Recent winner of the $1,000 Cappex Birthday Scholarship (which you can apply for if you log into Cappex on your birthday month!), Cory C., took some time aside to share with his peers (you guys!) his experience in the college and scholarship search, plus some extra tidbits about himself. Hopefully you’ll find some very useful tips!

What is your secret to finding and applying for scholarships?

The secret is to stay organized and keep track of deadlines so that you have enough time to make solid applications for the scholarships and not have to rush in order to meet the deadlines.

Why is higher education important to you?

Higher education is important to me because it is a stepping stone to a higher quality of life and it builds the foundation for the future.

Name one to three things you cannot live without.

Family and friends as they have supported me in everything that I do.

If you could offer a younger student one piece of advice for the college search, what would you say?

Start early with your college research and look for an institution that you can picture yourself attending.

You can discover more scholarships from Cappex and beyond. Simply visit Cappex.com. And thanks again to Cory for sharing his college and scholarship tips!

Well, that person wound up being Camille P. from Encinitas, Calif. for her work in co-founding the nationally recognized nonprofit Donate Don’t Dump to address the growing issue of families struggling to put food on their tables in her community. After garnering local and national attention, Camille was offered funding to create a documentary on the issue. Along with classmates, she then spent a year filming and producing “One in Seven, The New Face of Hunger.” The film went on to win the California Competition at the 2011 Yosemite Film Festival.

Camille took some time aside to share with her peers (you guys!) her experience in making a difference as well as with the college and scholarship search Hopefully you’ll find some very useful tips!

Here’s what Camille had to share:

How has your work with “Donate Don’t Dump” and “One in Seven, The New Face of Hunger” impacted your life and what you want to do with your education?

Before working on theses projects I had no idea how many former middle class families suffer from hunger or how much good food is needlessly wasted in

the US by grocers and restaurants.   Freshman year I did a news story, about active military families at Camp Pendleton Marine Base, relying on charities to put food on the table.  This led to writing the documentary and the non-profit.  The statistics are shocking, over 96 billion pounds of edible food go into landfills every year, yet 25% of US kids suffer from hunger.  Although there is a Federal Law that protects businesses from liability if they donate food, “The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act”, many businesses are not aware of it.  This experience has made me want to become a broadcast journalist and create change by producing meaningful stories.  It sparked a passion to make a difference in the world.

You’ve already accomplished so much, and all before graduating college. What’s next?

Thank you!  Besides filmmaking, and the non-profit, I am Captain of my high school’s varsity dance team.  On February 5th, 2012 we won the National High School Championships at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.  In a few weeks we will be featured on ESPN.  Also, in March my broadcasting program, CHSTV, will go to the Student Television Network (STN) National Convention and I am super excited about that.  This is an amazing experience for student broadcasters.

What has been the most unexpected thing you’ve learned from all of your leadership and volunteer work?

I have learned so much since my freshman year, when all this began, it’s hard to pick.  One totally unexpected thing though was how many wonderful generous people there are in the world willing to help you out.  Here I was just a teen upset by seeing active military families in line to get food from charities with a camera, and it was adults from The Leichtag Family Foundation, Feeding America San Diego, North County Food Bank, Michelle Glassner at at DLA Piper Lawfirm, Dr De Ghetaldi at Cal State San Marcos and many others who helped make it all possible.

Ok, so I can’t seem to narrow it down to just one thing.  The other surprising thing was how rewarding this experience has been for me.  It feels amazing when something you care about passionately on takes off and people get inspired.  A few weeks ago I got an email from an elementary school in Carlsbad asking permission to start a Donate Don’t Dump Chapter.  It was so enthusiastic and adorable misspellings and all.  The kids ended their email with

Thank you we will be talking to our prinsible soon to discuse detals. We are SOOOOO happy to save the world  :)

That made my week!

If you could offer a younger student one piece of advice for the college search, what you would say?

Well, I am still waiting to hear back from the universities I applied to, but I would say start the process early and go big!  I’m not sure if my dream schools will accept my application (or how good my advice is) but you gotta dream big and go for it.

You can discover more scholarships from Cappex and beyond. Simply visit Cappex.com. And thanks again to Camille for sharing her awesome college and scholarship tips!

