Website Makes Scholarship Hunting Easier

Jan. 23, 2012 ~ Scholarships can make the difference between a graduating senior attending college full-time or going part-time. The district's high school counselors and Teaching and Learning Division have gathered hundreds of scholarship forms in one place for easy searching by students and parents.

The site (http://schools.olatheschools.com/buildings/scholarships/) includes a wide variety of scholarships from local organizations to national entities. Criteria range from financial need to the student's area of study. The site is searchable by high school, by academic area, and by the specific name of a scholarship.

A few of the more recent additions are:

• The $500 Spencer Duncan Memorial Scholarship offered by the American Legion Riders Post 153 is named for an Olathe South High School graduate who died while serving in the military.
• The $1,000 Looking Glass Scholarship for graduating seniors with a parent who has a disability or significant health condition.
• The $600 Taiwanese American Community Scholarship for "well-rounded seniors" who submit an essay about their leadership or community experiences.
• The SportQuest Playing with a Purpose Scholarship ranges from $300 to $1,500 for varsity athletes.
• The Olathe Noon Optimist Club offers a $500 scholarship for an essay on how the senior will include the "Purpose of Optimism International" into his or her goals.

Deadlines are commonly in the late winter and early spring, so it's never too early to begin researching scholarship opportunities.