“Dollars for Scholars” is a scholarship program that provides thousands of dollars in funds each year to students who live or go to school in Des Moines or Normandy Park. This year they are offering 10 scholarships, and strangely, according to WLB Advertiser Vickie Bergquist, to date there have been NO applicants!

The application deadline is Wednesday, April 21st.

Many generous local businesses and organizations donate to this fund to help further education, and we encourage anyone out there needing tuition assistance to at least apply!

Applications are available online at www.scholarsgetdollars.com.

Here’s more info from their website:

What Is Des Moines Dollars for Scholars?
Des Moines Dollars for Scholars is a locally operated and supported, nonprofit, tax-exempt scholarship foundation. Operated by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, the purpose of Dollars for Scholars is to expand access to educational opportunities by involving and assisting our community in the support of students and in the encouragement of educational achievement. Des Moines Dollars for Scholars is a Dollars for Scholars chapter affiliate of Scholarship America®, a nationally recognized nonprofit student aid service organization.

Why Is Dollars for Scholars So Important?
Rising costs are making it more difficult for individuals to pursue continued education opportunities. Through Dollars for Scholars we have the opportunity to make a strong, collective statement about the importance of education beyond high school. We can provide both encouragement and financial support for local students.

Who May Apply for a Scholarship?
Des Moines Dollars for Scholars believes any sincere and determined person should have the opportunity to continue his or her education after graduation. Scholarships can be for two-year, four-year, or vocational and technical colleges. Students graduating from high school (or who have earned their GED) and adults continuing their education who attend school in Des Moines or who live in the cities of Des Moines or Normandy Park, Washington, may be eligible.

How Are Scholarships Awarded?
By completing a common application form, students become eligible for several local awards. Applications are scored anonymously by trained volunteers serving on an Awards Committee. Applicants receive points for a variety of qualities, including work experience, school and community activities, and academic record. In this way, the selection process is objective and nondiscriminatory, making scholarships available to a wide range of deserving students planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution.

How Can I Help?
Members of our community are invited to demonstrate their support of local students individually and through group fund-raising activities. Funds also come from the generous support of local businesses, service organizations, and individuals or organizations who desire to sponsor scholarships through Des Moines Dollars for Scholars. Anyone in the community can help in a variety of ways: Make a contribution. We encourage you to give as generously as you can, but be assured that any and all gifts are appreciated. Your contribution of $10, $100, or $1000 reflects your pride in our students and commitment to the ongoing education of people in our community. Share your time, your skills and your ideas. We invite you to assist with any of our fund-raising events throughout the year. Leave a legacy of hope. Des Moines Dollars for Scholars may be named as a beneficiary in wills and insurance policies or receive gifts of property.

Highline Community College’s 14 Honors Scholars for the 2008-2009 academic year received $624,000 in financial aid and scholarship offers to continue their education, including five students from Des Moines:

• David Ganett
• Nari Kim
• Mang (Jerry) Li
• Kuan-Hung (Eleven) Liu
• Robert Martin
• Tuyet Anh Nguyen
• Jerry Zarski

The Honors Scholar program’s 70 graduates have earned a combined $2.4 million in scholarships and other financial aid since the program began in 2003.

“The 2008-2009 academic year has been a banner year for the Honors Scholar program,” said Barbara Clinton, the program’s adviser. “The entire group of graduates earned about 25 percent more in financial aid and scholarships than last year’s students.”

The program is open to all students who have 12 credits of college-level work with a 3.5 GPA or higher. The program prepares students for upper division courses, typically offered at a four-year university or college.

It has shaped Gates Millennium Scholars, USA Today Academic All-American, Coca Cola Gold Scholar and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship and QuestBridge College Match Scholarship winners.

The 2009 scholars will graduate on June 11 and include Boreth (Terry) Long, a national Guistwhite Scholar winner.

The White Center resident was one of the 20 students across the nation who won the honor, a $5,000 scholarship for academic achievement, community service and participation in the national honor society for two-year colleges, Phi Theta Kappa.

Long emigrated from Cambodia to the United States four years ago and has found success in Highline’s Honors Scholar program.

“The program inspired and motivated me to do more in my classes than what was expected,” Long said. “I’ve learned so much and I am confident I will be successful when I transfer to a university.”

He plans on attending the University of Washington in fall 2009 and will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Highline.

In addition, he has maintained a 3.87 GPA while working as a math tutor in Highline’s Math Resource Center and organizing the Fundraising to Make a Difference Club, a group that has helped raise about $500 each quarter to support children’s education and to fight trafficking of women in Cambodia.

In June 2009 he received one of the college’s top awards – the Shirley B. Gordon Academic Excellence Award – a $1,500 scholarship named in honor of Highline’s former president.

“The Honors Scholar program is a must for everyone who comes to Highline,” Long said. “It is a privilege to be part of such a program.”

This year’s 13 other Honors Scholars, by city, are:

• Des Moines: David Ganett, Nari Kim, Mang (Jerry) Li, Kuan-Hung (Eleven) Liu, Robert Martin, Tuyet Anh Nguyen, Jerry Zarski
• Auburn: Tierney Kuhn, Katherine S. Tacke
• Burien: Jennifer Anne Kemp
• Federal Way: Lei Lam (Selina) Chan
• Renton: Ashley L. Matsumoto
• Milton: Rikki-Rachelle Hinz

For more information about Highline’s Honors Scholar program and to read more success stories, visit http://flightline.highline.edu/honors/.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 10,000 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, online and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and even Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here website.

Story by Janet Grella • Photos by Michael Brunk

Click to View Slideshow

In an awards ceremony at Des Moines Yacht Club Wednesday night (May 28th), 20 scholarships were awarded to local area students. There were 19-$500 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship.

Des Moines Dollars for Scholars is a locally operated and supported, non-profit, tax-exempt scholarship foundation. Operated by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, the purpose of Dollars for Scholars is to expand access to educational opportunities by involving and assisting the community in the support of students and in the encouragement of educational achievement.

“We don’t hear enough about the good things that kids do,” said Des Moines City Manager Tony Piasecki in his closing remarks.

Since its inception, “D4S” has awarded 80 scholarships in the area for a total of $60,000!