Finding Scholarships Scholarship Spotlight: Saver’s Scholarship Written by Robyn Stewarton November 14th, 2016 Prior to joining College Coach, I was a financial aid officer at the College of the Holy Cross and an education advisor at two TRIO program locations. I work with the Massachusetts Education Finance Authority (MEFA) to present paying for college workshops to hundreds of families across the state. I'm a graduate of UMass Amherst and have a master in counseling from Northeastern University. Learn More About Robyn scholarship search, scholarships, There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier. A lot of what we do as College Coach educators is debunking myths about the college finance process. Often parents ask if their student will be at a disadvantage for merit aid if the family has been able to save towards college costs. I am happy to inform families about a new scholarship that rewards families who have chosen to save for college. Washington College leads the way with this new kind of scholarship that will match the amount a family pays towards tuition so long as the source of the funds is a 529 College Savings Plan or a Coverdell Education Savings account. Scholarship: Saver’s Scholarship Awarding Organization: Washington College (MD) Amount: Up to $2,500 at Washington College will be matched towards prior year tuition payments. Number of Scholarships Awarded: Varies Eligible Students: Being piloted to students in 2017-2018. Must have made prior tuition payments out of a 529 College Savings Plan or a Coverdell Education Savings Account. Eligible College(s): Washington College (MD) How to Apply: Students must pay a portion of tuition out of a college savings account and must complete the FAFSA. There is no other separate application. Deadline: March 1st Website: http://www.washcoll.edu/offices/student-financial-aid/scholarships/savers-scholarship/ Best of luck, and please see the awarding organization’s website for full scholarship details and requirements. Related Resources Read | Posted on September 20th, 2023 Full-Ride Scholarships: Effective Strategy or Fairy Tale? Read | Posted on August 4th, 2023 Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Scholarships for Hispanic Students Read | Posted on February 16th, 2023 Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Gold Star Children and Families
