Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Special Edition Newsletter
SCHOLARSHIPS
December 2016. Issue No. 3
NVC EOPS Newsletter
In This Special
Edition
Napa Valley College Scholarship Ceremony
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Who can apply?
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How do I apply
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Important Dates
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Tips for writing a personal statement
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Scams
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Scholarships Search
sites
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2016 recipients
May, 2016
Napa Valley College Scholarship Program
Napa Valley College provides a variety of scholarship to current students. These scholarships are
made possible by the generous donations from the Napa Valley College Foundation and various
individuals, organizations, and businesses.
When are scholarships available?
The application opens each year on the first Monday in December and
closes on the first Tuesday of the following February.
Where do you apply?
http://www.napavalley.edu/studentaffairs/FinancialAid/Scholarships/Pages/default.aspx
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Who can apply for Napa Valley College
Foundation Scholarships?
You must be a current NVC student to apply for the NVC Foundation scholarship and
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Have completed 12 units at NVC by the end of the current Fall semester.
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Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at NVC by the end of the current Fall semester with the exception of The Osher Scholarship which requires 2.0 cumulative GPA.
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Maintain enrollment in 6 units at NVC during the following spring semester, and
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Be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or qualify under AB540 criteria.
The entire NVC scholarship application process takes place online using the AwardSpring
scholarship program. To get to this page first go to the
NVC main web page and click on the A-Z index on the top
right hand corner and then click on “S” and select
“Scholarships”.
We encourage you to first review the “Helpful Tips Before
You Apply” document on the NVC scholarship website to get an understanding of required materials and information. To view this document click on the link on the
left hand side of the Scholarship web page to get to the
“AwardSpring Instructions & Supplemental Forms” PDF).
To apply for scholarships click on the “Apply Now” link to
AwardSpring. Follow the instructions to register as a user.
Once you register, you can sign in and out as many times as you need to complete your application.
Provide the information requested on each section of the application, including basic personal
information and academic information. Your answers are very important and help AwardSpring
match you to the right scholarships.
Be sure to read all answer options before choosing one.
When you get to the Letter of Recommendation section, please read the instructions carefully.
As a reminder, students will need at least one letter of recommendation returned to complete
your application.
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Important Dates
2016—2017 Napa Valley College Scholarship Program
Application Opens: December 5th @ noon
Application deadline: February 8th @ 11:59pm
Letter of recommendation: At least one letter required
Open to all NVC students!
Monday, December 5, 2016
3:30-4:30pm
Room 838
Jessica Bennett-Roberts
The workshop will feature information about scholarship opportunities and a step-by-step overview of the AwardSpring
Online Scholarship application.
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Tips to complete the application NVC form
 READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST and gather any requires materials
before beginning the application in AwardSpring.
 Fill in the application form completely and honestly. Answer all of the
questions. AwardSpring will not let you leave a required questions blank.
 Use proper grammar and capitalization. Typos, blanks, and/or incomplete or inaccurate information may count against you in the review process.
 For “Essay Responses”, be sure to answer or address all of the questions/point that are required for each
question. It is recommended to prepare your answers in Word and save them ahead of time. Then, as you
complete the online application in AwardSpring, you can copy and paste your answers into the application.
 Make sure your current name and any other prior names that you have had, are ALL documents that you
upload/attach to your application.
TIPS FOR WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT AND ANSWERING THE
NVC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONAIRE
Adapted from an article by Susan Hiraki, EOPS Director, Las Positas College
1.
Before beginning the essay, think of your life in a global way. What have been
the accomplishments, crises, obstacles related to your education? Take some notes
and don’t worry about the organization of these random thoughts. Make sure you
begin this process early enough to gather useful information. Talk to your family and
friends about how they view you because they may see your achievements more
clearly than you do.
2.
It is appropriate to talk about personal crises, but your essay should tie these
in to how you overcame them and what this has to do with education. For example,
you may cite an accident that left you disabled. You may want to elaborate on the
recovery process and how it contributed to who you are now and why education has
become more important to you because of this traumatic experience. The reader
should get a sense of your stamina, resilience, creativity, and other personal resources that would lead him/her to believe you could draw on these reserves to be
successful in achieving your goals.
3.
Your essay should have an introduction, middle, and a conclusion. Begin by
introducing yourself and what you intend to say, the middle should, in a more comprehensive form, reflect what your introduction said you would discuss; and the conclusion should sum up all the information in a logical progression. You could decide
to write your introduction last so that it can be truly specific in its purpose.
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
4.
It is not necessary to use long and complicated
words. If you do, make sure you are using them appropriately and with the correct spelling. It is more effective to use ordinary words in clear statements.
5.
Marcus Mesta
When you begin writing your essay, do not worry
about using all the correct words and phrases because
this may block your thinking and writing. Take a deep
breath and let yourself feel the freedom of your own
ability to express yourself. Keep writing without stopping to search for “just the right word” and skip over anything that doesn’t come to you readily. Don’t worry
about spelling, content, or correct English usage as it
will keep you from saying some important things about
yourself.
6.
After you have written a first draft, go back over
it to be sure that you have responded to the prompt or the instructions. Make
a good case for why you are unique and how your experiences will help you
with your college education. Four-year schools expect you to be mature
enough to extrapolate lessons from experiences. What unique contributions
will you make as a student and as an alumnus? It would be a good idea to
answer this question in your entire short answer questionnaire regardless of
where you apply because it indicates vision and self esteem.
