Make a financial plan. Using this form, list the costs of where you would like to go to college. Then in the opposite column, list any help you are going to expect to receive - savings account, job, other scholarships, etc. The difference between the two columns will tell you how much you are going to need for each year.

Get organized. Whatever type of scholarship you are applying for will ask you for basic information (parent’s income, FAFSA information, etc.) so have it ready. If the college you pick requires test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.) make sure you take those tests early enough in the year to receive your scores in time to meet college deadlines.

What day is it? As you research scholarships make sure to keep a timeline of when things are due. You probably have a lot going on during senior year but you do not want to miss a good scholarship opportunity by missing a deadline.

Research helps. You can find scholarship information as close as your nearest public library.  You can also access an online database called Foundation Grants to Individuals Online.  It can only be used at a Wichita Public Library location. This is a free service and is updated constantly.

Write - do not text. Most scholarship applications require you to write about who you are, what you want to achieve and a variety of other topics specific to the application you are filling out. Remember that the people reading your application know nothing about you. If you do not write with careful thought, in a readable style, what will they know when they finish reading? Watch for punctuation errors, like using a small i instead of a capital I. Errors like this distract the reader evaluating what you have written and diminish your chances. Remember to write in complete sentences and use appropriate punctuation.

Remember to say thanks. Many of the donors who created the Foundation scholarships did so for very personal reasons. Perhaps they had a chance to go to college because of a scholarship and want to give back. Several donors established scholarships to remember children who were tragically lost in their youth. These awards mean a lot to these generous people, remember to say thank you by sending a note to the Foundation to their attention.