What’s “Your Big Idea” about the First Amendment? One high-schooler will win a $2,000 scholarship by sharing their ideas about free speech in an Instagram video.
The SC Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is sponsoring its third annual “Your Big Idea” Scholarship Competition this spring. To enter, students must complete an application and answer one of five prompts about the First Amendment in an Instagram video. The submission deadline has been extended to April 13, 2018 at 5 p.m.
“This is a great opportunity to encourage students to use technology to think critically about their role in society and their rights,” said Julie Moore, YLD iCivics Committee Chair.
The contest is open to all 11th and 12th grade public, private and homeschool students in South Carolina. Students must also plan to enroll in a post-secondary institution for the 2018-2019 or 2019-2020 school year.
This year, teachers who want to give their students a head start on the competition can request a lawyer to visit their classrooms to give a lesson. Additionally, the iCivics Committee has prepared digital resources about free speech for students and teachers who want to get involved.
For the first time ever, more than half of Louisiana’s high school graduates in 2017 were eligible for TOPS scholarships to attend college, according to the state’s Department of Education.
About 52 percent of 2017’s graduates statewide qualified for TOPS, according to a news release from the department. The increase in eligible students marks a gain of 18 percent since 2012, when 16,289 of graduates, or 45 percent, qualified for the scholarship program.
Eligibility is up in each of the four TOPS award categories, both compared with last year and with 2012, the department said.
In a released statement, Louisiana Superintendent John White called rising TOPS eligibility among graduates “another testament to the great work happening in K-12 classrooms across the state to prepare our students for success after high school.”
Number of students eligible for TOPS awards from 2012-2017
Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. made his only trip to New Orleans this season on Friday (March 9), and he wanted to ensure it was a memorable one. After helping the Wizards walk away with a 116-97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, Oubre presented 10 Cohen College Prep high school with $1,000 scholarships, he told The Washington Post.
Oubre, who spent his early years in New Orleans and moved away at age 9 after Hurricane Katrina, awarded the grants to 10 seniors from his father’s alma mater as a way to give back to his hometown. He also made sure to show off his New Orleans roots by wearing the jersey of New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara to the game.
Students at Oliver Wendell Holmes School on Milwaukee’s north side are making new friends – with volunteers from the Milwaukee Urban League and GE Healthcare. Volunteers from both organizations are engaging with students as tutors and mentors and using their expertise to raise student achievement. Milwaukee Public Schools has similar mentor relationships in many schools that provide students with individual attention from caring adults.
The Milwaukee Urban League is growing its relationship with O. W. Holmes and the community by providing a variety of resources for school families. A generous contribution of $15,000 from the Milwaukee Urban League will support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the school as well as family programming. The organization also regularly sends staff to connect families with community resources such as employment, financial literacy, adult education and driver’s license assistance. The Milwaukee Urban League is leveraging its Guild and Young Professionals affinity groups and its relationship with GE Healthcare to send volunteers to the school.
The MPS Department of Business, Community and Family Partnerships is grateful to the Milwaukee Urban League, its Guild and Young Professionals groups, and GE Healthcare for their generous support of O. W. Holmes students and families.
Oliver Wendell Holmes School offers Head Start through 8th grade and is located at 2463 N. Buffum St. Kindergarten enrollment for fall 2018 is open until March 4, 2018. To enroll, visit mpsmke.com or call (414) 475- 8204.
CHICAGO CRUSADER — After School Matters® is now accepting teen applications for its Spring 2018 program session. More than 400 programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM will be offered at nearly 150 Chicago public high schools, as well as Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library and community organization locations throughout the city. Programs will continue to be offered downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and at The Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Teens can search and apply for spring programs online at afterschoolmatters.org. The online application is also available entirely in Spanish.
In total, more than 7,000 paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities will be available to Chicago high school teens this spring through After School Matters. Participating teens will be eligible to earn a stipend of up to $425 (depending on the program level), and interns can earn up to $10.50 per hour.
“After School Matters is committed to providing teens with inspiring and engaging opportunities to explore their interests,” said Mary Ellen Caron, chief executive officer of After School Matters. “Through our programs, teens are able to further develop their passions and expand their skill sets, which we know will help them succeed in college, careers and beyond.”
After School Matters’ unique programs offer teens an opportunity to develop their current skills while incorporating critical 21st Century skills like collaboration, problem solving, social awareness and more. Multiple independent studies and data have confirmed that teens who participate in After School Matters programs have higher Freshmen On-Track rates, improved school-day attendance and higher high school graduation rates than their peers.
A few of the exciting programs offered throughout the city this spring include:
Kelvyn Park Bikes – Sports
Location: Kelvyn Park High School, Hermosa
This program offers teens the opportunity to explore the biking industry. Teens will develop hands-on mechanic skills, organize community events and participate in weekly field trips. Upon successful completion of the program, teens are eligible for summer employment with the Chicago Park District and West Town Bikes.
