Merit-Based Aid
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Begin it now."
Goethe
Genius, power, and magic. Believe it or not, you've got it! We know because you are reading this page! You are beginning a journey, chasing a dream, crossing a bridge...to college!
Now, believe it or not, people have set aside money to help you manifest all that genius, power, and magic. These are merit-based scholarships and there are many. They are given because there is something special about you: athleticism, smarts, talent, being someone who can bring an interesting difference to the student body...
Schools may offer them to you out of the blue because they would like to attract you to their campus. Other groups or individuals have given money because they care about certain skills, goals, gifts, ethnicity, or even types of people. These are scholarships and grants that you have to discover and apply for on your own. But you know how to use the internet!!
Because we love you, we can give you a few suggestions about places to begin searching:
Local Organizations:
Rotary Clubs
Mokihana Club
Kauai Chamber of Commerce
Contractor's Association of Kaua'i
Grove Farm
Kaua'i YWCA
Employers:
Starbucks
MacDonalds
Your parents' employers or yours
Government Organizations (local, state, federal):
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education
(TEACH)
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
Veteran's groups
Aid for military families
Scholarship Search Engines (these do a lot of work for you!):
The College Board's Scholarship Search
Hawai'i Community Foundation Scholarship Search
and their FAQ's
Hawaiian Ancestry
If you are of Hawaiian ancestry, that is a big plus. There are special scholarships set aside for you. Mahalo nui loa, Ke Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop! (And you may be able to apply for those set aside for Native Americans on the mainland, too.)
1. Check your legal birth certificate. If your Hawaiian ancestry is listed there, proceed to 2. If not, you must register your ancestry first.
2. Apply for the post-high school scholarships: Na Ho'okama and 'Imi Na'auao and Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation. The Kamehameha Schools Resource Center manages these and will be happy to help!