Scholarships and Grants May Mean the Difference When Entering a Degree Program

If you're left handed, a little person or can knit a meancompetition, recognize more traditional skills, such as
wool garment and you have plans to head to college,knitting. Frederick and Mary F. Beckley "Left-Handed"
you might get help paying for tuition. The websites,Scholarship is for Pennsylvania's Juniata College
FinAid.org and scholarships.com, offer free onlinesophomores, juniors and seniors with academic
college scholarship information, including details aboutsuccess, financial needs and a tendency to write with
quirky offerings such as these. From duct tape to ducktheir left hands, FinAid.org and suggest. Scholarships on
calls, there are also contests that can earn studentsthe sites also include the Little People of America
scholarship money for campus and distance learningScholarship for individuals with a medically diagnosed
endeavors, the online college scholarship sites show.form of dwarfism and others with financial needs; and
Scholarships and grants comprise 23 percent of thea Tall Clubs International scholarship for women 5'10"
money families rely on to pay for tuition and feesand taller and men 6'2" and taller who are younger
associated with colleges, universities and technicalthan 21 who are entering their first year of college.
schools, second only to income and savings, accordingStudents ages 14 and older who aren't necessarily
to the results of a Sallie Mae study released in August.stuck on themselves - or the latest designer trends -
To help cover rising college costs at a time whenmight consider dressing in duct tape for the prom... and
economic setbacks affected millions of Americans,a chance at scholarships offered as part of the Duck
families for the 2009-2010 academic year relied onBrand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest that's listed
more money from these sources and others, theon FinAid.org and Contestants, who enter as couples,
study, "How Americans Pay for College," notes.are selected through online votes based on originality,
Families also are working to increase their income andworkmanship, accessories, use of color and amount of
reduce spending, the study reports.duct tape used, the contest website shows.
More than half of all undergraduate students attendThis year, Arizona prom-goers Yancy Esquivel and
four-year colleges and universities where publishedRay Banna earned $3,000 in scholarships each, after
rates for tuition are less than $9,000 according to thesoliciting votes on Facebook and claiming the top prize
College Board. The average amount of financial aidfrom 242 entries. "It's crazy," Banna reportedly told the
provided to undergraduates in 2008-2009 was aboutArizona Republic. "My cousin says if you Google us
$5,000, including loans that have to be repaid andwe're, like, everywhere. I mean we're on Forbes. It's
scholarships and grants that don't, the College Boardcrazy."
website reports. Lesser known scholarshipFinAid.org and are two of many online scholarship
opportunities might provide additional assistance,search providers. FinAid, established in 1994, has won
particularly in instances where rising tuition and feesawards from the College Board, the National
outweigh an institution's financial aid increases.Association of Student Financial Aid Admissions and
Scholarships on FinAid.org and include those thatmore, its website shows. dates back to 1999 and is a
reward unusual talents, such as the Chick and Sophiemember of the National School Providers Association
Major Memorial Scholarship Duck Calling Contestand the National Association for College Admission
where high school seniors have 90 seconds for duckCounseling. The College Board and Sallie Mae also
calls for hailing, feeding, comeback and mating. Others,offer free online scholarship search programs.
such as the National Make it Yourself with Wool