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Scholarships Support Students Breaking Barriers

By U.S. News & World Report

Everyone knows of and applauds efforts to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — fields. But these aren’t the only sectors where roles traditionally are assigned to one gender, and gender isn’t always the barrier in play.

Several organizations recognize that and offer college scholarships to women — and men — who break barriers in the workplace and take on nontraditional roles.

[Find a STEM scholarship for each type of college student.]

Consider that according to the Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Center’s 2015 data, only a little more than 6.5 percent of pilots are women and less than 4 percent of flight engineers are women. Women in Aviation International is trying to change that.

The nonprofit is dedicated to helping women advance in aviation and annually awards multiple scholarships of varying amounts that can be used for colleges, flight schools or aviation education. Over the last two decades, it has presented more than $10 million in scholarships.

Earlier this year, the organization awarded 120 scholarships totaling more than $640,000. The 2018 application cycle opens in July with a Nov. 13 deadline.

Applicants, who must be members of the organization by Nov. 1, may apply for no more than two scholarships and can receive only one. Application requirements include a 500-word essay, letters of recommendation and transcripts. Scholarships are open to both men and women, unless otherwise specified.

Another field where women are underrepresented is construction. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about 8.9 percent of individuals earning a living in construction are women.

The National Association of Women in Construction awards more than $25,000 annually through the NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship Foundation to help change that. Scholarships range in value between $500 and $2,500 and are open to female and male applicants.

[Where to net scholarships for women at all levels of higher education.]

The NAWIC Undergraduate Scholarship is limited to current full-time college students at U.S. schools who have at least one semester left before they earn a bachelor’s or associate degree in a construction-related field. They must also have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. The next application cycle will open this fall.

The organization also awards construction trades scholarships to individuals enrolled in construction-related training programs at community colleges, technical schools and equivalent institutions or that are approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship Training .

Applications will open this fall and are due by Feb. 28, 2018. Some NAWIC local chapters also award scholarships.

The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation offers scholarships to women earning undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture, interior design, architecture, urban or land planning, or environmental design. Applicants must either be California residents or enrolled in a California university. They must also have completed at least 18 units in their major when they apply. Each application cycle opens at the beginning of the year with a mid-April deadline.

Although breaking barriers in some fields are often associated with women, men are also taking on nontraditional roles in other sectors. Nursing, for example, continues to be viewed as a profession predominantly for women.

But Nursing.org wants to help evolve that narrative and offers the Breaking Barriers: Scholarships for Men in Nursing, in addition to other nursing scholarships.. Male applicants for this $500 award must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum 3.5 gpa and be enrolled in an accredited nursing program.

Applications, which must include a 500-1,000-word essay, must be submitted by Aug. 1, and winners will be announced in early September.

[Discover scholarships for nontraditional students.]

According ot the National Education Association, less than 25 percent of teachers at U.S. public schools in 2014 were men, and the number of male teachers in elementary schools is even lower.

Phi Delta Kappa International offers a number of scholarships for educators, including the Kersey/Oglesby Scholarship where preference is given to male students pursuing an elementary education major in the Southeast or Midwest. The 2017 application deadline has passed, but check the website for updates on future application cycles.

Other scholarships support individuals who are breaking barriers that have nothing to do with gender. Generation Google Scholarships, for instance, help underrepresented students pursue computer science degrees in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants must be African-American; Hispanic; American Indian; or Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and must be currently enrolled as an undergrad or graduate student or planning to enroll or already accepted as a full-time student at a university.

Applicants must also demonstrate leadership and a passion for computer science and technology as well as show a strong academic achievements. The scholarships are $10,000 for students attending U.S. colleges and 5,000 Canadian dollars for those attending Canadian colleges.

The application requires transcripts, a letter of reference from a STEM instructor and answers to four essay questions. Check the site in January 2018 for the next application cycle.

Scholarships to study in these fields don’t remove every hurdle students will face, but they certainly give students a good start to pursue their careers with less student loan debt.

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Scholarships Support Students Breaking Barriers originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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