Scholarships and Financial Aid DHSHS This version was updated March 15, 2012.

Loans are borrowed money that you must repay, usually with interest. Work Study or Student Employment Programs let you earn money for college in a job on or off campus. Scholarships are free money for college and are usually based on your area of study or merit, such as good grades, special talents, or community service. Financial Aid Terms Grants are money you don’t have to pay back and are usually based on financial need.

These scam-spotting rules are from Don’t pay money to get money. Too good to be true? It probably is. Spend time, not money. Legitimate scholarships are never guaranteed. Feel suspicious? Trust your instinct. Beware of scholarship scams!

Go to the websites shown for more information Or visit the DHSHS Career Center for more information Scholarship Searches

Register with scholarship search websites. The more scholarship applications you submit, the greater your chances of receiving scholarships. Try: Google scholarships for your own situation, such as “Scholarships for Twins” or “Scholarships for Musicians” or “Scholarships for Writers.” Be sure to keep a list of all user names and passwords you use.

DHSHS Scholarship Application When your completed DHSHS scholarship application is received in the Career Center, a scholarship file is made for you. Copies of your application are submitted for you when you fit specific eligibility requirements for GPA, test scores, activities, etc., for local scholarship opportunities.

* An asterisk means an extra form, essay, photograph, or family member’s military Honorable Discharge papers must also be submitted. Many of the Local Scholarship providers accept the DHSHS Scholarship Application. Local Scholarships – page 1

COD Alumni Association in conjunction with Pathways to Success* Desert Healthcare District Healthcare Professionals with Pathways to Success* Coachella Valley Pathways to Success – CVPTS* Coachella Valley Alumnae Panhellenic - CVAP Daughters of the American Revolution, Cahuilla Chapter* Desert Escrow Association* Desert Hot Springs Rotary Desert Hot Springs Women’s Club American Legion, Owen Coffman Post #519* APWA – American Public Works Association* Othel Britton Memorial Scholarship Foundation Reynaldo Carreon, M.D. Foundation* with Pathways to Success California Desert Association of Realtors* California Retired Teachers Association, Division #89 California Women for Agriculture* Walter Clark Legal Group Local Scholarships – page 2

Palm Springs Historical Society Palm Springs Leadership Association - PSLA Palm Springs Teachers Association* - PSTA Palm Springs Lion’s Club Parissa Labbaf Memorial Scholarship SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union UCLA Club of the Desert* USC Trojan League of the Desert* Women Leaders Forum* with Pathways to Success Elks Club* The Gas Company* La Quinta Arts Foundation* Ladies of Mission Lakes NPS Commercial/Taber Family National Charity League* National League of American Pen Women* Navy League Scholarship Fund* Negro Academic Scholarship Fund Paletteers Art Club Palm Springs Art Museum* Local Scholarships – page 3

1.Members of scholarship committees read your application and make their decisions according to their own unique criteria. 2.At some point you may receive an invitation to be interviewed.

ALL applications (college, job, and scholarship) will require time, energy, attention to detail, accuracy, and thought from you.

Coachella Valley Panhellenic Association Female candidates who submit the DHSHS Scholarship Application will be considered if they meet the following requirements: 4.0 GPA, and at least 1000 combined SAT Reading & Math scores. Four finalists were interviewed on March 6.

Scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000 each You must be a US citizen to apply You must have a physical impairment, neurological impairment, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and/or speech-language disorder Application is online at or pick up a paper application in the Career Centerwww.chea-elks.org Applications must be postmarked on or before March 15, 2012 California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc. For Students with Disabilities

Pathways to Success Pathways to Success scholarship applications are due by March 17, 2012 For the online application, go to

California Desert Association of Realtors Students who submit the DHSHS Scholarship Application will be considered. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Finalists will be interviewed in March or April.

Riverside Sheriffs’ Association Four $2,500 awards Applications are only available at Deadline to submit an application is March 31, 2012

La Quinta Visual Arts Scholarship Up to five years of scholarship funding available to students pursuing the visual arts. Student must have applied to college with the intent to take courses in the visual arts. Scholarship may continue into and throughout college. For application, click on applications-now-available/ applications-now-available/ Entries due by April 6, 2012.

National League of American Pen Women A $1,000 scholarship is offered to a student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and who exhibits outstanding creative ability in Writing, Art, Drama, or Music. Student must be highly recommended by a teacher or counselor with first-hand knowledge of her work. Entries due by April 11, 2012.

