MIND AND TALENT

A good listing is in The A's & B's of Academic Scholarships. It describes the 100,000 academic awards offered at 1200 colleges; awards that range in value from $200 to $20,000 per year. Most of these awards, moreover, are not based on financial need.

Do You Have Brains, Leadership, Talent?

Many scholarship opportunities are reserved for young people with unusual talents and abilities. There are two major ways of linking up with these opportunities: through competitions and through recommendations of teachers, coaches, bandmasters.

Art and Photography

The Scholastic Art Awards. Cash, scholarships, other. Grades 7-12. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

Arts (Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Writing)

Up to $300,000 in awards. Also, identification of talented students to colleges who may offer additional awards to prospects. HS seniors or those 17 or 18 years of age by Dec. 1 the year they apply. $35 registration fee. National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts in conjunction with Arts Recognition & Talent Search, 800 Brickell Avenue, #500, Miami, FL 33131. By Oct. 1. (305) 377-1148, (800) 970-ARTS.

Brains

1. National Merit Scholarship Program. Participants take the PSAT/NMSQT (usually in their Jr. year of HS). Finalists are contacted by the Merit program through their HS and compete for 2,000 nonrenewable $2,000 scholarships and 4,700 renewable scholarships (worth from $250 to $2,000+ per year for four years). For more information, obtain PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin from your high school guidance counselor or write the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 1560 Sherman Ave., Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897.

2. National Honor Society. 250 $1,000 scholarships for members of the National Honor Society. Nominations through HS chapter. February deadline.

3. Mensa Scholarships. Awards to $1,000. Based on essay competition. Application from local Mensa group with self-addressed stamped envelope, by January 31.

Citizenship

HS seniors. Entries judged on basis of an application. (1) $1,250 award per Soroptimist region and (1) $2,500 finalist award. Deadline December 15. Contact your local Soroptimist Club or Soroptimist International, 1616 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Make certain to include SASE.

Drama

Thespian Society. Members only scholarships through HS chapter.

General

Request List of National Contests and Activities $4.00, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 22091.

Leadership & Brains

1. Century III Leaders Scholarship Program. $142,000 in scholarships awarded annually. Program announcement placed in high schools in September. Seniors only.

2. Principal's Leadership Award (PLA). 150 $1,000 scholarships. Applications sent to high school principal in October. December deadline. Seniors only.

3. U. S. Senate Youth Program. $2,000 scholarships to student government officers. Selections by state. Nominations by Nov. 1. William Randolph Hearst Foundation, 90 New Montgomery St., #1212, San Francisco, CA 94105. (415) 543-4057.

4. Truman Scholars. $30,000 max. over 4 years. 85 awards. Nominated by colleges in sophomore or junior year. Awards are for junior or senior year plus up to 3 years of graduate school. Solid class standing. Outstanding potential for leadership in the public service. Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, 712 Jackson Place, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Nominations by December 1.

Math, Engineering and Natural Sciences

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Undergraduate scholarships to outstanding college sophomores and juniors who plan to pursue careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences. Tuition, fees, books, room, board, up to $7,000/year for 2 years. Applicants are selected and nominated by their college. Contact your campus faculty representative.

Math, Science and Computer Science

Tandy Technology Scholars. 100 awards of $1,000 each. Final selection based on GPA, SAT/ACT scores, excellence in math, science or computer science, and service to the community. Nominated by HS. For more information, write Tandy Technology Scholars, PO Box 32897, TCU Station, Fort Worth, TX 76129.

Oratory & Essays

Many contests. American Legion, Optimist International, Civitan.

Poetry

The National Library of Poetry awards $12,000 per year to over 250 poets in the North American Open Poetry Contest. Send one original poem to the National Library of Poetry, 11419 Cronridge Drive, PO Box 704, Owings Mills, MD 21117. By June 30.

Political Science

First Nationwide Network Scholarship Program. 32 awards of $1,000 each to college juniors majoring in political science, history, or government. Established to honor John F. Kennedy. Essay and application required. Call First Nationwide Network program manager at 507-931-1682 for more information.

Presidential Scholars

No application. No nomination. Approximately 120 students selected from high scorers on the SAT and ACT. Also 20 students picked for achievement in the arts, as identified by the Arts Recognition & Talent Search (see above). A four-day visit to Washington. A handshake from the President. And $1,000 from the Dodge Foundation.

Science

Westinghouse Science Talent Search. HS seniors may enter the competition by submitting a report on an independent research project in science, math or engineering, along with SAT/ACT scores, transcript and application. $205,000 in scholarships, ranging from $40,000 to $1,000. Deadline is early December. For applications contact Science Service, 1719 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 785-2255.

Sports

In addition to monitoring (and administering) collegiate athletic programs (as described in Chapter 19), the NCAA awards more than $1 million to student-athletes (at Division I, II and III schools) who are pursuing an athletics-related career. Request more information from the NCAA, 6201 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211-2422.

Writing

1. The Scholastic Writing Awards. Cash, scholarships, other. Grades 7-12. Schools should have application materials. If not, write The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

2. Youth Writing Contest. High School seniors. (1) $6,000; (1) $5,000; (1) $4,000; and (5) $1,000 scholarships. Electronic typewriters to the top 25 finishers. Write and submit a first person, 1200 word story about a memorable or moving experience you have had, preferably spiritual. Deadline November 28. GuidePosts, 16 E 34th St., New York, NY 10016.

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