CLEVELAND, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The following story was written by Rick Vonk, president of Key Education Resources. President John F. Kennedy once said, "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation." In many ways, the echoes of Kennedy's words resonate in the spirit of scholarships. Beyond providing a diverse range of students with access to educational opportunities that may not otherwise be available to them, scholarships are driven by the premise that youth holds promise and promise breeds hope. And with the cost of a four-year college averaging $121,468 for private schools and $51,184 for public schools, never has this need to supplement the cost of college -- beyond federal and private student loans -- been more important than it is today. A scholarship for everyone Scholarships are changing the landscape of college campuses across the United States. No longer about rewarding only the highest achievers, today's scholarships are based on a very loose definition of merit that is defined solely by the sponsoring organization or individual. This means that there is a scholarship for everyone, even for graduating girls and boys who are tall (Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship), students with a preoccupation for fire sprinklers (American Fire-Sprinkler Association Scholarship) or couples who like to wear duct tape to their prom (Duck Brand Duct Tape "Stuck at Prom" Scholarship Contest). This begs the question: why? Why are so many organizations and individuals sponsoring scholarships that are not strictly academic based? The answer is simple: because there is value in investing in tomorrow's leaders, employees and customers. Selecting and applying for the right scholarship With so many scholarships to choose from -- there are thousands upon thousands -- selecting the scholarships that are right for a particular student begins with an understanding of what scholarships they qualify for. This begins with research. In addition to consulting with school guidance counselors and financial aid departments at prospective schools, there are a number of scholarship databases on the Internet, including http://www.fastweb.com/ and http://www.scholarships.com/, that provide extensive lists and advanced search engines that can match you with scholarships. Once students begin getting a sense of what scholarships are available to them, then it becomes important to be strategic, both in what scholarships are applied for and the way a student applies for a scholarship. First, it's just not practical to apply for every scholarship -- there's just too little time, regardless of how many scholarships a student may be eligible for. So prioritize. Some things to consider: what is the difficulty of preparation versus potential award amount? What is the deadline for the application? These are important questions to ask when determining what opportunities should be pursued and which should be passed up. The goal is to be as efficient as possible. Second, review and understand the criteria for every scholarship ... then adhere to it. It's surprising how many students apply for scholarships for which they are not qualified. For students to increase their chances of qualifying for more scholarship opportunities, they should consider getting involved in community service and extracurricular activities. Scholarship selection panels favor well-rounded students. Also students should sharpen their writing skills, as essays are often a required component of the application. And, speaking of essays, here are some tips on writing a winning essay: * Answer the question -- Returning to the Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship -- yes, the scholarship for being tall-the essay asks: what does being tall mean to you? While it is always good to have a generic essay or two about "the person who most inspired you and why," and "your future goals and aspirations," students should keep these in the bag when a sponsoring organization is being specific with its request. Tall Clubs International, the organization that sponsors the Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship, really does want to know what being tall means to you. * Tell a story -- Students must remember that they are one of many students applying for a scholarship. This means that panelists are reviewing an eye-blurring number of essays. To stand out, applicants need to give readers a hook. They need to demonstrate wit and humor, or share something personal and touching, because the reader is looking for an essay that tells a unique story and will stick with them as they read through the next five, ten, or fifty essays in their pile. * Get feedback -- Before sealing the envelope and sending an application out in the mail, students should have their parents, teacher and mentors review their essays. Things to look for are a coherent structure, proper grammar, a compelling story and, of course, spelling. Just as important as adhering to the application guidelines and writing a strong essay is being mindful of presentation. Whenever possible and allowed, students should type their responses to questions. If scholarship application guidelines dictate that responses must be handwritten, then students need to take the time and care to write legibly. And don't submit applications with smudges, food stains and wrinkled paper. Accept the scholarship with grace Kennedy said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." Scholarship recipients should not take their awards lightly. It is a great honor to be selected to receive money from an organization or individual with little or no strings attached. So if a student is awarded a scholarship, they should accept it with grace and show proper appreciation. This means sending a handwritten note upon acceptance and providing the organization with updates about their academic progress. More important, it means accepting the gravity of responsibility for translating their hopes and dreams into reality. Because, in the end, earning a scholarship is not so much about the individual receiving the award as it is the promise of what that individual can be and what it means to the school they will attend, the company they will work for and the community they will one day be a part of. SIDEBAR Every scholarship is unique, just as the students who apply for each scholarship are unique. However, there are requirements that are common to each application. Preparing these materials in advance can help students streamline the application process. These components include: * A Cover letter * Recommendation letters (these should be written by a teacher, employer or mentor ... not a friend or family member) * School transcripts * A History of community service and extracurricular activities * Essays While students may not be able to use these across the board, having these pieces of the application in place will allow them to complete more applications in a more efficient manner, which, in the end, increases the possibility of earning more money to help supplement their student loan package. To help you get started, between now and June, 2007, Key Education Resources is offering you the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. For more details, visit https://www.key.com/win5. Key Education Resources, the education financing arm of KeyCorp, is one of the largest education loan providers in the U.S. In business for more than 50 years, Key Education Resources provides federal education loans, private loans, monthly payment plans and education consolidation loans for students and families in K-12, undergraduate, graduate and professional education institutions. DATASOURCE: KeyCorp CONTACT: Jennifer A. Raynor of KeyCorp, +1-216-828-7420, or Web site: https://www.key.com/ https://www.key.com/win5 https://www.key.com/newsroom http://www.fastweb.com/ http://www.scholarships.com/

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