RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, January 12, 2012, Merrick Life
Denenberg presents scholarship know-how at Calhoun
Students are urged to apply for as many scholarships as possible.
Legislator David Denenberg speaks to students at Calhoun High School about college scholarship opportunities.
It may appear that the deck is stacked against students trying to pay for college tuition. The cost of attending even local two-year colleges increases every year, and the recent increases in state university tuitions makes it tougher than ever to afford college tuition. Long Island families are burdened with higher-than-ever school taxes and local cost of living, making it harder to save for college tuition.
Legislator Dave Denenberg, Democrat of Merrick, believes this is because students and their families do not know about several scholarships that are available and how scholarships are geared not only to the A+ students. Yet, about 60% of available scholarships go unclaimed because students do not apply for them.
“You don’t have to be a straight ‘A’ student to win a scholarship,” Mr. Denenberg said. “Most scholarships go to well-rounded students.” Legislator Denenberg seeks to provide information to high school seniors and their parents regarding the numerous scholarship opportunities available to assist with college tuition.
For example, presenting alongside Mr. Denenberg at an event at Calhoun High School last week was Jarrett Plasker a representative from AXA Financial – and also a 2003 graduate of Kennedy High School.
Asking who in the audience has heard of AXA, the students did not know this company. It caters to more of their parents needs with life insurance, financial protection and management. But AXA boasts a Community Achievement Scholarship program that provides anywhere from 6-12 scholarships, based on the number of applicants, to local high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their activities in school, the community or the workplace.
One of AXA’s scholarships is as much as $25,000 (most are $2,000), according to the presentation, and can be reapplied for year after year.
“Students should not be intimidated by regional scholarships,” Mr. Denenberg stated. “A program like AXA will accept 12,000 applications for regional scholarships, but there have been years when they only received 140 applicants. Students headed to college need to apply now. If you wait, it may be too late.”
Mr. Denenberg’s office put together a comprehensive list of scholarships that students can seek. This information is available on the Calhoun High School website (Senior Bulletin 9 on the guidance page), according to Assistant Principal Eric Gomez.
Mr. Gomez also reminded the students in the audience that they have access to Naviance Family Connection through the school’s website, which he said is a great online resource for college information.
