I found some money for current STEM college students . . .read on or pass to a friend!

This professional organization, and many like it, has an education foundation which sponsors many worthwhile activities and scholarships.  The Armed Forces Communication & Electronics Association has several scholarships still available to currently enrolled college students.  Read more about it here and here.  The following is taken from their website for your information.



The AFCEA Central Maryland Chapter (CMD) is a growing and dynamic, non-profit professional organization for Information Technology professionals. As a Chapter of AFCEA International, AFCEA-CMD serves the military, government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, IT, intelligence, and global security.

Our Chapter strives to be the premier local intelligence association, providing the structure and interactive forum for networking and idea sharing to strengthen the public/private partnership supporting the Intelligence Community. We pride ourselves on helping to foster the Intelligence Community’s future leaders through considerable college scholarship programs.

The Chapter's primary mission is serving our community through raising funds to support merit-based scholarships. Central Maryland has over 1,450 members and serves Baltimore City and five counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard.



http://www.afcea.org/education/scholarships/undergraduate/HBCUScholarship.asp

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Summer STEM Programs . . . curious?

Are you the slight bit interested in math, science, engineering or math? (STEM) Not sure . . .but want to explore? Then check out these opportunities. . .


http://www.glenelghigh.org/Page/240

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Congrats to local student . . . $10,000!

I was very excited to hear about a local student applying and winning a $10,000 scholarship! I encouraged her to share the story with us . . .the beautiful smile on her face was amazing!

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How to Get a Job in the Federal Government . . .help for students

The recruitment of students is high on the list for the government. The process for applying requires patience and perseverance but may yield a rewarding career in the end.

This is a long article but very good information provided if you are trying to navigate the hiring process for the federal government.

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=699&sid=2481545

OPM outlines students' fast track to government jobs

Thursday - 8/4/2011, 5:06pm  ET

By Emily Kopp
Reporter
Federal News Radio

The Office of Personnel Management's proposed regulations for the new Pathways Programs would let agencies bypass the competitive hiring process when recruiting students and recent graduates. Agencies would be able to tap into a pool of young, talented candidates in exchange for complying with certain criteria and monitoring designed to limit the program's scope.
OPM will issue the 82-page proposed rule in tomorrow's Federal Register.
"What the research has shown is that inexperienced workers have a difficult time getting federal jobs through the regular competitive hiring process," said OPM senior policy counsel Rob Shriver in an interview with Federal News Radio. "These programs would be a helpful way for [agencies] to bring entry-level talent into their organizations, try them out either as interns or recent grads and see if there's a good fit."
Shriver called Pathways "simple and streamlined." As outlined in the regulations, there would be three ways for students and new graduates to start federal careers:

• A paid internship program for current students that would replace the existing intern program
• A new two-year program with training and mentorship for people who had graduated within two years from a college, university or vocational school.
• An expanded Presidential Management Fellows Program for advanced degrees students and recent graduates that would fit into the academic calendar.

Successful interns and fellows could continue on to competitive service positions without having to go through the regular hiring process. President Barack Obama signed an executive order in December abolishing the popular Federal Career Internship Program .
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) had sued the government to end the program. It had accused agencies of using it to limit the pool of candidates for jobs and bypass competitive eligibility rules.
Shriver would not comment on the ongoing litigation, but said, "The president's exec order makes clear that [the Pathways programs are] to be used as a supplement to the regular competitive hiring rules and not a substitute for that."
Agencies would have to meet the following criteria under the proposed regulations:

• Transparency: Agencies would post Pathways opportunities on USAJobs.gov.
• Limited scope: OPM plans to monitor agencies' use of the Pathways program to ensure that they continue to use the normal competitive process for most hires. If necessary, OPM would cap the number of people hired under Pathways who could be converted to positions in competitive service.
• Preference for veterans: Eligible veterans still would be at the top of the list of candidates for jobs.
• Oversight: Agencies would have to sign a memorandum of understanding with OPM before using Pathways and would have to report annually to OPM on their usage of the programs.
• Career development: Agencies would have to provide training and career development opportunities aimed at inspiring Pathways participants to continue their careers in government.

