Category: minority scholarships

Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Program Opportunity

The Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Program, (an international study abroad scholarship) rewards those applicants majoring in the (STEM) program.Gilman scholarships.

Gilman Scholarship
Benjamin Gilman Scholarship

The Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Program, (an international study abroad scholarship) which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, rewards those applicants majoring in only a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) program. The main objective of the program is to financially assist US undergraduate students planning to study abroad. The Gilman scholarships are provided to those applicants who are planning to apply or have been accepted into a study abroad program recognized by the student’s accredited institution of higher education in the US. The Gilman international scholarship cycle for summer 2010 is a pilot for the STEM fields. It presents a scholarship opportunity program second to none for college students.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – ECA (http://exchanges.state.gov) works towards enabling mutual understanding between the people of the US and the people of the other countries. This mission is accomplished through nternational education exchange programs with more than 160 countries. ECA has over 1 million program alumni around the world, including more than 40 Nobel Laureates and more than 300 current and former heads of state and government. The total investment done under the international exchange program in 2008 was more than $1.5 billion.

The Gilman scholarship for summer 2010 has been changed to a Pilot for the STEM fields of study. For the year 2010-11, 125 scholarships are to be awarded to the students studying abroad during the summer of 2010. Each study abroad scholarship will be up to $5,000 and the average Gilman scholarship award would be $3,000. The major criteria for application are as below:

  1. Applicant should be receiving or would have been approved to receive the Federal Pell Grant – grant provided for the low-income applicants for education.
  2. Applicant should be attending a program that is recognized in the US.
  3. Minimum 28 days of study in one country (selected countries as per list).

The applications are to be done online either in Oct 2009 or in April 2010. However the date needs to be confirmed on the website. The program’s objective is to assist students from a diverse range of colleges and universities including, but not limited to: two and four-year public and private colleges, Tribal Colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other Minority-Serving Institutions from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It provides scholarship opportunities to those sections and communities of the society that would have not visited any foreign country due to financial constraints. The program encourages diversity and hence one of the selection guideline is the diverse background of the applicant as well.

International education exchange programs allow students from various countries to interact and share information and knowledge with each other. As citizen diplomats, they gain not only knowledge and insight into other countries and cultures but also life-changing personal and professional enrichment. Equally important, by sharing U.S. culture and values with foreign counterparts and audiences they lay a foundation of inter-cultural trust and friendship to last a lifetime. Such scholarship opportunities especially for people from disadvantaged background ensure that the objectives of the exchange program are achieved in the best possible manner and hence this Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Program for international study abroad college students.


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HRSA Scholarship for the Disadvantaged Students

The HRSA Scholarship for the Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program assistance is provided disadvantaged professionals undergoing studies in health & nursing.

HRSA Scholarships
HRSA Scholarships

The HRSA Scholarship for the Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program, launched under the Disadvantage Minority Health Improvement Act is solely to ensure that necessary financial assistance is provided disadvantaged professionals undergoing studies in health and nursing programs. The HRSA Scholarship Program is monitored by the US Department of Health and Human services and has the major objective to make the health and medical studies accessible to disadvantaged students especially the URM (unrepresented minorities). In the year 2008 the total amount distributed for the scholarships for the disadvantaged students (SDS) was nearly $46 million reaching more than 15,000 students. The annual budget focuses on funding health professionals in the region of the country with a shortage in workforce.

The Health Resources and Service Administration, an agency of the US Department of Health and Human services primary responsibility is providing access to health care especially to those communities that need them the most. The organization tackles the challenges related to shortages of and health professionals as well as necessary health infrastructure in the low-income, rural and urban communities. The disadvantaged section of the society would mean – the section with annual income below the limit set under the US Bureau of Census and where the environment provides limited or no opportunity for growth. The individuals are hampered to obtain the skill, knowledge and abilities required to achieve success. The HRSA Scholarship, through the SDS Program, ensures that such disadvantaged communities can access the health education, enroll in and graduate from health professions school and add to the diversity in the health profession as doctors, nurses and others.

The scholarship for disadvantaged students (SDS) program is open for the lawful permanent citizen or resident of the US that belongs to the disadvantaged section. The application for the HRSA scholarship program needs to done online. The funds under this scholarship are awarded to the accredited schools and hence the schools are responsible for selecting the recipients annually. The selection is based on the need and the background verification, and the scholarship amount distributed to individuals would be limited to the total cost of attendance for the program – including tuition fees, educational expenses and living expenses. Hence, for each program at various health education institutes the scholarship for the disadvantaged students (SDS) amount does vary.

A healthy workforce would ensure consistent and sustained growth – the US Department of Health and Human services understands this and hence through the HRSA Scholarship it improves the access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable. The HRSA with annual budget of $7.2 billion for the year 2009 is responsible for this through providing health care facilities, research, maternal & child care & a better health care system. One amongst such initiative is the support provided to the Health professionals by HRSA. The Scholarships for the disadvantaged students (SDS) program serves more than 10,000 health professionals annually ensuring a healthier workforce as well as providing strong healthcare in areas where it may need most.

Morris Udall Scholarship for Native Americans is Unique

Scholarships for Native Americans

The CATCHING THE DREAM (CTD), formerly known as the Native American Scholarship Fund, are Scholarships for Native Americans aimed to provide higher educations.

