Helping Women Achieve College Dreams

by Sandra Sims February 2006 Imagine interviewing for your dream job, everything is going great until you hear that without a college degree the job may go to someone else.  Even more often, a resume from a candidate without an applicable education gets tossed aside.

Many job seekers are learning more and more the value of a college education in today’s workforce.  The number and quality of jobs available for college graduates is much greater.  Jobs requiring a college degree often provide higher salary and benefits. 

Business & Professional Women (BPW) is an organization that is committed to helping women advance their careers through education. This national organization offers scholarships on the national, state and local club level. 

Wichita Falls BPW has a tradition of supporting the women in our area by offering college scholarships.  Each year scholarships are awarded in the spring for students who will be attending school the following fall semester.

While there are many scholarships available for high school seniors, the emphasis of our scholarship program is for older students.  The minimum age for scholarship applicants is 21 and the program requires that students be currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning and be a US Citizen.

In years past Wichita Falls BPW has been able to help women from a variety of backgrounds achieve their dreams of a college education.  The scholarship is open to dedicated students working toward degrees in any discipline and at any level, from community college to graduate school. 

Scholarship Committee Chairperson Melodie Berry notes, “BPW’s mission is to provide support and encouragement for women as they pursue their career goals.  The scholarship fits right in with this aim by helping women further their education.”

The amount of the scholarships vary each year, but as many college students know, every dollar counts when it comes to paying for college expenses.  Often times the award also acts like a vote of confidence that helps the student in more ways than just financial.

Past scholarship award winner Mitzi Lewis said, "The BPW scholarship could not have come at better time for me. It allowed me to continue my education without interruption and learn things that helped me to better serve other college students both then and now.  I am grateful to the support I received from BPW - the fact that the scholarship committee showed their faith and confidence in me gave me strength and determination to continue my education, even when obstacles presented themselves."

Each year BPW puts one or more fundraisers to support the scholarship program.  This year our club is planning a “Trivia Night” event where participants compete in teams of 2 in order to try to claim the title of “Trivia King or Queen.”  Several great prizes will be awarded to those teams with the best scores.  The event is planned for March 31^st at Ruby Tequila’s restaurant

President Keli McCord said, “I’m really exited about the Trivia Night.  It will be a great evening with a fun game and great food.  We welcome anyone who’d like to come join us.” 

More information is available online about BPW scholarships and the Trivia Night event.

Top 5 Tips for Scholarship Seekers

by Sandra Sims

When I was 18 and getting ready to go to college I was totally clueless about the cost of a college education. I'd saved up about $1,200 from part time jobs, and when I wrote the check for my freshman tuition that depleted my savings account, my heart just sank.

By the luck of the draw, and a kind guidance counselor, I received a small scholarship from our local Lion's Club. I hoped to land other scholarships but the guidebooks didn't seem to have ones that I qualified for. So I turned to the financial aid system, student loans and help from my parents to finance my college education.

Since then I have become much more aware about the many scholarship opportunities available for students. And after working hard to complete my degree I also learned the value of persistence! Students who persistently pursue college scholarship opportunities are more likely to be more successful than I was at getting scholarship money.

1. Go Online - Today college students have one distinct advantage over those of us who were living in the "dark days" before the internet arrived. Now so much information about college scholarships is available online at sites such as FastWeb.org and CollegeFinancialAidGuide.com that it has become much easier to find college scholarship information.

2. College Offices - Visit your school's scholarship, financial aid or admissions office to get information about scholarships sponsored by the college you attend or plan to apply to. Check the college website to see what opportunities are listed, but don't stop there. Laura Peterson, Coordinator of University Scholarships at MSU comments, "Each department has its own scholarships, so students should check with the office of their major."

3. Scholarship Books - Printed scholarship directories are the traditional way to find college scholarships. Now you can even find books that will help make the college financing process simple. In the book How to Go to College Almost for Free Ben Kaplan helps explode scholarship myths and show you exactly how to get the most funding for school. Reading these books can help students and parents learn how to get more aid for college.

4. Capitalize on Your Interests - Students who participate in school clubs, do volunteer work, or pursue hobbies such as golf or music have an added advantage when it comes to getting college scholarships. Talk to the leaders of the organizations you participate in about possible scholarships and conduct additional research online for scholarships related to your interests.

5. Contact Employers - Oftentimes employers offer tuition reimbursement or scholarships. This aid could come from the employer of one of the parents or the student. Sometimes even part-time employment offers some kind of tuition assistance. By exploring all of the options available students and their families can successfully find money for college.

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