Scholarships from professional associations
Professional associations fund scholarships to bring new people into their fields. Here is where those awards sit, at the national, state and local chapter level, what an association expects from applicants and how its calendar works.
Who runs the awards
Associations of nurses, engineers, accountants, teachers, dietitians, surveyors and many other occupations keep scholarship funds, often through a separate foundation the association created. National awards draw applicants from across the country, while state and local chapters run their own awards for students in their area. A local chapter's award is often posted only on the chapter's own page or announced at its meetings.
Industry groups and trade associations do the same for fields such as construction, transportation, banking and agriculture. Some sponsor awards at technical colleges and community colleges as well as at four-year schools, especially for skilled trades.
What the association expects
Most professional awards ask that you have declared a major in the field, and some ask for a set class standing, such as sophomore year or later. Many require student membership in the association, which usually carries its own dues, and some give credit for attending meetings or conferences. A letter from a faculty member in the department and a statement about your career plans are common parts of the file.
The committee is made up of people working in the field, so they look for a clear sense of where you want to go in the profession. Name the area that interests you, describe a class, project or job that confirmed it and explain what you plan to do next. Specific details carry more weight with practitioners than general praise for the field.
Specific details carry more weight with practitioners than general praise for the field.
Dates and payment
Association deadlines often follow the group's own calendar, with awards announced at an annual conference or a spring meeting. Some invite winners to the conference and present the award there. Payment usually goes to the college, sometimes with a condition that you stay in the major.
Ask your department's office and the student chapter on campus which associations have funded students in your program before. Report each award to the aid office, and keep the association's renewal rules with your records.
Steps to take this week
- Ask your department which associations fund students in your major
- Check the state and local chapters as well as the national group
- Find out whether student membership is required
- Note the association's conference and deadline dates
Who decides
The association's scholarship committee or student chapter adviser
Professional associations fund students already moving into the field, and their local chapters are often the easiest place to start.
