For those students who are in Hawaii or would like to live in Hawaii, school grants and other financial aid is available. To many, Hawaii seems like an island paradise with sun, surfing, and sand; but it is also a good place to get an education with 10 campuses of the University of Hawaii spread out along the islands. In addition, there are private colleges as well as an excellent community college system. Some of the financial aid resources to students of Hawaii are listed below.
The Hawaii State Incentive Grant is geared at students enrolled in the University of Hawaii system. Students can apply by filling out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The Hawaii State Incentive Grant is need-based, and many students can also receive a Pell Grant when getting a Hawaii State Incentive Grant.
Another Grant available through filling out the Free Application fro Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the State of Hawaii B Plus Scholarship program. Students need to have a 3.0 GPA or higher and have a financial need in order to get this grant.
Graduating high school seniors who show high standards of academic achievement through their class rank, GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, and outstanding extracurricular activities who plan to go to a four-year university in Hawaii can get a $1,500 scholarship through the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship.
Another great financial aid opportunity is the Hawaiian Affairs Scholarship program intended for various academic programs, such as Math and Science majors, those who are native Hawaiians, those who go to specific colleges, and those who are business majors.
If you are a Hawaiian graduate from the Kamehameha Schools, then you may qualify for the Kamehameha Post-High Scholarships. You must be a resident of Hawaii and you must be either an undergraduate, graduate or technical/vocational student.
At www.heaed.com/HEA_scholarships.html, you can find information about scholarships to Hawaii students from the Hawaii Education Association. To apply, you need to become a member of the Hawaii Education Association (HEA). Undergraduate College Students may apply for $1000 scholarships by writing an essay, beginning their senior year of high school. By writing an essay, student teachers studying full-time at the graduate level can apply for a $3,000 scholarship. Additionally, professional educators trying to continue with their further education can apply for $1,000 scholarships.
There are University of Hawaii Scholarships available from the Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity (SEED). The scholarships are for: first year students; for continuing college students for awards between $1,000 and $5,000; for scholarships for international students; regents scholarships; and junior level students Presidential Scholarships (Collegescholarships.org, 2010).
There are almost 30 scholarships available for education students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Education (Collegescholarships.org, 2010).
The Hawaii State Student Incentive Grant is need-based and is for residents of Hawaii who are attending participating Hawaiian state schools at the undergraduate level (Moneymatters101.com, 2010).
In summary, there are a wide variety of need-based grants in Hawaii that are available to assist students with their educational needs.
Hawaii School Grants for 2012
There are various education grants available in the state of Hawaii that can make obtaining an education and the process of learning more accessible to those who might not be able to take their learning to the next level without the assistance of grant funding. Let us look at what is available for the year 2011.
Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund
This grant program is not a brand new one. It was established in 2005 but it has been enhanced over the years and has become more popular in the six years since it came into existence. This grant program is open to public schools that serve students at the intermediate level, as well as the high school level and the college levels. This grant program is open to those who live on the islands of Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu.
The purpose of the Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund is to make it possible for schools in Hawaii to have the programs, equipment, supplies and tools that they require to enhance science education in the school system and to encourage students to want to pursue a career in the sciences.
Public School Grants
Hawaii has grants for exercise programs in public schools. These grants are up to $2,500 and are available to help establish and maintain running programs for students attending public schools. The goal behind this grant is to promote physical activity in children and to promote better health. It is also the goal to counteract childhood obesity through these exercise programs. The grant focuses in on elementary and middle public schools.
Youth Grants
Many grants for education focus on the youth of today because they are the adults of tomorrow. There are some new grants that have been developed for 2011 that offer funds ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for service-learning projects that address the access to higher education and financial literacy. These educational project grants led by youth seek to make education within reach of those who want to learn at the post secondary level.