In a written statement, NTEU voiced skepticism that the oversight measures would be enough to limit the program. It said it would submit comments during the 60-day public-comment period after reviewing the proposal.
"The new programs have an unfortunate similarity with the FCIP--namely that they would be an exception to competitive service. As such, they must be very narrowly drawn," said NTEU president Colleen Kelley. "Whether these proposed OPM regulations meet that key requirement has yet to be determined."
But at a time when the number of federal employees could decline sharply through retirements and budget cuts, the Pathways programs could let agencies match quickly young, motivated candidates to open positions.
"With the aging federal workforce, it's important for the student population to see and experience the value of public service," said former OPM Director Linda Springer, who currently is executive director of Ernst & Young's government and public sector practice. "If these three programs have addressed the concerns of the unions, then they have the potential to be very effective."
Shriver said OPM expected to issue final regulations early next year. It would issue guidance to agencies on moving their current interns to Pathways so that those interns do not miss out on opportunities during the transition, he said.
RELATED STORIES:
OPM lays new path for intern, hiring programs a>
Three-track system to replace Federal Career Internship Program
NTEU files motion to end internship program


(Copyright 2011 by FederalNewsRadio.com. All Rights Reserved.)

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Look what a simple search can find . . .

I am compiling lists of summer internships in the DC area, and look what I found . . .although some of the dates may have passed, it is valuable information for the future!

Scholarships

High School Scholarships

Army, Navy & Air Force Junior Science & Humanities Symposia (JSHS)

High school students are afforded the opportunity to present the results of their own original research. Scholarships totaling more than $340,000 are awarded by the
Tri-services during the competitions...

Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance (IA) Scholarship Program

Recipients of the DoD IA Scholarship Program are required to serve a period of obligated service in DoD as a civilian employee or a member of one of the armed forces...

International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Each year nearly 1,200 high school students display their research projects at the ISEF. One winner in each of the 14 scientific disciplines receives an $8,000 undergraduate scholarship...

Meyerhoff Scholars Program

Recruits outstanding minority scholars who have demonstrated an aptitude and interest in math, engineering, and the sciences. Meyerhoff scholars receive full scholarships to the University of Maryland...

Scholarships for Military Children

A scholarship funded through contributions is awarded annually. A minimum of one $1,500 scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location where qualified applications are received...

Stokes Educational Scholarship Program

The Stokes Educational Scholarship Program recruits high school seniors interested in developing skills critical to the mission of the National Security Agency (NSA)...

College Scholarships

Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance (IA) Scholarship Program

Recipients of the DoD IA Scholarship Program are required to serve a period of obligated service in DoD as a civilian employee or a member of one of the armed forces...

Stokes Educational Scholarship Program

The Stokes Educational Scholarship Program recruits college sophomores interested in developing skills critical to the mission of the National Security Agency (NSA)...

Graduate Fellowships

Office of Naval Research (ONR) Historically Black Engineering Colleges(HBEC) Future Faculty Fellowship Program

To develop and attract qualified engineering faculty to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with engineering programs. Each year, three recipients who have agreed to join the engineering faculty of an HBCU after receiving their degrees...

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)

Annual awards of approximately 200 new three-year graduate fellowships to individuals who have demonstrated ability and special aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering...

National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC)

Through membership in the National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC), the National Security Administration (NSA) sponsors up to six years of Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) studies for highly qualified women and minorities...

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April Scholarship Bulletin from Glenelg High School

These are examples of local scholarships open to a very specific group of students. (To my friends in Glenelg community . . . get busy!) Be on the lookout for these types of opportunities in your community. Scour your school or county's website; check out the bulletin boards at your library; ask a librarian for help; read through your local newspapers! Many non profit organizations offer scholarships . . time to get searching!


