The addition of more scholarship programs for colleges and technical and trade schools has quantifiable benefits, says Sean Parnell:

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/032308/hom_20080323014.shtml

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Foundation announced this week 10 new $500 scholarships for students around the country seeking careers in manufacturing.

The “GO-Brennan” Scholarships are tied to FMA’s sponsorship of 16-year-old Florida stock car driver Brennan Palmiter.

Palmiter, a proficient welder, can be seen in YouTube video inviting high school, trade school and college students to apply for the scholarships.

Applicants must be 18 or older as of May 15 and must be enrolled for fall 2008 in an institution of higher learning — including trade or technical school. They can also have been admitted to any coursework relevant to the manufacturing industry.

To apply, post a video of yourself to the “GO Brennan” site on YouTube by April 4. You can find details about video requirements and other eligibility rules at fma-foundation.org.

In Colorado’s, Ouray County, the Fortuna Tierra Club (FTC) is accepting applications for educational scholarships.

The Club, made up of women in the Log Hill Mesa area, has announced its scholarship program for 2008. It’s open to seniors from local Ridgway High School seniors.

FTC will be awarding scholarships ranging from $2,000-3,000 to graduating students, thanks to the club’s fund-raising events.

Applications are available from the school, from interim principal Rick Williams. Scholarships are available for various types of advanced education, including trade school.

Interviews with students will take place at the school after the deadline for receipt of applications, which is April 1.

The scholarship program has been a major part of the outreach of FTC since the club was formed in the 1960s.

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces the fifth annual Cliff Weiss Essay Contest in memory of its former senior director of communications. ACTE sponsors the yearly contest as an opportunity for writing-oriented career and technical education students to strut their stuff. The essay contest is open to all high school or college students who are enrolled in at least one course in CTE. Winners will each receive an award of $250 and have their essays published in ACTE’s Techniques magazine.

High school students are asked to write an essay of 500 words or less on the topic, “How would you communicate the impact and importance of CTE related to your community?” College students are asked to write an essay of 500 words or more, answering the question, “How do you envision the type of programs and course content in CTE evolving over the next few years and what is driving this change?”

Deadline for entries is March 31.

Entries should be submitted to: Cliff Weiss Essay Contest, ACTE, 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. You can also submit by email to essaycontest@acteonline.org.

The Michigan State Troopers Assistance Fund Scholarship

This scholarship is available for high school seniors who plan to attend college or trade school. Criteria: GPA of 3.25 or higher, completed FAFSA form, an essay outlining accomplishments/community involvement, transcript and complete application. Application must be postmarked on or before: April 1, 2008.

The New York Lottery Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

The New York Lottery has announced that it is accepting applications for the $5,000 Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year.

Scholarships will be awarded to student leaders with academic success, participation in extracurricular activities and who display a commitment to community service. A $5,000 scholarship will be distributed to one graduating senior from each participating public and private high school in New York State. The award, allocated in $1,250 annual payments, may be applied to the cost of attendance at any New York State accredited college, university, trade school, or community college.

In announcing the scholarship, New York Lottery Director Gordon Medenica said, “The Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship recognizes strong academic achievement by high school students committed to pursuing higher education in New York State. By offering this scholarship exclusively to New York high school students we’re sending a message to businesses that we’re doing our part to help educators prepare the kind of world class workforce it will take to compete globally and grow the State’s economy.”

If you are interested in finding out about other scholarships, there is also an interesting scholarship search engine here: http://www.schoolsoup.com/

The following are some scholarships future career school students might want to know about:

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is offering ten scholarships of $2,000. Applicants for the scholarship must be enrolled in a trade school or other higher education institute for the fall of 2008. Read more here: http://www.afsascholarship.org/information.htm

Latino students in Tracy, California who plan to pursue trade school or other higher education after high school are eligible for one of several $500 scholarships from the Tracy Hispanic Business Group. The deadline to apply is this Friday. Read more: http://tracypress.com/content/view/13418/2242/

From the people who have brought you some great toilets, comes the American Standard Scholarship. American Standard will award four $2,500 scholarships to Plumbing-Heating-Cooling students who are enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs, full-time certificate or degree program at an accredited trade school, technical college or two-year community college, or an undergraduate degree program at an accredited four-year college or university. Read more here: http://www.foundation.phccweb.org/Scholarships/ASScholarship.htm

The Chassell, Michigan chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is offering a $500 Purple Heart Scholarship for Purple Heart recipients or their family members.

While $250,000 in scholarships are given out nationally (every year), this is only the second time that the Chassell chapter has participated.

Anyone who has received a Purple Heart or is a lineal descendant of a recipient can visit www.purpleheart.org and click on the scholarship link for application guidelines.

There’s a new scholarship being offered to high school students in Mt. Pleasant, MD.

The Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club is offering two $1,500-scholarships to students who have been accepted into a trade school, college or any other qualifying post-high school program of study.

There are two awards offered – including one to a 2008 high school grad (and another to a current college student) – are restricted to Linganore and Walkersville High School districts. Applications can be picked up in the guidance offices at both schools and are due April 21. Call 301-898-7951 for more info. Winners will be announced in May.

Mr. James Moore, Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, on behalf of the Canadian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, today launched the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant in British Columbia and Yukon, at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby.

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant grants $1,000 cash per year to registered apprentices who have finished their first or second year in a designated trade program, on or after January 1, 2007. The program will help apprentices achieve goals by offsetting typical student costs including tuition, travel and tools.

In announcing the grants, Moore said “Our government is committed to creating the best-educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world. The new $1,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Grant will help thousands of young apprentices every year in British Columbia and Yukon succeed and assist businesses that need staff with the right expertise.”

At the announcement, Wayne Hand of the School of Construction and the Environment said, “Skilled tradespeople play an important role in B.C.’s economy and BCIT is proud of its Trades and Apprenticeship Programs’ tradition of excellence. By supporting young apprentices, we help them realize their career goals while ensuring skilled tradespeople are in place for the future.”

Canadian readers can get more information about the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, by visiting http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca or calling 1 866 742 3644 (TTY 1 866 909 9757).

The Pittsburgh Promise — a plan to give scholarships to students in Pittsburgh Public Schools — in 10 years will double the number of graduates who attend college, district officials predict. This program is administered for the sake of high school and is funded in part by organizations such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_546767.html