Museum 44 – STEM
Location: National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, Pullman
Using pop culture, various media and professional mentors, teens will produce a television show in this program. Teens will learn about music production, film production, marketing, promotions and media from industry professionals while working on a film that can improve their communities.
Teatro Americano – Arts
Location: OPEN Center for the Arts, South Lawndale
In this program, teens explore different aspects of theater production and performance including acting, movement, voice, improvisation, writing, marketing, costuming, and stage management. At the conclusion of the program, teens present a full-length play in a professional theater setting.
Teen Arts Council – Arts
Location: University of Chicago Arts Incubator, Washington Park
The Teen Arts Council collaborates with the University of Chicago Arts + Public Life initiative to develop skills in arts administration, community engagement and event planning, while providing opportunities for other teens to engage with the arts. The Council members work with university staff and local partners to develop projects and public events for various audiences.
Territory Urban Design Team – Communications & Leadership
Location: Roosevelt High School, Albany Park
In this program, teens will work in art, architecture, urban planning, entrepreneurship, community organizing and public health. Teens will have the opportunity to research, design and implement ideas to activate public spaces.
Urban Hardball and Softball – Sports
Location: Columbus Park, Austin
Teens in this program will train to become umpires and coaches by learning the rules of baseball and softball and developing their leadership and communication skills. Teens are able to practice what they learn with little league programs.
Windy City Harvest Youth Farm – STEM
Location: Neighborhood Housing Services, North Lawndale
In the Windy City Harvest Youth Farm North Lawndale program, teens learn what it takes to grow healthy food in the urban environment. Participants grow, harvest, sell and cook more than 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables and showcase their work at a community famer’s market.
Teens can search and apply for Spring 2018 programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago teen residents who are at least 14 years of age (16 years of age for internships) and are high school students. As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss their interests. Chicago teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly. Application features include an interactive map to help teens search for programs and a full Spanish translation on a mobile-friendly platform. For questions about programs and applications, call 312-742-4182 or email applications@afterschoolmatters.org. Para mas informaciónen Español llámenos al 312-846-7106 o mándenos un correo electrónico al espanol@afterschoolmatters.org.
PRIDE PUBLISHING GROUP — Award-winning Nashville-based financial services company Advance Financial is accepting applications now through March 30 for its Advancing Education Scholarship program. Scholarships are available to seniors at accredited Tennessee schools who reside in a county served by Advance Financial.
The students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and plan to attend a two- to four-year institution in the United States as an undergraduate.
The $1,000 awards are provided to cover part of the students’ college expenses for the fall semester of their freshman year. Over the past nine years, the company has awarded more than $133,600 in scholarships to graduating seniors in Tennessee through the Advance Financial Foundation.
“There are so many bright young students across the state who have promising futures ahead of them when given the right opportunities to pursue their potential,” said Shantrelle Johnson, VP of corporate citizenship for Advance Financial. “As a company we want to help them get off to a strong start in their academic endeavors. We welcome all students who are working towards higher education to apply for a scholarship, you can help us make this the biggest year yet for our Advancing Education program.”
Applications are judged on academic activities, honors, goals, community involvement and the ability to persevere in life.
To fund the scholarship program, Advance Financial collects donations in all of its stores across Tennessee and matches the donations dollar-for-dollar through the Advance Financial Foundation.
The Advancing Education program is part of Advance Financial’s deep-rooted commitment to education.
The company supports and funds a variety of educational initiatives, focusing on programs that improve the quality of education for preschool, grade school, and high school students, and make college more accessible to high school graduates.
Registration is ongoing for a scholarship that offers Iowa high school seniors a chance to receive one of 30 scholarships worth $2,000 for college while learning important financial literacy skills.
In addition, each recipient’s high school will receive a corresponding $500 award.
High school seniors may register for the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship between now and Feb. 16. Iowa Student Loan® will award $2,000 scholarships to 30 students who complete two online financial literacy tutorials and score highest on a related assessment. Registered students also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness. For more information go here.
OAKLAND POST — Oakland businessman and community leader, Cestra “Ces” Butner, pledged another $500,000 to East Bay College Fund in front of 600 scholars, mentors, and volunteers during the organization’s 2018 Winter Retreat at Oakland Technical High School on January 4th.
With an initial $500,000 pledged last year, the CesTRA Butner Family Foundation has now gifted $1 million in scholarships for Oakland youth. East Bay College Fund will administer the scholarships and provide wraparound support services to help scholars stay on track to earn their college degrees.
As the evening’s keynote speaker, Butner also shared stories from his upbringing, including his parents’ insistence that he complete college, and his learnings as the former owner of Oakland-based Horizon Beverage Company.
