Scholarships

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 State Employee Association/Kachemak Bay Chapter is offering a scholarship in the amount of $750 to a graduating senior from the Kachemak Bay area. This scholarship is available to a senior that wants to further his or her education at an accredited college, university or technical school. The deadline for submitting the application is May 11. For information or scholarship applications, contact your school counsleor or Carla Milburn, 235-8191 or 235-1733.

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, with support from Wells Fargo Bank, is offering a $500 scholarship to high school students on the lower Kenai Peninsula, Anchor Point south. The scholarship is intended to aid a student with a strong academic background and an interest in natural science. To get an aplication, call 235-6667 or e-mail info@akcoastalstudies.org. Homer High School students can obtain applications from the guidance conselor. Mail applicatoins to P.O. Box 2225, Homer, AK 99603 or drop it off at CACS, 708 Smoky Bay Way. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. April 24.

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 Chamber of Commerce will award one $1,000 scholarship to a graduating stu dent of the greater Homer area planning to attend Kenai Peninsula College. Applications will be available April 1 at area high school guidance counselor's offices, at the chamber at 201 Sterling Highway and online at www.homeralaska.org. Consideration will be given for type of education, goals of the applicant, community participation and financial need. A $500 scholarship will be awarded in memory of Brother Asaiah to a graduating student in the Homer area. Deadline to apply for both scholarships is 5 p.m. May 1. For information, call 235-7740.

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.