By Tammie Stewart, Community Outreach Manager, Center for Talent Development
As community outreach manager, I connect with parents and educators and introduce them to valuable opportunities for academic enrichment. Last year, I authored a blog on Talent Talk highlighting awards, fellowships and scholarships for high-achieving students. Students who don’t qualify for financial support may be eligible for merit-based scholarships. Due to the popularity of the post, I’d like to share an updated and extended list of the opportunities:
| Scholarships | Description | Time Frame |
| The Council for Exceptional Children Yes I Can Awards | Awards honoring children and youth with exceptionalities who shine; winners receive two-nights of hotel accommodations to attend the awards ceremony and participate in a special field trip in San Diego | Nominations for 2014 due Oct. 31; look out for this opportunity in fall 2015! |
| Wisconsin School Counselor Association High School Scholarship Program | Four $1,000 scholarships awarded to high school seniors in Wisconsin and will be attending a post-secondary education program during the 2015-2016 school year | Applications due Nov. 1 |
| National Center for Women & IT Award for Aspirations in Computing | Young women in high school can apply; National award winners are selected from across the country and the Wisconsin Affiliate award winners are selected from within Wisconsin | Application open now through Nov. 2 |
| The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship | Supports high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s top colleges and universities | Applications due Nov. 4 |
| Scholastic Art & Writing Awards | Students in grades 7-12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing. Public, private, parochial, or home-school students in the US, Canada, or American schools abroad are eligible. Awards range from $500 to $10,000. | Deadlines range from Dec. 15 – Jan. 15 and vary by region |
| Thiel Fellowship | Awarded to 20 entrepreneurs under 20 years old | Applications due Jan. 15 |
| Davidson Institute for Talent Development Fellows Scholarships | Awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 to extraordinary young people (18 and under) who have completed a significant piece of work | Application open Nov. 3 through Feb.11 |
| The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program | Gives high-achieving students with financial need the guidance and resources necessary for them to excel during high school, college, and beyond; students apply in grade 7 | Application will be open mid-January through mid-March 2015 |
| Google Science Fair | Online competition open to students ages 13-18 around the globe | Application reopens in Feb. 2015 |
| Institute for Educational Advancement Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship | Provided by the Institute for Educational Advancement; Scholars receive a four-year high school scholarship that covers day student tuition or an approved alternative educational program | Look out for application information in spring 2015 |
| Illinois Association for Gifted Children Carol Morreale Scholarship | $1000 award for a student in grades 1-8 with demonstrated excellence in language arts and/or mathematics; financial need is a consideration | Look out for application information in late summer 2015 |
For Parents and Educators There are also a number of scholarships available to the educators, administrators and parents who work with high-achieving students, including those posted on these websites:
We would love for our readers to share any additional opportunities you may know of for young scholars and their educators in the comments section below. Center for Talent Development is proud to celebrate the achievements of our students and educators during our annual NUMATS Award Ceremony, and we’re always glad to share more opportunities to support teachers and students. I hope these opportunities will provide motivated students with options that will lead to an even brighter future!
If you are the parent or teacher of an academically gifted child from a family experiencing financial need, feel free to contact me directly for guidance and additional information on the Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars and College Scholarship Programs (JKC). You can e-mail me at tammie-stewart@northwestern.edu or call 847/491-7127 to learn more.
