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It Takes an 'Ohana

Hawaii's Foster Care Resource

Scholarship Opportunities for Youth

Includes the information about the Eddie Aikau Foundation Scholarship Program. The Eddie Aikau Foundation is a charitable organization created to share Eddie Aikau’s life, contributions and accomplishments while promoting education and the advancement of the Hawaiian culture. The Foundation Strives to inspire people to develop a strong sense of pride in themselves, their heritage and their community through Eddie’s remarkable spirit and character.

Eddie Aikau Scholarship Program
The Eddie Aikau Foundation Scholarship Program, established in 2010, seeks to recognize outstanding young people, active in the community, who are making positive, significant differences – often against great odds – to promote the Hawaiian values that are such an important part of the legacy of Eddie Aikau. The scholarships are intended to lessen the financial burdens associated with valuable academic, professional, and job training opportunities.

There will be several awards given in amounts from $1,000.00 to $3,000.00 to help cover tuition, fees and course-related expenses.  The award will be issued directly to the student’s intended institute of continuing education or training.

The Scholarship Application, instructions and qualifications can be found here. APPLICATION MUST BE POSTMARKED BY March 31, 2012.

If you have any questions regarding this Scholarship Program, please send an email to:
Scholarship@eddieaikaufoundation.org.

University of Phoenix First Chance Scholarship

The University of Phoenix has offered 50 scholarships to alumnus of foster care and foster parent the opportunity to earn a college degree under the banner of the University’s First Chance Scholarship program. This degree program is for a Bachelor’s or Master”s Degree. The NFPA has now partnered with the Foster Care Alumni of America to offer these scholarships nationwide. Click here to read more about the scholarship and find out how you can qualify.

Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Scholarship

You are eligible for a Geist Scholarship if your primary residence is in Hawai‘i and you plan to attend a non-profit two- or four- year college, university, or vocational school here or on the mainland.  Verification of foster care status within the State of Hawai‘i is required.  Youth who have been legally adopted or reunited with their birth families before the age of eighteen are not eligible for support under this program.

Applicants must submit applications and materials to be eligible for a full-year scholarship (for enrollment in the Fall and Spring semesters).  For application and more information, click here.

HCF’s Vocational Education Scholarship Program

Vocational Education describes certification or degree programs designed to teach students skills for a specific segment of employment. Programs include (but are not limited to) culinary arts, auto repair, diesel mechanics, cosmetology, computer graphics and assistive medical technology. For more information, go to the HCF Scholarship Application webpage.

Ho’omaka Hou Scholarships

Ho’omaka Hou Scholarships are for students who have turned their lives around after facing difficulties or major crisis in the past. Students must demonstrate financial need and enroll in a degree-seeking or certification program in Hawaii. Applications are accepted year-round but applicants are strongly encouraged to apply no later than March 1 to meet fall semester payment deadlines.

For the scholarships listed above, please call (808) 566-5570 or toll-free (888) 731-3863 for an application, or visit HCF’s website atwww.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.

Other scholarships are available at the following websites:

Casey Family Scholars Scholarship

This program provides scholarships of up to $10,000 a year to young people who spent at least 12 months in foster care and were not subsequently adopted. Scholarship money can be used for college or vocational training. The scholarships are renewable, based on satisfactory progress and financial need. In addition, recipients receive ongoing support through the OFA’s vMentor program. Application deadline is April 1, 2009. See the Orphan Foundation Web site for complete eligibility information and application guidelines at www.orphan.org or call 571-203-0270.

OFA sponsored Scholarships (www.orphan.org)

The OFA/Casey Family Scholars application is available on line atwww.orphan.org between January 1 and March 31 annually.  Awards are generally $1500-$6000 based on a combination of need and merit.   Applicants are eligible if they were in foster care for one year at the time of their 18th birthday or high school graduation and emancipated or will emancipate from the system.  They must be accepted into or enrolled in an accredited post-secondary school and working towards a degree or technical certificate.  They must be under the age of 25 at the time the application closes (March 31 of the year in which they apply).   Certain OFA scholarships are offered to students who are true orphans and can provide both parents’ death certificates.  Some funds are available for adoptees and those in kinship care and under legal guardianship.  Scholarships are renewable for six years or until graduation based on continued academic eligibility.  They are not automatically renewed; students must reapply every year.   Please note that this is a competitive scholarship as OFA receives more applications than can be funded.

 
Scholarship applications must be postmarked by March 31st

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