Scholarships for the home schooled?

College Scholarships & Grants for Home-Schooled Students

• Answer:

  Approximately 2 million children from kindergarten through 12th grade studied at home rather than in traditional private and public schools as of 2009, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. These students receive state-recognized diplomas upon graduation and have the opportunity to attend a traditional college or university. Home-schooled students who choose to pursue a college education can benefit from grants and scholarships. Given on regional and national levels, these awards help students manage the cost of post-secondary education. Kalani Consulting Inc Scholarship Essay Contest A private company based in Springfield, Virginia, Kalani Consulting Inc sponsors an annual scholarship open to home-schooled students in the state of Virginia. Students who will be entering college as freshmen during the next academic year are eligible for consideration as well as siblings of home-schooled students who are in their sophomore or junior year of college. In addition, students' parents must be members of the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers. An essay determines the winner of the competition. The first place winner of the scholarship essay contest wins a scholarship, which in 2011 was for $1,000. Other prizes, like laptop computers, are typically awarded to runners-up. Home School Nation Best Of Student Profile Scholarship Operated by LMP Publishing LLC in Norman, Oklahoma, Home School Nation is an Internet website designed to help home-schooled students search and apply for colleges. Home-schooled students anywhere in the United States who register for the free website are eligible for the site's Best Of Student Profile Scholarships. Upon signing up for the site, students complete a profile that details their career goals, academic performance and history and other information. The site administrators select finalists based on originality and creativity and then allow users of the site to vote for their favorite profiles. Winners receive cash scholarships, which totaled $1,000 for 2011. Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. Scholarships Based in Littleton, Colorado, Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. is a publisher of educational materials and courses of study that combine academics and Christian education for home-schooled students. Each year, the company grants college scholarships to home schoolers who plan to enter college as freshmen during the next academic year. To be eligible, students must have completed at least five Sonlight academic home-school programs during their elementary and secondary school careers. The company grants two types of awards: one for academic excellence and one for creativity and community service. For the 2011-12 college year, awards ranged from $1,000 to $5,000. Scholarship winners receive the cash award once each academic year for four years, provided they maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA). Arizona Families for Home Education A charitable organization for home-school families in the state of Arizona, the Arizona Families for Home Education has a scholarship committee that grant awards for home-schooled students who reside in the state. To be eligible, students must have completed at least three years of high school at home. Their families must also have membership in the Arizona Families for Home Education. The scholarship committee considers students' academic performance, leadership abilities, letters of recommendation and volunteer and extracurricular activities when selecting winners. Both one-year and multi-year scholarships are given. Amounts of the awards vary; as of 2011, the minimum amount was $500.