PERSONAL AFFILIATIONS

Your background, employment record, clubs, associations, religion and nationality may be the key to financial opportunity. Here, as in the previous chapter, you will have to develop a systematic search strategy. The matrix below will help you get started.
Q. Does any job I ever held lead to a financial aid award?
A. Check with the personnel office of your present or former employers.

Q. What about my future career ? Any hope for a scholarship if I become an engineer?
A. Consult Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations for the addresses of the professional associations that match your career interests.

Q. How about my clubs?
A. Check with chapter/club president or faculty adviser.

Q. What about my religious affiliation? Does my denomination sponsor aid awards?
A. See your minister, priest, or rabbi or write to the national organizations sponsored by the denomination. Addresses in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations.

Q. How about my ancestry or my nationality?
A. Write to the organizations serving your ancestry or your nationality. Addresses in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations.

Examples: Jobs You Have Held

Golf Course Caddie
Evans Scholars Foundation. About 200 caddies receive need-based full-tuition scholarships each year. Awards go to students of outstanding personal character who are in the top 25% of their HS class and have caddied for at least 2 years at a WGA member club By Nov. 1. Write Western Golf Association, Evans Scholar Foundation, Golf, IL 60029.

Newspaper Carrier
Thomas Ewing Education Grants for HS seniors who have been Washington Post carriers for at least two years; 36 awards ranging from $1000-$2000. By Jan 31. Other newspapers have similar scholarships for their carriers.

Examples: Clubs

Boy Scouts
Directory of Scholarships and Loan Funds, a free booklet, lists programs open to scouts and former scouts. Send self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Learning for Life, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX 75015.

DECA
Must be member of high school Distributive Education Club of America chapter. Other requirements: financial need; interest in a major in marketing or distribution. Information from chapter advisor.

4-H Clubs & Future Homemakers of America (FHA)
Extensive program for members. 4-H Clubs, for instance, made nearly 300 awards worth $265,000 last year. Contact State Leader (4-H) or State Advisor (FHA).

Examples: Ancestry and Nationality

NSDAR
Scholarship to children of DAR members who are graduating seniors from an accredited high school. $1,000 annually for 4 years with annual transcript review. Outstanding students may renew for up to an additional 4 years. Applications to National Chairman, DAR Scholarship Committee, Mrs. R. J. Seifert, 4692 Cypress Drive, Brunswick, OH 44212. By Feb. 20.

Descendants of Signers of Declaration of Independence
Must provide definitive proof of direct lineal descent to a signer of the Declaration of Independence to the Society's Registrar-General and become a member of the Descendants of the Signers. Applicant must also be a full-time college student. Requests not naming an ancestor signer will not receive a reply. Annual grants total $10,000 to $11,000, averaging $1,500. Before March 15. Contact Mrs. Phillip Kennedy, Chairperson, DSDA, Inc. Scholarship Committee, 417 East Meadow Lane, Pembroke, NH 03275.

Italian
UNICO National, 72 Burroughs Place, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Applicant must reside in community with UNICO chapter. By April 15.

Japanese
Japanese American Citizens League, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115. Apply by March 1. Undergraduate, graduate. Performing arts, creative arts, law, banking, business.

Polish
Grants Office, The Kosciuszko Foundation, 15 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10021-6595. Polish Studies, music, voice, and others. Mainly specialized, graduate and postgrad study awards. Domestic deadline Jan. 15. Exchange program deadline Nov. 15. Summer Session in Poland (March 15 deadline).

Membership Organizations
Chinese-American Foundation, Danish Brotherhood of America, Lithuanian Alliance, Polish Falcons, Daughters of Penelope, Order of AHEPA, Sons of Norway, Sons of Poland, Russian Brotherhood Organization, Many others. Addresses of all these organizations may be found in Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations.

Examples: Denomination

Catholic
The Pro Deo and Pro Patria scholarships. Sixty two awards of $1,500. Father must be member of Knights of Columbus. Must be used at a Catholic college. Application by March 1. Also sponsors other scholarships, fellowships, graduate programs, student loans. Also awards for study in Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico. Contact Director of Scholarship Aid, Knights of Columbus, PO Box 1670, New Haven, CT 06507. Or call, 203-772-2130 x224.

Christian Scientist
Loan program. Range $1,800-$2,500 per academic year. Interest is 3% below prime. Repayment starts six months after graduation. Loans (of up to $1,600 per year) are interest-free to Christian Scientist nurses if they graduate. The Albert Baker Fund, 5 Third St., Suite 717, San Francisco, CA 94103. By July 1.

Jewish
Up to $7,500/year for 2 years. Graduate students preparing for careers in Jewish Community Center work. Write Scholarship Coordinator, JCC Association, 15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010. By Feb. 1.

Lutheran
Aid Association for Lutherans
Two competitive programs (1) All College Scholarship Program which offers 800 renewable and nonrenewable awards each year, value range: $500-$2,000. (2) Vocational-Technical School Scholarship program, 50 renewable awards each year to graduating high school seniors. Value range is $500 per year, up to a maximum of 2 years for full-time study and $250 per year, up to a maximum of 4 years for half-time study. Membership in Aid Association for Lutherans is a must. Apply by Nov. 30 to AAL, Scholarships, 4321 North Ballard Road, Appleton, WI 54919.

One noncompetitive program: AAL Lutheran Campus Scholarship. Membership in AAL a must. Awards made by schools. School list may be obtained from above address. From $200-$1,000/year.

Lutheran Brotherhood
Approximately 600 Member Scholarships (value to $2,000). Must be member of Lutheran Brotherhood. By Jan. 29 to Scholarship & Loan Coordinator, Lutheran Brotherhood, 625 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

Approximately 500 awards (range $800 to $1,500) to Lutheran students who attend Lutheran junior and senior colleges. Selections made by schools. Awardees do not have to be members of Lutheran Brotherhood. Also a Stafford Student Loan Program Lender.

Methodist
Loans and scholarships for US citizens who have been active, full members of the United Methodist Church for at least one year prior to submitting application. More information from your church or Student Loans & Scholarships, The United Methodist Church, Board of Higher Education and Ministry, PO Box 871, Nashville, TN 37202.

Presbyterian
Scholarships from $100 to $2,000. Undergraduate and graduate. Also grants, loans, and special minority awards. Manager, Financial Aid for Studies, Presbyterian Church in the USA, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396.

Return to Special Areas -- Your Affiliations Page

Return to Special Areas Page

Return to Financial Page