APRIL 2012 SCHOLARSHIPS:
Glenelg High School Student Services

Damien's Recovery Scholarship is a not for profit organization dedicated to raising community awareness of the disease of addiction, especially in young people. This $1,000 scholarship requires an essay. Details and the application are available in Student Services. Deadline is May 4, 2012.

J.T. Smart Friendship Award J.T. Smart was a member of the Class of 2001 who was tragically killed in an automobile accident. This award is given in his memory. Students must be nominated by another student to be considered for this award. A one page essay or less on why a friend of yours should be nominated for this award is needed for a nomination. Submit your essay to Ms. Hirsch in Student Services no later than April 24, 2012. If you have questions see Ms. Miles or Ms.Hirsch.

Columbia-Howard County PFLAG Scholarship for Outstanding LGBT Youth and Their Allies.Two Scholarships for $2,000 each. Deadline: May 1, 2012. Purpose: Recognize outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally students; encourage the pursuit of post-secondary education for self-identified LGBT and allies; and foster a positive image of the LGBT society. Applicants can also go to the pflagmd.org website and search "scholarship" for information and application.

"B. Davis Scholarship"The creators of the "Student Award Search Aid" website are offering a scholarship for 2012. Please visit our website at http://www.studentawardsearch.com/scholarships.htm to read about us and to apply for our scholarship. While you're there, please browse through the rest of the site to learn more about applying for scholarships. Amount of Scholarship: $1,000 The deadline for applications is May 28, 2012 For questions, please feel free to contact us at mailto:awards%40studentawardsearch.com Jason Rumeacher, Director

The Mt. Airy Lions Club is again offering scholarships to seniors of South Carroll, Linganore and Glenelg High School. These scholarships, in the amount of $500 each, will be awarded to four students from each school. They are given to students attending two year colleges or trade schools. To apply, the students must write a letter to the Mount Airy Lions Club, c/o Denny Ahalt, Scholarship Chairman, P.O. Box 53, Mount Airy, MD 21771. In the letter it should be stated why the scholarship is needed, what your course of study will be and how the knowledge learned will be applied when you graduate. All letters of application must be received by May 1, 2012.

Heather Horan Memorial Scholarship Award $1,000 ScholarshipHeather Horan, a 1994 Glenelg Graduate, was an individual with lots of passion and zest for life. She was very active at GHS and her true interests were in Cheerleading and Softball. This scholarship has been established to remember her and her love of life and GHS. It will be awarded to a female student who also has the same characteristics. Financial Need will also be used as a consideration. More details and applications are available in Student Services. Applications must be submitted to Ms. Hirsch in student services no later than April 24, 2012.

The Howard County Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 2000, is pleased to announce they are offering a $500 scholarship for a graduating senior from each of the Howard County public high schools. This scholarship is geared to help the "average" student who displays exceptional qualities and effort rather than being an award for the highest grades or sports aptitude. Any student who has attained a 2.5 grade average in their senior year and a minimum SAT score of 1350 will be welcome to participate by submitting an application. More details and application forms are available in Student Services. Entries shall be postmarked no later than April 27, 2012.

Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship Foundation of Columbia, MD
Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors of the Howard County, MD public school system who have excelled academically and are planning to pursue post-secondary education. At least one memorial scholarship, general scholarship and need based scholarship will be awarded. Completed applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2012. More details and applications are available in Student Services and from Mr. Carey.

The Board of Directors of the Angie M. Houtz Memorial Fund announces the commencement of an annual scholarship. Angie Houtz, a talented and dedicated Navy analyst, worked at the Pentagon and was a victim of the September 11 terrorist attack. This memorial fund was established to honor Angie's devotion to and enthusiasm for education and community service. This scholarship is issued to students enrolled in or attending two or four-year public colleges in Maryland. While the scholarship will only be issued to students attending Maryland public institutions of higher learning, the applicant does not have to be a Maryland resident. It is based on academic achievements and community service. One $3,000 scholarship will be awarded. Download an application at http://www.theangiefund.com/ The scholarship deadline is April 30, 2012.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 10

#10. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. 

