Scholarships are available to students pursuing college and career training, but you usually have to apply for scholarships separately and in addition to completing an application for other kinds of financial aid. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.

Each year, seniors can apply for scholarships offered by local businesses and organizations with a single application. The application is typically available by December and due by the Friday before Spring Break.

There are many benefits for applying for local scholarships.

• You may be awarded several scholarships with just a single application.

• You are competing for scholarships with only a small number of local students, rather than students from the entire state or country.

• Local businesses and organizations are eager to support local students in pursuing their post-high school plans and want to give you money to reach your goals!

Carefully review the scholarship application packet for requirements, essay prompts, and formatting guidelines. Complete your application with all required components and submit it by the Friday before Spring Break. Your application will be screened and submitted to the committees for all of the scholarships you qualify for. Scholarship Awards are announced at an event at the end of the year, just before graduation.

Your completed application must include:

• Cover page. See application packet for formatting and content guidelines.

• Two 500-word essays. 500 words is approximately one single-spaced page. See application instructions for essay prompts.

• An academic resume that includes your activities, community service, work experience, and awards and recognition.

• An unsealed copy of your transcript that includes the first semester of your senior year. Request your transcript from the registrar.

• Three letters of recommendation. These letters should include one from someone at school, one from a community member, and a third from either school staff or a community member. Your letters of recommendation cannot be from someone in your family.

• Your anticipated budget and expenses for the program you're applying for. College websites typically show a breakdown of the cost of attendance which includes tuition, fees, books and materials, room and board, and other living expenses. If the program you're applying for outlines only tuition and materials costs, be sure to factor in housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses to demonstrate your true projected expenses.

You may also include:

• SAT or ACT scores. Most colleges don't require these scores for admission, but you can share these scores with the local scholarship committees if you'd like.

• Rotary Scholarship essay. See the application packet for details.

• The Student Aid Index (SAI) number you receive when you complete the FAFSA or WASFA. This number can help demonstrate your financial need.

Washington State has generous scholarship opportunities for students who live in Washington and plan to attend a college or career training program or apprenticeship in Washington.

The Baccalaureate Scholarship is available to students with financial need who plan to pursue a Bachelor's degree in an approved STEM or health care major at an eligible Washington State institution. You can start your degree at a community college and transfer to a four-year college to complete it.

The application opens each year in January and is due by the end of February. You must complete FAFSA or WASFA as part of the application process. You could be awarded up to $22,500 over four years.

The Career and Technical Scholarship is available to students with financial need who intend to pursue an Associate's degree, certificate, or apprenticeship in STEM, health care, or the trades from a community or technical college or approved apprenticeship sponsor.

The application opens twice a year in Fall and Winter/Spring. The application for students beginning programs in the Fall typically opens in March and is due by the end of April. You must complete FAFSA or WASFA as part of the application process. You could be awarded up to $1500 per quarter.

Eligible College Bound students who meet certain requirements get free public college tuition, or an equivalent amount for an approved private college or career school. You must complete FAFSA or WASFA and attend a participating college in Washington.

If you qualified for Free and Reduced Lunch in 7th or 8th grade, or were newly eligible in 9th grade, or were in foster care at any time after middle school, you should have been automatically enrolled in the College Bound program. To be eligible to receive College Bound funds, you must:

• Graduate from a Washington high school or homeschool program. You must have a GPA of 2.0 or greater if you plan to attend a four-year institution. There is no GPA requirement if you plan to attend a community or technical college.

• Complete FAFSA or WASFA.

• Enroll in an eligible college of your choice within one year of graduating from high school.

• Meet family income eligibility requirements.

If you're not sure whether you are enrolled in the College Bound program, ask College and Career Center staff. For more information, visit the College Bound program website and check out the playlist below.

• Institutional Scholarships. The two- or four-year college or training program you're applying to may have additional scholarships available through their charitable foundation or other funding sources. Be sure to check out the scholarship page -- usually a page within the financial aid section of their website -- for eligibility requirements and deadlines. And remember that you can apply for scholarships every year to help you cover the cost of attendance as you progress through your program.

• TheWashBoard.org is a database designed to connect you to scholarships awarded by local, state, and national organizations and businesses. Create a profile and the database will suggest scholarships to apply for.

• ScholarshipJunkies.org is a scholarship search engine designed to help you find scholarships that you might be eligible for. Use the search filters to narrow results based on your specific characteristics. For example, if you are the first in your family to attend college, you can filter to find scholarships intended for First Generation Students.

• Scholarship List compiled by College and Career Center staff at Hockinson High School.

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