Finding Scholarships Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Scholarships for Teen Parents Written by Robyn Stewarton October 24th, 2021 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, identity-based scholarships, Scholarships are a way to close the gap between the cost of attendance at a college and a family’s own resources. Among the many scholarships that students can apply for are those that are established to support students based upon the ways they define themselves. There is no comprehensive list of identity-based scholarships; professional associations, companies, non-profit entities, religious organizations, political groups, and colleges and universities are among the many sponsors of scholarships that may be awarded in part based upon a student’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or presence of a disability. Bright Horizons College Coach wants to help ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to the resources they need to achieve their educational goals and has therefore launched this monthly scholarship series to help students pinpoint funding opportunities based upon their unique identities. Check out the below resources, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover funding sources that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier. This month, we look at scholarship resources for teen parents. Note that the below list is not exhaustive, but is intended to provide a starting place for teen parents to launch their scholarship searches. Your high school’s counseling office, general scholarship search sites like www.scholarships.com, and college websites can also provide useful scholarship information. Teen Success Inc. Scholarship Program provides educational stipends to facilitate the process of earning a post-secondary education for teen mothers.Young parents in the D.C. Metro area can apply to be Generation Hope Scholars. Scholars receive financial support for college, in addition to mentoring opportunities and wraparound family services.Child care costs are a huge concern for many teen parents. At University of Michigan, eligible students are able to apply for child care subsidies.The Denise Davis Scholarship is administered by the Aurora Public School Foundation. The $500 scholarship provides financial support for teen parents who live in this district. There is a financial need component to receiving the award.Teen parents may be able to take advantage of a Federal Pell Grant or Grant from their home state of residence when looking for additional ways to cover college expenses. As a student who has a dependent child, teen parents are considered independent for federal financial aid purposes. Students should complete the FAFSA. Remember, students are expected to report outside scholarships they receive to their college, and receipt of scholarships may impact other parts of a student’s financial aid award. It is best practice to reach out to the Financial Aid Office at your college for clarification of awarding policies. Best of luck, and please see the awarding organization’s website for full scholarship details and program opportunities. Meet our team of college finance experts, former financial aid officers who know the ins and outs of college financing. Meet The Team Related Resources Read | Posted on April 30th, 2024 Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Scholarships for Asian American Students 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
