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Scholarship Overview

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Scholarship Overview
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Students may begin searching for scholarship opportunities during their junior year of high school, but generally may not apply until they are graduating high school seniors.There are several types of scholarship opportunities available to graduating high school senior: National, State and Local scholarships. There are various criteria for scholarships:

  • Need based scholarships: Open to students demonstrating HIGH financial need. (Usually this applies to students receiving or are eligible for Free & Reduce Lunch, or have had an unfortunate financial circumstance at home)
  • Merit based scholarships: Open to students who have demonstrated strength in a particular area, whether is academic or extracurricular interests. (Need may or may not be important.)
  • Town Scholarships: Open to students based on their residency in a given community. (Need or Merit may or may not be a factor)
  • Combination scholarships: Scholarships that combine a number of factors, example the student is pursuing a career in education, and has been involved in community service. (Need may or may not be important)
  • EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) as defined by filing the FAFSA plays a role in scholarship selection. The lower an EFC the HIGHER the demonstrated need. (Example a student with an EFC  of 10,000 or less has demonstrated need greater than a student with and EFC of 20,000 or higher) College is expensive for all students, however, Need based scholarships are looking to serve students with lower EFC, while Merit is not necessarily looking at EFC for consideration. 

 
National Scholarships
There are a number of web sites that provide free scholarship searches, that focus on national scholarship opportunities, but generally do not have information about all state and local scholarships. The web sites will ask the student to complete a questionnaire about themselves, and based on the information provided search their engines and match students to possible scholarship opportunities. These searches are FREE. National scholarship search sites are valuable, but usually produce minimal results. Most students see little to no return on their investment of time, and see more financial returns on state and local scholarship opportunities. However, if you are planning ahead, this may be time well spent.

Recommendation: It is recommended that if you are searching national data bases and completing applications through these scholarships that you create an e-mail account separate from your day to day e-mail, as you will generate much spam, as there is marketing involved in national scholarship. Just be sure that you check this email account regularly, as this is where you will be notified of awards. Reminder: These searches are FREE. National scholarship search sites are valuable, but usually produce minimal results. Most students see little to no return on their investment of time, and see more financial returns on state and local scholarship opportunities. However, if you are planning ahead, this may be time well spent.
 
Statewide Scholarships
State scholarships are scholarships open to NH residents only, and are sponsored by a number or organizations, both private and public. The NH Charitable Foundation web site is a great place to visit to begin to access possible NH scholarship opportunities.(Click on Grants & Scholarships). Anther great web site is NH 93 Scholarship. Students should also consider checking with family members about possible scholarships available through employers and service organizations. 

Local Scholarships
Local scholarships are were our students see the greatest return for time invested. These are scholarships dedicated to our students. The majority of these scholarships are open to only graduating seniors, few are renewable. There are wide range of scholarships, need, merit, town, organizations, etc. Please be sure to only apply to those that you fit the criteria. If you do not fit criteria, you are advised not to apply.
 
Alumni Scholarship Information
The local scholarships offer few scholarship  to KRHS alumni, with the majority of scholarships are for current graduating seniors. Alumni that are currently enrolled in college are reminded that they should check their college financial aid office for scholarships within the institution, as well as speak with the department they are majoring in for department scholarships. Example: Sociology/Anthropology majors, visit your Sociology/Anthropology department office and speak with the office manager or department chair about specific scholarships for that major or minor.