AFS Intercultural Programs (formerly the American Field Service) is a worldwide, nonprofit organization that has been a leader in high school student exchange for 60 years. A new scholarship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State for U.S., is offering 550 full scholarships to U.S. high school students to study abroad and learn languages that most students do not have an opportunity to learn but are rapidly becoming critical to know. Students aged 15 to 18 who wish to apply may visit www.NSLiforyouth.org online, or call (800)-AFS-INFO (237-4636).

Alaska Travel Industry Association Foundation will award more than $20,000 in scholarship money to students pursuing post-secondary degrees and who have demonstrated an interest in tourism careers in Alaska. Interested and eligible students should submit the application form along with a transcript, one-page statement of tourism career plans and two letters of recommendation. The deadline is March 31, with winners announced in May. Forms are available online at www.alaskatia.org.

The American Legion Auxiliary of Homer has scholarships available for graduating seniors and students continuing college or returning to college. Applications are available at area high schools, Kachemak Bay Campus and the American Legion bulletin board on East End Road. There is a March 1 deadline for scholarships currently being offered, with additional offerings to come. For information, call Marilyn at 235-4024 or Darlene at 235-6070.

CIRI Foundation: The CIRI Foundation has announced it is distributing more than 330 scholarship and grant awards totaling $900,000 for the fall 2008 term. The awards include scholarships, career upgrade grants and vocational training grants. Contact the foundation via phone at (800) 764-3382 or (907) 793-3573; e-mail tcf@thecirifoundation.org. Application information, selection criteria and guidelines for these merit-based awards can be seen on the Web at www.thecirifoundation.org.

Homer Electric Association is offering $2,000 scholarship to a graduating senior or adult interested in continuing his or her education. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Feb. 27. Applications are available at HEA offices, Kenai Peninsula schools and colleges and on the HEA Web site, www. homerelectric.com. For more information, call 235-8551.

International Student Exchange Programs is looking for volunteers to serve as area representatives. For more information about the organization or becoming an area representative, call the Western Regional Office at 1-800-733-2773.

K-Bay Marine Corps League Detachment 838 is offering a scholarship to a local high school graduate pursuing further education to an accredited professional or technical school. Applicants must be graduates of a school on the lower Kenai Peninsula, from Ninilchik south, including the communities across Kachemak Bay. The committee will consider students residing in these areas, but whose high school program was based elsewhere, homeschooled, and/or has achieved a GED equivalent. Applications may be picked up from the Homer High School counselor or from the Veterans pull tab store, 200 E. Pioneer Avenue. Completed applications and all attachments must be submitted by March 31. For information, call 235-0545.

KBEA, Kenai Borough Employees Association, scholarshp committee is currently accepting applications for four scholarships of $500 each. The scholarshikps are available to all 2009 graduates of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, including public, private and homeschools. Applications and instructions are available from any high shcool counselor, at the information desk of the borough buiding in Soldotna or at www.borough,kenai.ak.us. Applications must be delivered or postmarked by March 31. Mail or drop off at the Kenai Peninsula Borough, KBEA Scholarship Committee, 144 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669.

USCGC Hickory: The Homer-based Coast Guard cutter is sponsoring a $1,000 scholarshp essay contest for graduating students of the Homer area this year. The scholarship may be usd to any accredited two-year, four-year or trade school within the United States to help defray educational costs for the first year of schooling. The scholarship money will be forwarded to the college, university or trade school of the winner's choice in the winner's nam upon receipt of a copy of the winner's confirmed admission to that school. Scholarship application and essay are due Feb. 26, with the winner announced March 12 and presented at the Mariner Awards Night, May 4. Applicants must be high school seniors or equivalent and must be enrolled or enrolling in a U.S. accredited two-year, four-year or trade school for the fall of 2009. Applicants must write a one- or two-page essay on the importance of lifelong community service and how the applicant's strengths and weaknesses effect the organization(s) with which he or she volunteers. The essay will be judged on creativity, clarity of thought, grammar and spelling.

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