Here’s what Nicholas shared:

What is your secret to finding and applying for scholarships?

My secret is easy and simple, as a matter of fact it should hardly be a secret at all! The key to finding and applying for scholarships is www.Cappex.com! You guys make it so easy to apply, and so easy to find scholarships. The way you organize your database is fantastic and your cap system makes it fun and worth it to create a well organized and very detail oriented profile! Using Cappex has made finding and applying for scholarships easier than I have ever imagined.

Something that helps when applying for scholarships is to keep a little folder on your computer, something with a list of all of the achievements you have made to date. Keep it organized with pictures, videos, links, and whatever else you may have because it makes typing out an application for a scholarship and remembering everything you’ve done loads easier, and ultimately it will give you a better application!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I don’t believe anybody should wait until they grow up to start following their dreams. What I want to be today, tomorrow, yesterday, and every day for a long time now and an even longer time to come, however, is a computer programmer. I would love to focus in game programming and development. The reason I love computer and especially game programming so much is because it’s one of the only trades where you can make something out of close to nothing. Although many would not consider a computer close to nothing, what I mean is that you don’t need materials. You don’t need wood or metal or cloth. You can create worlds, universes, tools, programs, and things that help people in every day life or that people can escape into and enjoy out of pure time, effort, and knowledge. That, to me, is the most amazing thing ever. Nobody should ever wait until they grow up to start trying to achieve what they want to do in life. Don’t limit yourself!

Name one to three things you cannot live without.

Three amenities that I cannot live without include:

1. My computer, of course being a programmer that is a give in.

2.  My piano, as it supplies me with an outlet and endless hours of enjoyment as well as an amazing source of pride and achievement.

3. A close friend or relative, because even the strongest of us sometimes need somebody around to keep us grounded and to bring out the best in us every day.

If you could offer a younger student one piece of advice for the college search, what would you say?

If I could give any piece of advice regarding the college search to a younger student it would be that it’s never to early to start. Searching for colleges can either be an amazing, fun, and incredible experience offering a sense of pride and accomplishment, or it can make you want to rip your hair out. Start early. Once you think you know what you want to do is when you should start searching! Even if you don’t know what you want to do, start making a list. Do you want to go away or stay close, what kind of environment do you want to be in, how large are you willing to have your class sizes? These are all things you should start considering early on to help narrow down your choices! After that do some research and as early as you can start filling out your common application and getting things ready. Cappex does an amazing job of helping you with this and allows you to search for colleges based on different criteria and allows you to keep an organized list of colleges that are on your mind as well as even see how you rank against the students that are going to that school!

But start early and be prepared. Don’t get caught doing everything at the last minute.

You can discover more scholarships from Cappex and beyond. Simply visit Cappex.com. And thanks again to Nicholas for sharing his college and scholarship tips!

So yes, tuition can be pretty steep, but there are ways around it if you stay ahead of the game and keep your eyes peeled for scholarship opportunities.

On the other hand, there are some costs to college that are a bit unexpected, and we don’t want them to catch you off guard. So here are five unforeseen expenses that you might have to dole out  some cash for that are not included in your college tuition:

1. Tutoring
You are a very intelligent person, but your physics class is much more difficult than you could have imagined. You totally thought you owned that exam, but when you got your grade back, you realized you need to work a little harder. So you visited the physics resource center, you went to your professor’s office hours, you met up with friends in the class, and the concepts were just not hitting home. Sometimes, the many resources your school provides for you won’t cut it–you need a couple one-on-one sessions with an expert who can give you all their attention and focus on what you’re missing.

Yes, tutoring can be a bit pricey, but failing a class can cost you much more.

2. Labs and materials
This mostly goes for art and design students who can’t simply use a pen and paper to do their work. If you’re an art and design student, you might have to pay lab fees (that goes for science students as well), and you’ll probably have to purchase your materials for your art, which can add up. Try to budget in your lab and materials costs before the semester starts so you don’t overdraw your bank account on canvases and oil paints.

3. Printing
It depends on your school, but usually your college or university will give you an allotted number of pages you can print for free (or that’s already included in your tuition), and then it will start charging you. Be careful for this because many professors will have you print off your own course packs which may be hundreds of pages.