Pick up a paper application in the Career Center as soon as possible! $1,000 scholarships Apply by April 12, 2012 (OR SOONER) if you are pursuing a career in journalism, or any other media, television writer, screenwriting, music or a related field. PS Women’s Press Club

California Retired Teachers Association Palm Springs Div 89 You will be considered if you submitted the DHSHS Scholarship Application. CRTA will interview finalists for their $1,500 scholarship. Special consideration given to students interested in a teaching career. Scholarship interviews will be held on April 29.

DHS Women’s Club 58 students’ DHSHS Scholarship Applications were submitted on Feb 6, Number of scholarships vary, but the DHS Women’s Club gives as many as they can: $1,000 for students attending 4-year colleges, and $500 for community college. Finalists were interviewed March 12 and 13.

National Charity League Female candidates who submit the DHSHS Scholarship Application will be considered. Finalists will be interviewed, probably in March or April.

Apply for FAFSA after January 1, 2012 Colleges where you have been accepted for admission will give you a financial aid offer to review in the spring Financial Aid & FAFSA

Check your submitted FAFSA online at and open your submitted results. This is your SAR (Student Aid Report) The top 2 or 3 colleges you entered on your FAFSA form will notify you of your financial aid package and details when/if you are accepted

Information you need to fill out FAFSA Your Social Security Number, and your parents’ Social Security Numbers. Date of birth for you and for your parents (month, day, year). Month and year your parents were married, or divorced. Your driver’s license number, if you have one. Your Alien Registration Number, if you are not a U.S. citizen Federal tax information--or tax returns for yourself and for your parents. You can use 2010 tax returns, and update your information after 2011 returns are completed.

Get a PIN Before you start filling out your FAFSA online, get a PIN (personal identification number). Go to Get a PIN for yourself, and ask one of your parents to get one. This lets you sign your FAFSA electronically.

Signed into law in September 2011 Effective for school year Online application will be opened January 2013 to gather FAFSA-like information AB 131 Dream Act

Desert ACLU Scholarship Committee $500 ACLU Scholarship Essay Contest In an essay, students are asked to address the topic: “What Civil Liberties Mean to Me.” Pick up a paper application in the Career Center Deadline March 15, 2012

The Links, Incorporated You must be an African American graduating senior with a GPA of at least 3.3 intending to pursue a degree from a four-year college or university. Visit the DHSHS Career Center for a paper application. Applications due no later than March 29, 2012.

Navy League Scholarship $1,500 You must be a U.S. citizen, and belong to JROTC or are a dependent or direct descendant of an active, reserve, retired, or honorably discharged member of the military service. Download an application online at Due March 15, 2012

The Carolyn Lilley Memorial Art Scholarship $1,000 You must have a minimum of 3.5 GPA You must declare ART as your major for study at a 4-year college or university You must be a U.S. citizen, and belong to JROTC or are a dependent or direct descendant of an active, reserve, retired, or honorably discharged member of the military Download an application online at Due no later than March 15, 2012

Parissa Labbaf Memorial Scholarship Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating DHSHS students Candidates must demonstrate financial need, have excellent grades, and be accepted by a 4-year college to pursue a B.S. or B.A. Visit hot-springs-scholarship-announcement-2/ hot-springs-scholarship-announcement-2/ Winners will be selected from the DHSHS Scholarship Application entries

For a female who is a graduating senior and has been involved in extracurricular activities, community service, and/or paid work experience during high school. Applications due by April 11, Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. The Desert Valley Women’s Club Scholarship $500

For a male or female student who will obtain an education leading to a degree through a course of study related to mining, geology, engineering, or environmental studies. Applications due April 13, 2012, or earlier. Pick up an application in the Career Center. Visit website at Women in Mining California Chapter Scholarship $1,000

UCLA Club of the Desert Scholarships are available to graduating seniors who been accepted and are committed to attend UCLA’s Fall 2012 Freshman Class. Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. It is due by April 15, 2012.

California Table Grape Commission $20,000 scholarship available to graduating senior who plans to study agricultural business, science, technology, or a related field. Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. It is due by April 15, 2012.

Desert Hospitality Accountants’ Association $500 to $1,500 Scholarships are available to graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in Accounting. Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. Deadline April 30, 2012.

Les Dames d’Escoffier International Palm Springs Chapter Scholarship for a female who is planning to pursue a career in the culinary/hospitality/nutrition arts. Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. Applications are due May 1, 2012

$250 to $1,500 Essay Competition for children of full-time or retired public employees. If you are eligible, write an essay that proposes ways to reduce the accident rate among teenagers. Pick up a paper application in the Career Center. Entries are due May 11, 2012

Suggestions for success… Present yourself well. Neatness counts. Check your spelling on everything. Be sure your name is on each page. Submit all requested information, and submit it on time. Be prepared to go to the post office for postage and to mail your own entries.

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