Dec. 10, 2012
Alexander Nedd
[email protected]
Even though the opportunity to win this year’s record $588 million Powerball jackpot has passed, students still have a chance to split $6 million on campus.
Each year, UCCS is awarded more than $6 million in scholarships. Scholarships available for everyone, no ticket purchase necessary.
No one wants to pay back student loans. With scholarships, students can reduce their debt before graduation.
Students who receive scholarships can reduce the number of hours they work, giving more time for extra activities such as studying, joining athletic clubs on campus and volunteering.
Jennifer Fisher, assistant director for scholarship programs at UCCS, and Danny Torres, scholarship counselor, work to ensure student success and are dedicated to helping students apply for aid.
Beginning Dec. 1, students can access an extensive list of scholarships from their myUCCS portal by clicking on the Scholarship Application link in the student center. Additional scholarships can be accessed at uccs.edu/scholarships.
Many times aid is not dispersed since not many apply for the scholarships, but the number of people applying for a scholarship varies based on what is offered.
For example, the Bruce and Anne Shepard Reach Your Peak Scholarship received 450 applications last year, while zero students applied for the Julie Welsh Memorial Scholarship, a fund for English majors who are single with children.
There is no simple answer for why students do not apply. Fisher and Torres urge students to apply and take advantage of these scholarships, whether need-based or merit.
“There are a number of need-based scholarship programs that are looking for hardworking students who need a little extra boost to make ends meet,” Fisher said.
“A common misconception is that you have to be eligible for a Pell Grant to get need-based scholarships. This is not the case,” Fisher said. “If you were offered a subsidized Stafford loan on your award letter, you have financial need.”
Other options are available for students with average GPAs. UCCS and other programs offer scholarships to students with GPAs starting at 2.5.
Applications vary per scholarship, though most merit-based scholarships are due Feb. 1. Need-based awards are due on March 1, which is also the priority date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can start filling out the FAFSA Jan. 1.
Students cannot win the lottery if they don’t purchase a ticket. Similarly, the UCCS Financial Aid Office hopes students take advantage of these opportunities and file applications.