan is renewable or if it is a one year only offer. All of these things are important.
This link provides you a generic financial aid letter that will help you to translate your financial aid package. Take a look and bring your letter to class or the counseling office. Make sure that I or Kelsey or a counselor go over that letter with you. Make sure that your parents understand its implications as well.
Make sure that you understand all of your financial responsibilities before signing on the dotted line…particularly when it comes to the loans.
institution in the year in which they are applying. They must be a resident of Michigan and a youth exhibitor at the Michigan State Fair for a minimum of three years prior to the year of application