In the old volleyball scoring system, points could only be scored by the serving team. My highschool volleyball coach would say, “If you miss your serve then you can’t score points.” She used this to encourage us to practice our serves over and over and over. Since then volleyball rules have changed so that any team can score points no matter which team served the ball. So the saying changed to, “If you miss your serve, the other team scores points.” This was an even bigger incentive to practice serving so that you never made a mistake. And nobody, no matter what sport you play, wants the other team to win just because you made a mistake.

So how does this relate to scholarships? When encouraging others to apply for scholarships, I have heard the excuse countless times--"I won't win the scholarship, so why waste my time applying?” To which my response always is, “If you don’t apply, you definitely won’t win.” You don’t know who the other applicants are; you don’t even know how many applicants there are. You may be a great candidate (or maybe you’re not), but it you never put yourself in the running you’ll never have the chance to even be considered. So when in doubt, just apply for it! Who knows, you could be the winner! The more scholarships you apply for the better your chances of winning one.

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 9

#9. Don't stress out over incoming freshman scholarships. 

Guess what? You can apply and re-apply for scholarships every year of college, not just your freshman year. In fact some scholarships are specifically meant for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. So if you don't get the scholarship you wanted this year, apply for it again. The scholarship that I won from the Hispanic College Fund, the NASA MUST scholarship (a scholarship plus internship at any NASA facility), I didn't win until my second time applying. And by that time, I was a sophomore in college so I had more grades and experiences that I could include in my application. When you apply for scholarships later in college, high school grades and SAT score don't matter as much anymore; some scholarships don’t even request that information. So it’s to your benefit to get good grades and be involved in extracurricular activities while in college since this will boost your scholarship applications in the future.

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 8

#8. Recycle essays, resumes, and letters of recommendation. 

Scholarships can take a lot of time because they require lots paperwork and essay writing. Remember, that you don't have to write a different essay every time. Most scholarships ask the same type of question, "Why do you think you deserve this scholarship?" or “What are your educational and career goals?” Write the essay once, and then adjust slightly depending on the word count limit or to tailor it to the goal of the specific scholarship. The same concept applies to resumes, which many scholarship applications require. Not very good at writing about yourself? I was also uncomfortable writing essays where I essentially had to brag about my accomplishments. So get someone else who knows you well, like your parents, guidance counselor, or close friend, to review your essay and resume with you. They can help make you shine on paper where you wouldn’t have been able to do yourself.

Also, when requesting letters of recommendations from teachers or professors be sure to ask for several copies. Then you can use them for several scholarships where recommendations are required. I even copy my recommendation letters so I can use them whenever the occasion arises. Of course, make sure that you have the teacher’s permission first. And if you win (or lose) a scholarship where you used their recommendation, write them a thank you note. Writing letters of recommendation takes just as much time and effort as it does for you to write your scholarship essay. They will appreciate it!

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 7

#7. Know the difference between merit-based and need-based scholarships. 

This is crucial because surprisingly most scholarships are need-based. In my case, my father had a large income but we also have a very large family and lots of expenses. When I applied for need based scholarships, it was difficult because the FAFSA said my total Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was a lot higher than we really could afford. The FAFSA doesn't tell the whole story of your financial situation. Most scholarships have an open comment section where if there is anything else you want to say, you can write it there. This is a great place to write about your financial need if you haven't done so already, and why the FAFSA doesn't give an accurate value for EFC.

Merit-based scholarships are much harder to win and sometimes harder to find (aside from the very prestigious ones). This is why it is best to go for the smaller local scholarships because they are generally merit-based if you aren't eligible for the need-based ones.

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice for a Scholar: Part 6

#6. Always apply for FAFSA. 

