Now more than ever, kids are graduating high school and heading directly into a four-year college. The National Center for Education Statistics found that in fall 2015, about 20 million students are expected to be attending college; a 4.9 million increase over the last 15 years.
The number of those attending college has increased, and unfortunately, so has the cost. Back in the early 80’s, annual tuition and fees for a private college averaged $10,420 and a public college about $2,316. The most recent data on college tuition looks at the 2014-2015 school year, and the differences are quite substantial. Those attending a private college last year paid an average of $31,231 for tuition and fees and public college students typically spent around $9,139 – which translates to an increase of nearly 300%!
National Scholarship Month
All parents want their children to do well, get a good education, and succeed in their chosen careers, but for some, the financial burden of college is simply too much. Thankfully, there are scholarship programs available in the United States as well as need-based government funding available to families who qualify. These programs offer opportunities to those who might not have had any otherwise and pave the way for a brighter future for countless young adults.
With over 20 million kids starting college each year, there are never quite enough scholarships to go around. But there is help. November has been deemed “National Scholarship Month.” This is a time to raise awareness of the need for scholarships and to highlight the stories of those who have been able to change their lives with the financial assistance a grant or scholarship can provide.
For seniors, fall is the ideal to time to begin selecting schools and filling out college applications. In 2008, National Scholarship Month was moved from May to November so that students who are planning on attending college could also use this time to research and apply for scholarships. While not every scholarship can be a full-ride that includes books, tuition, and room and board, any type of financial assistance can make a huge difference in a young student’s life. More scholarships result in less stressed students who can spend more time studying and less time being worried about becoming buried in school loans.
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The Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program
At DeMayo Law Offices, we believe in the people that reside in our communities. We want to support them whenever possible, especially young adults who want to pursue a higher education. That’s why we started the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program.
Founded in 2003, the program seeks to aid local students while simultaneously calling attention to another of the biggest problems plaguing our community: underage drinking and driving. Students who apply for the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program must meet several scholastic requirements and have a passion and conviction to educate their friends, peers, and classmates about the hazards of underage drinking and driving. Additionally, to be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a current high school senior, or a home-schooled senior, attending school in one of the eligible counties.
- Be accepted as a full-time student or plan to pursue full-time education at an accredited four-year university or college.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
To enter, students are required to submit a completed application, a recent photo, high school transcripts (official or unofficial), SAT or ACT scores, two letters of recommendation, and their presentation. Presentations must address either underage drinking and driving or the dangers of drunk driving in general. Students have a lot of options when it comes to creating their presentation and may submit it in the form of a video, PowerPoint, website, brochure, or an essay.
The Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program began with humble roots, offering five $1,000 scholarships to students in Mecklenburg County. Today, each scholarship is $2,500 and is awarded to 15 deserving students from any of the following counties: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Catawba, Union, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Lincoln, Rowan, Caldwell, Stanly, Iredell, Alexander, Burke, Robeson, Scotland, Richmond, Anson, Cumberland, York, Lancaster, Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon.
We typically begin accepting applications in January and winners are usually announced in the month of May. While this may seem like a long time off, remember, your senior year goes fast! Bookmark this page and be sure to check our website for more information regarding the 2016 Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program and learn how you can apply. To learn more, you may also contact our Marketing Director, Josh Madsen, at (877) 333-1000 or email him at jmadsen@demayolaw.com.
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