4. Healthcare
Being a student is hard. You’ll study hard. Work hard. And probably party hard. With that entire combination, there’s no doubt you’ll ultimately wind up with some sort of illness. Just be weary; a trip to your university care center isn’t free of charge. Don’t be surprised when you get a bill for the tests you took. Also, don’t be taking CAT scans just for fun. Well, you probably knew that.

5. Computers and computer emergencies
Most college students have their own computers. It’s an expensive tool, but it’s also incredibly helpful–you can do you work on your own schedule, not the computer lab’s.

So there’s the cost of the actual computer, but there’s also the chance that your computer might need to be fixed. Too often it all begins with an ill-positioned cup of coffee, a clumsy roommate, a banana slip on the floor, and boom! Your keyboard is drenched in hot coffee and making weird noises. Or, maybe you downloaded a shady file. There are so many reasons your computer can go rogue–like, maybe it’s one of those computers from the future that was sent back in time to take over the human race–but it’s one of the most important tools you have with you at college, so you’re probably going to put the money down to fix it.

What are some unforeseen costs you experience during college? Leave a comment!

	Rock Star Scholarship Winner: Maria Zilberman, from North Miami Beach, Fla., plans on attending college this fall to study pre-medicine.
	College Pro Scholarship Winner: Walter Chang, from Houston, Texas, will attend college in the fall to study engineering and musical performance.

Zilberman and Chang qualified for the scholarships by playing the “Cappex Cap Challenge,” where students collect virtual “cap” badges for completing key activities in their college searches. After earning at least 10 badges in the Cap Challenge, students become eligible to apply for special Cappex-sponsored scholarships. Examples of virtual badges include:

• Leader (Abe Lincoln hat) : For sharing leadership examples
• Artsy (beret): For providing accomplishments in the arts
• Volunteer (halo): For detailing how you’ve helped your community
• Yeeehaw!!! (cowboy hat): For representing a western state
• Road Warrior (roadster): For using the “Cappex Campus Visit Planner” to plan a college road trip
• College Reviewer (fedora with press pass): For providing a college review

Zilberman, of North Miami Beach, Fla., qualified for the $5,000 Rock Star Scholarship by collecting 25 badges, but it was her outstanding leadership in founding her high school’s international humanitarian club that won her the scholarship.

“The Cap Challenge guided me to explore colleges, which allowed me to learn more about them through student reviews, seeing my chances and organizing my application,” Zilberman said.

Chang qualified for the College Pro Scholarship by earning 10 virtual cap badges.

“Cappex.com improved my college search process tremendously, with all the key facts of each college compiled into one page and several student reviews to provide further perspective,” Chang said. He was awarded the $2,500 scholarship for his dedication as the school orchestra president who helped fundraise over $30,000 to help the school purchase a new grand piano.

“We started the Cappex Cap Challenge to give students a fun and new way to discover colleges and find matching scholarships,” said Chris Long, Cappex president.  “Maria and Walter took on the challenge and also clearly demonstrated their accomplishments improving their respective communities. We were thrilled to award our Cap Challenge scholarships to these deserving students.”

Interested in the Cappex Cap Challenge? Make your own Cappex profile now.

Looking for scholarships? Find more here!

]]> http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/cappex-com-announces-rock-star-and-college-pro-scholarship-winners/feed/ 1 http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/recent-cappex-scholarship-winners/ http://www.cappex.com/blog/news-announcements/recent-cappex-scholarship-winners/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:11:38 +0000 dkatz http://cappex.com/blog/?p=2784 Cappex.com is very excited to announce our most recent scholarship winners from Spring 2011.  These students have proven that with their leadership and volunteer activities, they can make a difference in the world. Congratulations!

You can be a scholarship winner too by making a Cappex profile! Your profile will then be used as your “application” for the Cappex scholarships, like, say, these two coming up:

A GPA Isn’t Everything and I Don’t Want to Pay for College.

That’s exactly what these two superstars did to win their scholarships:

“A GPA Isn’t Everything” Scholarship – Winter II Scholarship Winner: Rebecca D. from Mt. Prospect, Ill., will be attending college next fall.  During her high school career, she served as a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and eventually its President for two school years.  The program was recognized as one of the best programs in the state and won grants from the Operation Teen Safe Driver for its success. Rebecca was also a peer tutor and a member of her school’s service organization which works to better the community and help with special needs schools as well as the elderly.

