Scholarships offer students opportunities to pursue their dreams — and help ease financial pressures — by providing funding that covers education-related expenses. Scholarships are awarded based on a wide range of criteria, including academic achievement, need, community involvement, and talent in specific fields like art, music, and athletics. The first step in creating a scholarship program is clearly defining its purpose and establishing eligibility criteria. Once these are established, a comprehensive application process and fair selection methods can be created to identify students who are eligible for the scholarship.
Academic scholarships are given to students who excel academically, often requiring high grades or test scores as part of the criteria. These are often offered by colleges and private organizations.
Leadership scholarships are given to students who demonstrate strong leadership skills through volunteering, membership in student clubs, or community service. They are sometimes offered by national companies or organizations such as Google’s Scholarship for Women in Science and Technology.
Military scholarships are given to students who are children or spouses of members of the U.S. Armed Forces or state-organized militia who died or became disabled in performing their military duties. They are also available to students who have been wounded in active service or in a hostile fire zone and need assistance with their education as a result of their injuries.
Donor-sponsored scholarships are awarded by individuals or groups who wish to support students with different career aspirations, community interests, or unique circumstances. These can be one-time awards or recurring annually. Depending on the donor, these may be referred to as “endowed” or “permanent” scholarships and are usually applied directly to the costs of attendance at the college where the recipient is enrolled.