Page 12 - Scene Magazine January 2024 4901

BY SHERII SHERBAN
Finding Resources to Make Dreams ComeTrue
Some of you may have been saving up for college since your children, or grand children, were born. But many other families express concern about how they will help their children achieve their continued education dreams.
While many graduating seniors will pursue a college degree, not all students will choose that as their next step. Many are more interested in pursing a trade, entering the military, or even heading straight to the work force. As your stu- dent begins shaping their plans for the future it is helpful to ‘begin with the end in mind’ and to work back from there. Career pathways can be developed for their interests, college or not, with just a bit willingness to be creative.
According to Tim Staffen, Assistant Superintendent, Regional Career & Tech- nical Education, “Our job is to help them find their path and to achieve it. It might mean a lot of problem solving with the students but our goal is to help them get there.” Keeping an open mind is a critical aspect of helping to meet the needs of students. Tim is located at the Calhoun Area Career Center.
We have several months before the school year ends. The school guidance counselor can help your student narrow their path. Now your goal is to find the resources for them to pursue their dream.
If your student is a senior, and their choice is to further their formal
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education, that means the timeline for financial resources is getting shorter by
the day; in many cases deadlines are just weeks away. While it may seem like op- tions are limited, they are in fact, quite vast.
One of the first local deadlines will
be through the Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF). According to Joann Farnham, Executive Director BC CAN, Senior Scholarship Program Officer, “It is Scholarship Season at the Battle Creek Community Foundation. Scholarship applications are open until March 1. There are over 350 different scholarships. By completing one application you will
be put into many scholarships based on what you entered on your Universal Ap- plication and will have additional opportu- nities as well. These scholarships can be used in many different types of education endeavors, traditional college/universities, trades, apprenticeship programs etc. There is something for everyone. But you have to apply to be eligible.”
The deadline for applications is March 1, 2024. Contact the BCCF office at (269) 962-2181 or email scholar- ships@bccfoundation.org for additional information.
Some foundations offer scholarships simply because of where you live, where you went to school, grades, and more. The state also has dollars available for students moving forward with their education.
Local service clubs, such as Kiwanis, have scholarships available as well as local businesses and credit unions. Ask where you do your banking, where you work, or your service club for specifics.
Furthermore, a search at your local library of even online can lead you to scholarships that are available that just might have very unique qualifications that your student is a great match for.
Your student’s college of choice may offer a variety of scholarships based on field of interest, grades, sports, perfor- mance on standardized tests, and more that you may be offered without even applying for them. There will likely be others that need to be applied for. There may also be other financial assistance available. Your school’s financial aid office may be able to help you find schol- arships, grants, or an emergency loan fund that can use to pay for some of the expenses. If you still come up short you may want to consider a private student loan. A private loan with a competitive interest rate is a great supplement to savings, financial aid, and federal stu- dent loans.
Choosing to serve in the military can be a significant opportunity to further an education. Job commitment options offer an education with the promise of working a certain number of years. Other options are based on community needs. Your commitment to a particular organization