Scholarship Blogosphere

Jefferson Dollars for Scholars in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, has a long tradition of helping local students; and, after Hurricane Katrina struck, the chapter found itself on the front lines for assistance, working with Scholarship America to ensure that their scholarship recipients and all area students could continue pursuing their educational dreams in spite of the tragedy.

The chapter has done much more, too, between providing financial assistance, mentoring students for future success and receiving Scholarship America's Golden Tassel Award (recognizing outstanding Dollars for Scholars chapters) not once but twice. Now, you can find out more about Jefferson Dollars for Scholars in the video below. If you have questions or would like to get in touch with the chapter, drop us an email, and we'll pass it along.


Jefferson Dollars for Scholars from Scholarship America on Vimeo.

Fall River, Massachusetts, is the original home of Scholarship America and Dollars for Scholars; fifty years ago, local optometrist Irving Fradkin started what would become the nation's largest non-profit, private-sector scholarship organization. Last week, the city celebrated, with a luncheon featuring speeches from Dr. Fradkin, Scholarship America board chair Mim Schreck, Fall River mayor Robert Correia and Margot Tyler of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As Dr. Fradkin pointed out: "Democracy rests on three things. Education, education, education. Once upon a time all you needed was a strong back, but now, we need to compete globally."

You can find more wise words from our founder, and high praise from fellow participants, by reading the full story in the Fall River Spirit.

The Fergus Falls (MN) Daily Journal has long been one of many newspapers in the country that actively and frequently publicizes the work of their local Dollars for Scholars chapter, including a series of columns from college freshmen who've won scholarships from Fergus Falls Dollars for Scholars. And, now, the paper is presenting some live-action media, too, on their Videos Page. Click there and scroll down to May 1 to see an interview with chapter president Dave Schneeberger about his work with Dollars for Scholars and the impact the program has on this small central Minnesota town. You can also get to the video directly by clicking here; be forewarned that it'll auto-play, so adjust those speakers before you click.

Scholarship America's President Cliff Stanley visited the Downtown Magnets High School Dollars for Scholars Chapter in Los Angeles while on a trip to California last week. As College Counselor at the high school, Lynda McGee has created an inviting and welcoming area for her college center. Her efforts at the school have been rewarded with a 98 percent college-going rate for a high school population that is primarily Hispanic and low income. The students are pictured in the front row, and in the back row from left to right is President Stanley; Ann Worley, Executive Director CA Dollars for Scholars; and Lynda McGee.

Scholarship America's Northwest Dollars for Scholars region held its Light the Fire for Education event yesterday; as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer mentions, University of Washington president Mark Emmert was honored with the 2008 Community Hero Award, thanks to his work in developing the Husky Promise scholarship program (which provides free tuition to UW for low-income students.)

We'd like to congratulate President Emmert, and Northwest Dollars for Scholars; stay tuned for a full recap of the Light the Fire event.

Of all the ways we've seen to raise money for scholarships, volunteer Leroy Werkhoven of Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars in Washington just might have hit on the most grueling: starting this September, Leroy is hitting the road on his Trek Pilot 2.1 and cycling 3,000 miles from Santa Barbara, CA to St. Augustine, FL ... all to raise money for his local Dollars for Scholars chapter. His goal is to raise $100,000 for his chapter, a pledge of around $30/mile.

You can follow Leroy's training and his journey at his blog, Cycling 4 Scholarships: Leroy Pedals Coast 2 Coast. We'll also be setting up an online donation page; for now, if you'd like to sponsor a mile or two of his trip, you can donate by mail to: Kit Brown, Treasurer,Toppenish-Wapato Dollars for Scholars, 241 Joyce PL., Yakima WA 98908.

Best of luck to Leroy; check his blog -- or back here -- for updates.