7.
When you are ready to write your final draft, go back to numbers 2
through 7. Check for spelling, grammar, and logical, linear thought progression. Does everything in the conclusion relate to your educational goals?
8.
Again, do this exercise early enough so that you will have time to write
the essay, as well as time for other people to proof it and offer you some
feedback.
9.
If this feels overwhelming, go back to number 5 and take a deep
breath. Remember, the subject matter is you, and you are the greatest authority on this topic. Write from your heart, and worry about all the intellectual
concerns when you are working on the finished product.
Andrea Ramirez
Cassidy Nolan, Maricel Ignacio,
Patti Morgan, Larrese Gooden
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Fast Web
www.fastweb.com
Peterson's
www.petersons.com/resources/finance.html
GoodCall Scholarship Search Engine
http://www.goodcall.com/scholarships
Scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com
CollegeNet's Database
www.collegenet.com
Sallie Mae College Answer
www.collegeanswer.com
BankingSense.com
http://www.bankingsense.com/college-scholarships-grants-guide-where-to-apply/
Schoolsoup.com
http://schoolsoup.com/scholarship-directory
Scholarship News
www.free-4u.com
Gateway to Free Scholarship Searches
www.college-scholarships.com
Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways
www.fedmoney.org
National Academy of American Scholars
www.naas.org
Golden State Scholarshare College Saving Trust
www.scholarshare.com
EduPass! For International Students
www.edupass.org/finaid
IES Abroad
http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/scholarships
Study Abroad
2016 NVC Scholarship Ceremony
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship
www.chicanalatina.org/scholarship.html
Point Foundation Scholarship Program
www.pointfoundation.org/point-apply/apply-now/
The Mexican American Dream Scholarship
http://cofem.org/programs/scholarships.html
Napa County Hispanic Network
www.napacountyhispanicnetwork.com
PG&E Scholarship Opportunities
www.pge.com/en/about/community/education/ ergscholarships/index.page
Migrant Students Scholarship List
http://migrant.net/migrant/scholarships/index.htm
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
www.hsf.net
MALDEF’s DREAM Act Student Activist Scholarship
www.maldef.org/leadership/scholarships
Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC)
www.e4fc.org
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Tips For An Effective Scholarship Search
The first key to an effective college scholarship search is to
start immediately. Some of the scholarships that you'll qualify for
may take some time to process and you want to start sooner rather
than later. Whether you're looking for a scholarship that's tied to a
particular school, an individual major, a religious affiliation or an
obscure medical condition, there's likely to be huge competition
for those scholarship dollars. Getting your foot in the door early
will definitely provide you with an advantage.
Next, you should really think outside the box when it comes to
your scholarship search. Consider your family, lifestyle, interests,
hobbies, medical status, religion, college major and more when
looking for potential scholarship activities. Your parent was in the
Vietnam War? There is a scholarship for that. Diagnosed with diabetes in middle school? Yes, a college scholarship for that as well. The first in your family
to attend college? They have scholarship opportunities for that too. Really take time to
brainstorm, and consider asking for your parents' input. You family background can qualify
you for a plethora of college scholarships.
You should also look for scholarships that speak to your career goals and/or your major.
This is particularly true if you plan to use your college level education to enter an underserved field or in an unusual manner. A few examples are a horticulture major that plans to
study daylilies, an education major who would like to teach middle school social studies
and a psychology major who intends to research suicide trends. Many professional organizations will have scholarship opportunities as well, such as the Delta Zeta Sorority or the
National Organization of Italian-American Women.
Don't overlook non-online college scholarship opportunities. Look in your own community and ask around to see who is providing college tuition assistance in your area. This
may include your father's employer, the factory you worked at one summer or the local
chamber of commerce. You can, in fact, be your very own scholarship tracker.
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/tips/tips-for-an-effective-scholarship-search.php
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Common Scholarship Application Mistakes
Missing deadlines
Failing to proofread the application
Failing to follow directions, especially regarding essay
length and number of recommendations
Omitting required information
Applying for an award when you qualify
Failing to apply for an award for which you are eligible
Writing a boring essay
Writing an essay that may offend the reviewer
Including exaggerations or lies on your application
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Do not apply for any scholarship (s) or sign up with any websites
requesting money for information, services or to receive an application.
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You have to pay fee.
Money-Back Guarantee.
Requires Credit Card or Bank Account Information.
Offers Exclusive Information.
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Phony Scholarship-promises cash if you pay a registration fee.
Phony Scholarship-Matching services-pay a fee and they guarantee you will win awards.
Phony Educational Loan-Pay a fee and receive a low interest rate.
Do not give out personal information like bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers.
Never invest more than a postage stamp to get information about scholarships or to apply for one.
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
2016 Napa Valley College
Scholarship Ceremony
Johnalyn Souza
Nancy Bocanegra
Robin Rowe
Linda Acevedo
Ciera Maravilla
Stephany Herrera
Linda Acevedo
EOPS Students
May 2016
Iris Dunkle & Diana Hurtado
Alexander Tavizon
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Juan Alonso
Alejandra Soto
Tzitziki Hernadez
Celya Villante & Son
Larrese Gooden
Gerard Perez & Roella Pineda
Daniela Gamez
Mathew Beatty
Rachel Crook
Fall 2016. Issue No. 3
Financial Aid/EOPS
2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy.
Room 1132
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 256-7300
[email protected]
www.napavalley.edu/EOPS
PLACE
SAMP
HERE