Scholarships for Native Americans
Scholarships for Native Americans

ABOUT THE AWARD
The CATCHING THE DREAM (CTD), formerly known as the Native American Scholarship Fund, is a set of Scholarships for Native Americans aimed to provide the Native American tribes, organization and community a chance for higher education to grow and succeed in professional life. The aim of the award is to “Prepare Exemplary Students to become Native Scholars”. The Native American scholarships and grants are spread across various fields of study including engineering, business, technology, medical, administration, banking and many more.

There are three different CTD Native American college scholarships which are listed below.

MESBEC Program
This program is the oldest of the CTD programs and is given for the six priority field of study Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, and Education & Computers. These study areas are the priority fields for the tribe and hence the award name is based on the fields. Very few tribal graduates are present in these studies currently. Medical studies are also included in this program.
NALE Program
The Native American Leadership Education (NALE) program is for students who are paraprofessionals and plan to complete their degree in education, counseling or administration. The program aims to have more tribal teachers to lead educational growth.
TBM Program
The Tribal Business Management (TBM) program is to get economic development for the tribes by sponsoring the students to choose business, finance, management, economics, banking, hotel management and related fields.

APPLICATION CRITERIA
All the CTD scholarships for Native American students programs are operated at national level and are available to the Native Americans that are enrolled member of the US tribe. The scholarship requirements for the students are as below:
•Must be ¼ or more degree American Indian
•Currently attending or planning to attend a College or University in the US on full-time basis
•Must have excellent academic record, high ACT or SAT scores, with leadership capabilities and commitment for community
•Must apply for other sources for financial aid including federal financial aid, private scholarships & others
•Need to have clear goals for the future to enhance the quality of life for the tribes

The CTD Scholarships for Native Americans are in the range of $500 to $5,000 per academic year and are awarded based on merit and to the students that are likely to improve the lives of tribal community. The application form is available at the website and is mandatory to be used. The deadline for the Native American Scholarship (CTD Scholarship) application process is as below:
•April 15 for fall
•September 15 for spring
•March 15 for summer

Note – It is mandatory to call/mail the organization at the below address before applying.

Catching the Dream
Attn: Scholarship Affairs Office
8200 Mountain Road NE., Suite 203,
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: (505)262-2351 ext. 116
Email:NScholarsh@aol.com

CLOSURE NOTE
The CTD believes that “Education is the seed that provides spiritual and individual growth” and ensures that the stage is provided to the tribal students to grow individually & help the community also grow. All of the above Native American College Scholarships for the tribes are one such medium to sow the seed.

Morris Udall Scholarship for Native Americans is a Unique Scholarship

The Indian American Scholarship for College by IASF

College Scholarships for American Indians awarded by the IASF (Indian American Scholarship Fund) are a medium to assist high school students with excellent academic credentials for their college education.

Scholarships for American Indians
Scholarships for American Indians

ABOUT THE AWARD
The INDIAN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIPS for college awarded by the IASF (Indian American Scholarship Fund) is a medium to assist high school students with excellent academic credentials for their college education. The IASF provides scholarships for Indian American students based on the merit and financial need. IASF has been set-up by the Indian American Cultural Association (IACA) to promote education for the students of Indian community in Georgia.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The IASF was founded in 1993 by the (IACA) in Atlanta and was registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Georgia with the goal of promoting & sponsoring higher education for the Asian-Indian descent within the state. It supports various INDIAN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP programs ranging from one year Indian scholarships to four year scholarships for the brilliant students from Georgian high schools. Annually it provides financial assistance to the tune of $35,000 through these programs. The organization (IACA) through this fund also provides financial aid to the students based on monetary need & is linked with the merit scholarships. IACA has been working actively since the past 36 years in Atlanta to serve the Indian community through its various initiatives.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Overall there are four (4) major scholarships for American Indians by IASF provided for the scholars that are graduating from the qualified high schools of Georgia. Below are the generic criteria for application.
• Enrollment for 4-year course in any college or university
• Graduate from any Georgia high school
• Excellent academic record (SAT/ACT scores also accounted)
• Financial Need
• Asian Indian origin (At least one grand-parent born in free India)
• Extra-curricular activities and other awards

The INDIAN AMERICAN Scholarship Fund has various awards as below.
• 4-year scholarship (No of winners – 4)
• 2-year scholarship (No of winners – 1)
• 1-year scholarship (No of winners – 8 to 12)
• Best Essay scholarship

The application form and other details can be found at Indian American Scholarship. The completed application form with the necessary attachments/documents needs to be mailed to the below address.

Indian American Scholarship Fund (IASF)
2407 Waterford Cove
Decatur, GA 30033
Queries – email – rajnina@mindspring.com or manocha@bellsouth.net

The deadline for the application changes annually & hence needs to be verified on the site. The IAST committee selects the winners based on the application details and transcripts provided. The ceremony for the Scholarships for American Indians is held annually and the winners are announced during the process.

CLOSURE NOTE
“Honoring Excellence in Education” – the theme for the INDIAN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIPS clearly states the organization (IACA) believes in identifying & motivating the urge for higher education. Rewarding the brilliance of the American Indian scholars and providing them an opportunity to grow & dream for success is the aim. This really is working with the total award amount of scholarships for American Indians reaching the current stage of $35,000 annually compared with the first American Indian Scholarship of $1,500 that the organization awarded in 1993.

Unclaimed and Unknown Native American Scholarships

DAR Indian American Scholarship

NACME has Scholarships for American Indians in Engineering

Bill Gates Minority Scholarships for American Indians