Your student has applied to their colleges, and the next big thing on your mind as a parent is, “How am I going to pay for college?” This is a big question that I help families with as a college planner and educational consultant. Scholarships are one of the best ways to pay for college because a scholarship is free money you don’t have to pay back.

 

But how do you find scholarships? There are a lot of places to look for scholarships, but the best place to start is looking for local scholarships. In other words, find the scholarships that are only offered to students at the high school or district where your student attends or the town or county in which you live. Why does this matter? Local scholarships are open to a relatively smaller group of students than the scholarships you find on national databases, so you improve your chances of winning!

 

Here in Crystal Lake, IL, and surrounding areas, we have some great options to help students pay for college. I sit on the board for The Crystal Lake Chamber Foundation, the group that raises scholarship money for D155 students, and Marian Central Catholic High School.

 

District 155 consists of Crystal Lake South High School, Crystal Lake Central High School, Prairie Ridge High School, Cary-Grove High School, and Haber Oaks Campus.

 

The Crystal Lake Chamber Foundation has raised scholarship dollars for local students for many years. Each spring, they launch a scholarship application that you can find on their website or that students can pick up in their high school’s College Counselor’s office. They fill out one application to be considered for many scholarships sponsored by local businesses or organizations, typically in the McHenry County area.

 

The 2024 scholarship application is now available! This year, we have 16 total scholarships that range from $250 to $2,500 each. To apply, students are required to fill out an application form, write an essay, submit two letters of recommendation, and submit a resume. The deadline to submit the scholarship to your local high school’s College & Career Advisor is no later than Wednesday, March 20, 2024, by 3:00 pm.

 

These scholarships are only open to high school seniors. If you are reading this as a parent with younger high school students, keep this page bookmarked for the spring of their senior year!

 

I have worked in higher education guidance for over twelve years, and I have always dreamed of sponsoring a scholarship. My dream came true this year, and I’m proud to announce that Conscious College Planning is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship through the Crystal Lake Chamber Foundation!

 

The Align with Your Future Scholarship aims to support students pursuing a two-year or four-year college directly out of high school.

 

I offer this scholarship because I am dedicated to helping students make informed decisions about their education and career paths. The scholarship winner will also receive a complimentary Aptitude Discovery package, which gives them access to the nation’s leading aptitude test through The Highlands Company, for which I am a certified consultant. This aptitude test and personalized coaching sessions help students find their superpowers and align with the majors and careers where they will thrive. This is another way I help students save money on their education because, through aptitude testing, they can save years of trial and error in figuring out what they want to be when they grow up.

 

Another exciting bonus about applying for the Chamber Foundation scholarships is that the scholarship winners will be honored at their high school’s award nights as well as the G.E.M. Luncheon. Students will get a free pass out of class on the luncheon day to attend the event at the Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills, IL.  

 

The G.E.M. Luncheon honors influential people in the community, the businesses that donate money to the scholarship program, and the scholarship recipients. It’s an exclusive ticketed event, and all of the proceeds go towards next year’s scholarship fund! It’s a unique experience for students to attend this event because they are recognized for all the hard work they’ve put into their high school careers and are exposed to top leaders in our community.

 

How to Apply:

 Ready to seize this incredible opportunity? The application process is straightforward and detailed in the Chamber Foundation Scholarship Student Packet 2024. You can access the packet by clicking on the following link: Chamber Foundation Scholarship Student Packet 2024.

 

Don't miss out on your chance to align with a brighter future through the Align with Your Future Scholarship by Conscious College Planning, as well as 15 additional scholarships for high school seniors!

 

Please make sure to download the scholarship packet and review all of the details. Here is a short summary of the requirements:

 

Scholarship Application Form (completed and signed)

Scholarship Essay (300-400 words) 

Two Letters of recommendation (at least 1 from a teacher)

Scholarship Resume (details in scholarship packet)

  

Scholarship Application Tips:

You can help your students by helping them get organized, offering encouragement, and reviewing their essays, but students should always be the ones writing their own application materials.

Scholarship review committees can tell when an adult has written the essay, and it can get them disqualified.

Students should write their scholarship essay from the heart. The essay should be about the student and their personal growth, aspirations, dreams, and/or passions. The Chamber Foundation Scholarship offers three different essay prompts for students to choose from.

 

The essays should be very personal, with lots of specific details and examples to demonstrate your points. This helps the scholarship committee to really get to know you!

 

While I cannot provide services to review or edit your essay or resume on this specific scholarship application, you are welcome to reach out to me if you have general questions or want help on a different scholarship application.

  

Where can I find more scholarships to apply for?

There are several other places where you can look for more scholarships. I highly recommend checking your high school’s website or internal system for their scholarship list. Sometimes you have to email your high school college advisor to ask where to find their scholarship list.

Another great place to look for scholarships local to our area is The Community Foundation for McHenry County. Their scholarship application is currently open, and the deadline is March 15, 2024.

Their application is found on their website and is filled out entirely online. They offer scholarships for students attending schools like Crystal Lake South High School, Woodstock High School, Woodstock North High School, Marian Central Catholic High School, Cary-Grove High School, Trinity Oaks Christian Academy, Wauconda High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and more in McHenry County and District 200. Click here for The Community Foundation for McHenry County scholarships.

 

Get creative when brainstorming scholarships! Contact your church or place of worship to see if they offer scholarships to members. Sometimes colleges offer a church-matching scholarship where they match what your church offers to you! Simply email their financial aid office to check.

 

I hope you learned some great tips about where to find college scholarships and how to apply! If you want support in your college journey, whether you’re in high school or a current college student, you can schedule a free strategy session on the contact tab on my website.