“It has been a great year for me. I ended up selling my business and it afforded me an opportunity to fund the CesTRA Butner Family Foundation…dedicated to education and to provide it for Hispanic and black kids in Oakland,” said Butner. “That’s why I’m pleased to announce that I’m prepared to give another half million dollars.”
Diana Chavez, a freshman at UC Davis and one of Butner’s 20 2017 scholars, presented him with an award on behalf of East Bay College Fund and his commitment to equity in education in Oakland.
“Ces is such a role model for Oakland, and most importantly for all the young people who heard his announcement at our retreat,” shared East Bay College Fund’s Executive Director, Diane Dodge. “Ces’ gifts are so meaningful for our students, and what’s even more inspiring is how meaningful it is for him to give back to his community. He really embraces his ability to serve Oakland youth, and I’m honored to partner with him.”
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union (HCFCU) is excited to announce its 2018 Scholarship Program will be accepting applications starting January 2, 2018.
Eight deserving Hawaii Islanders will each receive $2,500, totaling $20,000 given in scholarships, to help support their transition to higher education. HCFCU has provided scholarships to Hawaii Island students for more than 32 years.
Each scholarship is named after an HCFCU volunteer or manager who made important contributions to the organization.
Five of the scholarships — Peter Hirata Scholarship, Albert Akana Scholarship, Katsumasa Tomita Scholarship, Frank Ishii Scholarship, and Mitsugi Inaba scholarship — are awarded to students based on need, academic achievement, career goals, and extracurricular activities.
The John Y. Iwane scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior that meets all the criteria mentioned above with plans to enter an agriculture-related field of study.
The Michael Asam Scholarship will be awarded to a senior who actively participates in an HCFCU sponsored Student Credit Union as a teller or as a Student Credit Union Board member.
The Yasunori Deguchi Scholarship will be awarded to a post-graduate on Hawaii Island, currently attending college or going back to college.
Eligibility Requirements
HCFCU’s Scholarships are open to our Hawaii Island communities. You do not have to be a member of Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union. You must meet at least one of the following requirements to be eligible to apply.
Graduating senior from any Island of Hawaii high school and planning to attend a post-secondary college or four-year college during next school year as a full-time student(post-secondary college, vocational, technical – with a minimum two-year curriculum); or
A posthigh school graduate on Hawaii Island who is either currently attending, or going back to, a post-secondary college or four-year college as a full-time student (post-secondary college, vocational, technical – with a minimum two-year curriculum).
Submission Requirements
The following is required in order to complete your application.
Academic Record
Non-Academic/Extra-Curricular Activities
Career Goals & Educational Plans
Financial Need -Verified EFC signed off by counselor. FAFSA will need to be completed. (not required for post-graduates returning to college)
Interested applicants may fill out an application online at HCFCU’s website, www.hicommfcu.com. The online application streamlines the process and allows the applicants to save their work and complete it at a later date.
Applications and all required information must be received by April 2, 2018 to be considered.
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, federally insured financial institution owned by its 40,000 members. HCFCU’s branches are located in Honokaa, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kealakekua and Kohala, along with Student Credit Unions in Kealakehe, Kohala and Konawaena High Schools. In 2018, HCFCU will open its first-ever branch in East Hawaii in Hilo. In addition to complete checking and savings services,
HCFCU provides service-minded financial professionals to help facilitate mortgage, land, construction, small business, educational, personal and auto loans; drive up tellers; credit and debit cards with rewards; online and mobile banking; investment services and youth programs. HCFCU also supports numerous Hawaii Island non-profit organizations and community events. Membership in Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is open to all Hawaii Island residents.
With the 2017 tax year coming to a close, the Michigan Department of Treasury is asking Michiganders to consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund.
Donations made to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund provide scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university. Awards are paid to the students’ college or university to assist with tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies.
“Approximately 13,000 children are in the Michigan foster care system at any given time,” said Robin Lott, executive director of the Michigan Education Trust (MET). “A growing number of our youth are reaching adult age while in foster care and have no resources to attend college when they age out of the system. This scholarship provides some help with college expenses when no other assistance may be available.”
Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled more than $1.1 million. This was done through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer-based fundraising events.
All of the money raised during the calendar year is distributed annually to scholarship recipients.
The SC Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is sponsoring its third annual “Your Big Idea” Scholarship Competition this spring. To enter, students must complete an application and answer one of five prompts about the First Amendment in an Instagram video. The submission deadline has been extended to April 13, 2018 at 5 p.m.
PRIDE PUBLISHING GROUP — Award-winning Nashville-based financial services company Advance Financial is accepting applications now through March 30 for its Advancing Education Scholarship program. Scholarships are available to seniors at accredited Tennessee schools who reside in a county served by Advance Financial.
Contact: