MINORITIES AND WOMEN

Nearly 25% of our nation's colleges and universities have special awards designed to encourage minority enrollment and increase diversity in their student bodies. In fact, there have been veritable bidding wars for the most academically talented minority students (especially those who score above 600 on either part of the SAT) without regard to financial need. There is also assistance from Uncle Sam and private foundations.

Federal Assistance to Minorities

All Minorities
Graduate Fellowship Program. Graduate study in science, mathematics, engineering. Master's level and doctorate. Up to three years of support. Approximately $14,400 per year. By early Nov. Write: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, PO Box 3010, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.

Legal Training for the Disadvantaged. $3 million program prepares students for entry into law school. $6,000 stipend. Also six week summer institutes and help with law school placement. Write Council on Legal Education Opportunity, 1420 N Street., NW, Terrace One, Washington, DC 20005. Between Sept. 1 and Feb. 1.

Minority Access to Research Careers. Biomedical science. Funded through schools with substantial minority student bodies. Undergraduate (3rd year) through graduate level. For school list, write to MARC Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 533 Westbard Ave., Westwood Bldg., Room 950, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Minority Participation in Graduate Education Programs. $6 million program to encourage minority students to pursue graduate education. Funded through 73 colleges. For school list write: Office of Higher Education Program Services, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington DC, 20202

Native Americans

Native American Fellowship Program. Need-based program for eligible Indian students in undergraduate programs in business, engineering, natural resources. Graduate programs in education, law, medicine, psychology, natural resources, business, engineering, clinical psychology. All tuition and stipends. Apply through your tribe. Do not apply to the Washington DC office. By Jan. 1.

Indian Health Service Scholarships. Allied health fields to include pharmacy and nursing. Two programs: 1. Preparatory Scholarship Program. Two years. 2. Health Professions Scholarship Program. Both restricted to American Indian, Alaskan native. Tuition plus stipend. Also, a loan repayment program and extern (student) employment program. Apply to Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Plaza, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20857. By May 1.

Native American Scholarship Fund. Two programs. MESBEC and NALE Programs. (math, engineering, science, business, education, computers). The NALE Program allows Native paraprofessionals in the schools to Return to college and complete undergraduate degrees and/or teaching credentials. Students must be admitted or enrolled in college and be seeking a four year degree. Should have high GPAs and high test scores. Contact 8200 Mountain Road NE #203, Albuquerque, NM 87110. (505) 262-2351.

Private Assistance for Minorities

All Minorities

Accounting. Undergraduate and graduate for enrolled students. Approximately 400 merit and need-based awards. Individual grants up to $5,000. Apply by July 1. Manager, Minority Recruitment, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, By 10036-8775.

Architecture. 20 awards, $500-$2,500. Renewable, up to 3 years. Nomination by guidance counselor, school, professional architect. Nomination deadline is Dec 1. Open to HS seniors and college freshmen. Nomination forms from AIA, Scholarship Program, 1735 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Dental Hygienists. For at least the second year of dental hygiene curriculum. To $1,500. Also $1,000 for student accepted into entry level dental hygiene program in cert. areas. American Dental Hygienists Assoc., Institute for Oral Health, Suite 3400, 444 N. Michigan, Chicago, IL 60611. By May 1.

Dentistry. 20-30 Scholarships of $1,000 for first year in dental school. By May 1 to American Fund for Dental Health, 211 East Chicago Ave., # 820, Chicago, IL 60611.

Engineering. $2 million plus awarded through schools. Schools select. Obtain scholarship guide and list of funded schools from National Action Council of Minorities in Engineering, 3 West 35th Street, New York, 10001-2281.

Engineering. Tuition, fees, stipend of $6,000/academic year. US citizen. Carry full academic load towards a master's degree in engineering. Must intern at a member employer location during summer. Also, $12,000 stipends for students enrolled in Ph.D. programs. National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc., Executive Director, GEM Minorities Fellowships, Box 537, Notre Dame, IN 46556. 219-287-1097. By Dec. 1.

Engineering, Computer Science. AT&T Scholarships. Several programs. Most undergraduate awards pay all expenses. Most graduate awards also pay a stipend. For program descriptions, write AT&T Bell Laboratories, ATTN: University Relations, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733-3030. By Jan. 15. Also, summer employment programs.

General Studies. Minority members of the United Methodist Church (for at least 1 year prior) $100 to $1,000. Contact your church for more information.

General Studies. 1. Student Opportunity Scholarships for Communicant members of the Presbyterian Church, $100-$1,400. By April 1. 2. Native American Education Grant Program for Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos pursuing post-secondary education. $200-$1,500. By June 1. Other scholarships, grants, loans. Manager, Financial Aid for Studies, Presbyterian Church, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202.

Geosciences. 35+ scholarships. Undergrad/grad. Undergrad up to $10,000/yr. Graduate to $4,000/yr. AGI-MPP, American Geological Institute, 4220 King St., Alexandria, VA 22302-1507. By Feb. 1.

Humanities. Tuition plus $10,500 stipend. Up to four years support leading to Ph.D. CIC Pre-doctoral Fellowships Program in Humanities, Kirkwood Hall 111, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. U. S. Citizen. By Jan.1.

Sciences. CIC Pre-doctoral Fellowships Program in the Sciences, Kirkwood Hall 111, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. By Jan.1. Will be funded through eligible institution.

Social Sciences. Tuition plus $10,000 stipend. Up to five years support leading to Ph.D. CIC Pre-doctoral Fellowships Program, Kirkwood 111, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. U.S. Citizen. By Jan.1.

African American
General Studies. National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students. African-American students enter the competition by taking the PSAT/NMSQT ( in their junior year of HS). Finalists compete for 400 nonrenewable $2,000 scholarships, and about 400 renewable awards (worth $250-$2,000 per year). For more information, see your HS guidance counselor or obtain the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201.

Law. Accepted by law school. U.S. Citizen, LSAT, also awards for public interest law. Preferred consideration for need and under 35 years of age. Earl Warren Legal Training Program, 99 Hudson St., Suite 1600, New York, By 10013. By April 1.

Hispanic
Engineering. General Motors/LULAC Scholarship. Thirty $2,000 scholarships to engineering majors with at least a 3.25 GPA. LULAC National Educational Service Centers,, 777 North Capitol St., NE, Suite 305, Washington, DC 20002.

General Studies. LULAC National Scholarship Fund. Students must request scholarship applications from the LULAC council in their community. For list of participating centers, send a SASE to LULAC National Educational Service Centers, 777 North Capitol St., NE, Suite 305, Washington, DC 20002. Currently enrolled students only.

General Studies. Awards to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students with at least fifteen credit hours. SASE to National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, ATTN: Selection Committee, PO Box 728, Novato, CA 94948. Between April 1 and June 15.

General Studies. National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies academically outstanding Hispanic students and furnishes their names to universities to encourage recruitment and financial support. To be eligible, students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their Junior year, identify themselves as being of Hispanic descent, and indicate that they'd like to participate in the program. No monetary awards, but may lead to collegiate awards. Ask your HS counselor for more information, or write: The College Board, National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program, 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20036.

Law. 19 $1,000 scholarships and one $2,000 scholarship to students currently attending law school or to students who will begin law school the upcoming semester.. Write: MALDEF, 634 S. Spring St., 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014. By June 30.

Native American
Graduate Study. Over 400 awards per year. Master's, doctorate and professional level assistance to needy students who are at least 1/4 Native American or enrolled members of federally-recognized tribes. American Indian Graduate Center, 4520 Montgomery Blvd., NE, Suite 1-B, Albuquerque, NM 87109. (505) 881-4584.

Private Aid to Women
A tip to returning women: If you have small children who require care while you attend class, be sure to let the college know. Your student expense budget should then reflect the child care expense. The larger expense budget increases your need and will help you qualify for more aid.

Aerospace Science or Engineering
Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards, $6,000 grants for graduate students. Women only. Zonta International Foundation, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661. By December 1.

Athletics
Complete listing of colleges and universities offering athletic scholarships. Guide is available for $3.00 from Women's Sports Foundation, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, New York, 11554.

Banking and Business
Scholarships for members only. Write to Financial Women International Scholarships, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 1208, Bethesda, MD 20814-3015.

Career
$5 million annually in local, state, and national awards. Apply early in junior year of high school. America's Junior Miss, Dept. DMO, PO Box 2786, Mobile, AL 36652. Awards count as taxable income.

Engineering

1. Society of Women Engineers. Approximately 40 scholarships, value from $1,000 to $4,000. Society of Women Engineers, 120 Wall Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10005.

2. Bell Labs Engineering. 15 Scholarships. All college costs. Recommendations from counselor, teachers, principal. AT&T Bell Laboratories, ATTN: ESP Admin., 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Box 1030, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Jan. 15 deadline. Also, summer programs.

3. BPW Loan Fund for Women in Engineering Studies. $5,000 per year, 7% interest. By April 15. For further information and application forms, send SASE with 2 first class stamps to BPW Foundation, 2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

General
Fellowships and grants for advanced research, graduate study, and community service. Women, US citizen. Application by Nov. 15 for dissertation/postdoc. By Feb. 1 for research and project grants. American Association of University Women, Educational Foundation Fellowships and Grants, PO Box 4030, Iowa City, IA 52243-4030, (319) 337-1716.

Golf

1. Gloria Fecht Memorial Scholarship Fund. $1,500-$2,500 per year academic scholarships for qualified student golfers. Female California residents only. No specific level of golfing skill required. Applications due March 1. Gloria Fecht Memorial Scholarship Fund, 402 W. Arrow Hwy., Suite 10, San Dimas, CA 91773.

2. Women's Western Golf Foundation. Undergraduate scholarships. $8,000 ($2,000/yr.) toward room, board, tuition, fees. Interest in golf is important; golfing ability is not. Selected on basis of academic achievement, financial need, excellence of character. Contact Mrs. Richard Willis, 393 Ramsay Road, Deerfield, IL 60015. By March 1.

Older Women
Four programs, each with its own eligibility requirements. $500 to $2,000. BPW Career Advancement, Avon Foundation Scholarship for Women in Business Studies, New York Life Scholarship for Women in the Health Professions. Wyeth-Ayerst Scholarship for Women in Graduate Medical and Health Business Programs. Apply by April 15. For further information and application forms, send SASE with 2 first class stamps after Oct. 1 to Scholarships, BPW Foundation, 2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202/296-9118.