This is the application to receive federal aid based on your family’s adjusted gross income (AGI). The application determines an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) value which is the amount of money that the federal government thinks your family can contribute to your education that year (whether accurate or not). It's important to fill it out every year because schools use it to determine your financial aid packages and other scholarships use it to determine your financial need. I received aid from this sometimes, but as my family's financial situation changed, I didn't receive as much aid anymore.

Is there a trick to getting more financial aid from FAFSA? If you are a student and already have some income from a part-time job etc, consider filing your taxes as an independent. This means that your AGI on your FAFSA application will be much lower, and subsequently so will your EFC. The lower your EFC, the more financial aid you can expect. More on need-based scholarships later.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 5

#5. Apply for a few prestigious "reach" scholarships. 

If you want to apply for the prestigious ones, go for it! But in my experience it's better not to depend on these big money scholarships because they are hard to win. However, just like in the stock exchange, you don't put all your money into one stock, but you have to spread your money into a few different stocks of different industries. It's the same with scholarships. It is always good to apply to a few big scholarships if you have the time, or if the prize is something you really want (many scholarships come with internship requirements, so you have to know that you really want to do it). You might surprise yourself and actually win one. This is what happened with me and SMART. I applied for it because I really wanted it, but knowing that it was a national scholarship and there was a low acceptance rate, I didn't expect too much. But I ended up winning it anyway. Just like it is good to apply to a few "reach" colleges, ones that are hard to get into, it's is also good to apply to some "reach scholarships". You may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome!

Some prestigious scholarships:

SMART http://smart.asee.org

Apple Scholars http://www.apple.com/students/

Coca-Cola Scholars https://www.coca-colascholars.org/

Buick Achievers Scholarship http://www.buickachievers.com/

Davidson Fellows Scholarship http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows/

Gates Millennium Scholars Program http://www.gmsp.org/

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship http://www.act.org/goldwater/index.html

Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program http://www.orau.gov/noaa/HollingsScholarship/

Presidential Scholars http://www.presidentialscholars.org/

Udall Scholarship http://www.udall.gov/OurPrograms/MKUScholarship/MKUScholarship.aspx

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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Scholarship Advice from a Scholar: Part 4

#4. Apply for local scholarships. 

As they say in real estate, "Location! Location! Location!" Don't overlook the small local scholarships. There may be some clubs, organizations, or even small businesses in your community that offer scholarships. I received a scholarship from the MidAtlantic Farm Credit and Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce. These scholarships have a smaller money value, but you are more likely to win them because they usually aren’t highly marketed and they have a very small pool of applicants. Sometimes winning a few smaller scholarships pay off more than one big prestigious scholarship which is very competitive. But these scholarships are harder to find and require some more digging. Ask around, look at your local newspaper, or go to your local library, community center, or high school for help!

Organizations to consider:

-PTA

-Local chapters of the professional societies

-Local restaurants and other businesses

-Chamber of Commerce

-4-H

#4b. Take advantage of your local and state government. 

I received scholarships two years in a row from the Maryland State Delegates. Each district in your state has a delegate and they often offer scholarships. The state senators offer scholarships too. You’ll generally always end up with some money, because delegates like to spread their scholarship fund to as many people as possible. But you have to ask for the scholarship application by phone or email because it isn't readily available online (at least in my case).

Who is your state delegate? Go to your local state government website to find out!

Find your elected Maryland officals: http://mdelect.net/

#4c. Apply for scholarships through your University or College. 

The university that you are attending also offers scholarships and financial aid; most likely they even have an Office of Financial Aid. At the University of Maryland one scholarship application automatically considers you for lots of different awards. Each year I received a scholarship from the School of Engineering at University of Maryland. But you have to be faithful to apply for it every year! And don’t forget to check out your university’s alumni association as well!

UMD Office of Financial Aid http://financialaid.umd.edu/

UMD National Scholarship Office: http://www.scholarships.umd.edu/

UMD Alumni Association: http://alumni.umd.edu/

To see the entire "Scholarship Advice" series, click here.

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