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 offers two $500 scholarships for graduating high school students with a B or C grade point average who plan to attend a state accredited college, university or vocational or technical school. Deadline to apply is April 15. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with the auxiliary or the American Legion. See guidance counselors or the American Legion Post for applications. 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.

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.

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