“I Don’t Want to Pay for College” – Spring Scholarship Winner: Matthew J., from Murfreesboro, Tenn., is currently a college student with a broad background in volunteer and service with his church and Boy Scouts including canned food drives, making care packages for the 101st Airborne and community clean up.  Matthew’s a talented student who channeled his passion for music and science into an awesome project where he designed, produced and then performed with two homemade instruments.

Want to see past scholarship winners? Check them out on our Facebook page!

We’ve put together a list of 5 broad and easy-to-apply-to scholarships with deadlines approaching at the end of May and early June.

See if you’re a match and apply today!

1. CarDonors.com Scholarship
Deadline-May 31 Amount-$500

2. C.I.P. Scholarship
Deadline-May 31 Amount-$1,500

3. Proof-Reading.com Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount-$1,500

4. The Big Dig Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount- $3,000

5. Akash Kuruvilla Memorial Scholarship
Deadline-June 1 Amount-$1,000

Want more scholarships? Make a profile on Cappex.com to get your scholarship matches.

So, we decided to sift through our scholarship database to find some easy-to-apply-to scholarships for non-traditional students.

1. Healthy Respect Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students
This $1,000 scholarship wants you to answer how being a non-traditional student has influenced your life in 500 words or less. 500 words for $1,000? That’s a good investment.

2. BG Scholarship
This $400 scholarship is awarded every month.  It’s a super easy scholarship that shouldn’t take more than an hour of your time–so apply today for the April deadline!

3. “First Kiss” Scholarship
Whether it’s a very special moment in your memory or one of the more embarrassing moments, retrace that occasion in 250 words for a college scholarship.

4. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
This easy-to-apply-to-scholarship will award $1,000 for a student to help fulfill their dream of a college education.

5. Eileen Welch Memorial Nursing Scholarship
If you’re going back to school to become a nurse, this $1,000 scholarship is for you.

Lucky for you,  Education Today’s Suzanne Shaffer has made a list of 10 great college scholarships for all kinds of students.  Here are the 10 scholarships she recommends for this spring:

1.  Holocaust Remembrance Project Essay Contest
Scholarship award: 10 first place winners–$2,500 to $5,000; 10 second place winners–$500, 10 third place winners–$250.

2. New Threats to Freedom Scholarships
Scholarship award: $1000 to $5,000

3. Marine Technology Society Scholarships
Scholarship award: up to $10,000

4. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest
Scholarship award: first place-$5,000 second place-$3,000 third place-$2,000

5. Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
Scholarship award: renewable $25,000/year for 100 college freshmen  and $2,000/year for 1,000 college freshmen

6.  Cappex “I Don’t Want to Pay for College” Scholarship
Scholarship award: easy application for $1,000

7. ScholarshipExperts.com Essay Scholarship
Scholarship award: $1,000 to $3,000

8. DAR (Daughters of the Revolution) Scholarship
Scholarship award: varies

9.  2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Scholarship award: $2,000

10. AARP Women’s Scholarship
Scholarship award: $500 to $5,000

And if you want even more scholarships, there’s a goldmine on Cappex.

Congratulations to the winner of the Trick Out the Cap scholarship, Mary L. of Highland Park N.J.! Her tricked out cap won by receiving the most “Likes” with 321 likes in the finalist round.  Let’s give a standing ovation for Mary’s intricate design that will bring her one step closer to paying for college.

Mary and her scholarship-winning design:

In addition to Mary’s winning entry, we’d also like to acknowledge a few of our favorites here at Cappex. These are tricked out caps that show such great innovation in their designs that we had to share them with you:

Amber L. of Sanibel, Fla.	Rachel C. of Amherst, N.Y.
Grace H. of Wheat Ridge, Colo.	Deyaun V. of Port Isabel, Texas [youtube width="250" height="180"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA41khROZm0[/youtube]

Thank you to all of our Trick Out the Cap participants. You can see all of the tricked out cap submissions here.

Or, you can get a head start on the next Cappex scholarship here!