Student Trustee: Prepare your essay to apply for MV Foundation Scholarships

Hey Cyclones!

As we move through the semester, I wanted to remind students about the Moraine Valley Foundation Scholarships, which are an important opportunity to save money on courses.

One big misconception about scholarships is that you need to apply to a dozen of them individually. That’s not the case here. With just one general application and a required essay, students are automatically considered for all Moraine Valley Foundation Scholarships they are eligible for by answering a set of questions in the application. These include many niche scholarships that may only apply to a smaller group of students. Scholarships can be accessed through this link. Additionally, after submitting the general application, there are other scholarships you can apply for depending on your eligibility that may or may not require an extra essay. Some examples of scholarships in previous semesters have included students interested in entering nursing, business, and fire fighter fields. If you need help writing your essay, The Speaking and Writing Center is always willing to assist.

Eligibility for the MV Foundation Scholarships can be based on a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, such as being a  first-generation college student, returning to higher education after more than five years, being enrolled in the Cannabis Studies program, identifying as Hispanic, or having experienced domestic abuse. Due to the variety of MV Foundation Scholarships, it’s really important to provide complete and accurate biographical information in the application. The more you share about your background, the better your chances are of being matched with scholarships that fit you.

Lastly, completing your FAFSA on time can also make you eligible for outside scholarships, grants, and College Work Study, allowing you to work on campus. Te Financial Aid office can assist with how and where to file.

This is also a good moment to pause and recognize how far we’ve already come this semester. We are officially in the second half of the semester, and Spring Break is just around the corner next month, which is a perfect time to rest and reset.

If you’ve been debating whether you should invest the time in applying, please do it! One application can open more doors than you might expect.