Bankruptcy and Student Loans

The price of college is steadily rising and student loan debt is increasing along with credit card debt and many recent college graduates are feeling the pinch. Six months after graduation the student loan bills start arriving and even with their lower interest rates, they add to the burden.

Many students think about filing for bankruptcy as a way to relieve themselves of all the debt. While that is certainly a possibility, take a hard look at it before taking the leap. There are several types of debt that may not be discharged by a bankruptcy filing.

Read the rest of the article at Bankruptcy and College Loans

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$1,500 Scholarship From USA Funds

USA Funds® is awarding up to $3 million in new, renewable scholarships to students with demonstrated financial need through their USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships®. Additionally, USA Funds is awarding up to $500,000 in new, renewable scholarships to Arizona residents through USA Funds Arizona Silver Anniversary Scholarships™. USA Funds’ 25 years of service as the designated guarantor of Arizona's federal education loans is the reason behind this scholarship program. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2006. Get program requirements and more information at the USAFunds® website.

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College Scholarship, Loan and Grant Information

Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars Program - Northrop Grumman is sponsoring scholarships of $10,000 each to a qualified graduating high school senior in each of Maryland's 23 counties and in the city of Baltimore as well as two scholarships for graduating seniors of Fairfield County, Connecticut and two from the state of Illinois. Candidates must study full time in an approved engineering program at an accredited college or university. The scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, lodging and meals. The application deadline is March 31. More information and applications for this scholarship can be found at http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/engscholars/about.html.

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2005 Legislative Changes to Nevada Millennium Scholarships

During the 2005 legislative session, there were several changes to the Nevada Millennium Scholarship Program which affect current recipients.

• As of January 1, 2006, Millennium Scholars will be funded each semester for a maximum of12 credits per student.
• As of January 1, 2006, GPA will be calculated on a “per term” rather than a cumulative basis. Students must maintain at least a 2.6 GPA for each of their first two terms. Once 30 credits is reached, students must maintain a 2.75 for that term and thereafter.
• Millennium Scholarship funds may no longer be used to pay for remedial classes, which are math or english courses with a course number below 100.
• If a student loses eligiblilty, they will be allowed to regain eligibility once only.

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PFLAG National Scholarships

Here is another batch of scholarships with a deadline fast approaching. Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) sponsor several scholarships each year. For 2006 there are seven $2,500 scholarships and 14 $1,000 scholarships available. The deadline this year is February 14. For more information, requirements and an application, visit the PFLAG website at http://pflag.org/index.php?id=122 .

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Horatio Alger Idaho Scholarship Program

Here's a quick note on an upcoming deadline. The Horatio Alger Scholarships have closed except if you live in the following areas:

• Orange County, California
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Lousiana
• Montana
• Fort Worth, Texas

Residents of these places have until February 1 to get their applications in. For more details, visit https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/apply.cfm .

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Is it time to consolidate those student loans?

If Congress passes the budget cut bill currently before it, then you may see interest rates for Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans to take a jump this summer. Within the bill are $12.7 billion in savings from the Federal student loan programs. Most of the savings would come from lenders having to return the difference between the new higher interest rates and the interest rates they are guaranteed.

Under the Senate version of the bill, Stafford Loan rates a would increase to 6.8% fixed rate and PLUS loans would increase to 8.5%. The House version would have Stafford Loans use a variable rate with an 8.25% cap.

With these increases looming, now might be the right time to consolidate your student loans.

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Billie Jean King and Novo Nordisk Offer Scholarships to Young Tennis Players with Diabetes

Billie Jean King WTT Charities and Novo Nordisk are offering two scholarships of $5,000 each. Candidates must be between ages 14-21, play tennis competitively, and have diabetes. Deadline for application is May 1, 2006. For more information log on to www.wtt.com/charities.

(PRWEB) January 8, 2006 -- Novo Nordisk, the leading pharmaceutical company in diabetes care, is teaming up with Billie Jean King WTT Charities to present the Novo Nordisk Donnelly Awards. Billie Jean King established the awards in 1998 to encourage diabetic children to lead an active life and compete in tennis. The two awards each provide $5,000 scholarships to young tennis players suffering from diabetes. The award is named after two long-time World Team Tennis executives and tennis champions, Diane Donnelly Stone and Tracy Donnelly Maltby, who are sisters. Stone was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion at Northwestern University, and Maltby earned All-Big Ten honors at the University of Iowa. Both women have had diabetes since childhood.

Two young people, ages 14-21, who have diabetes and play tennis competitively in tournaments or on their school team will receive the $5,000 scholarships. In addition, the recipients will travel to a World Team Tennis match to receive their awards from Billie Jean King. All applications must be received by May 1, 2006, and the winners will be announced by June 15, 2006. For more information and to download an application log on to www.wtt.com and click on BJK/WTT Charities.

Novo Nordisk is a health care company and a world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women.

For further information contact:

Diane Stone
Billie Jean King WTT Charities, Inc

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AAA Travel Challenge Offers More Than $100,000 in Scholarships and Prizes Enter Between Jan. 9-17.

AAA has opened it's fourth annual Travel Challenge to find America's most travel knowledgeable teens. If you are a student in grades 9-12 (public,
private or home-schooled), go online now to http://www.aaa.com/TravelChallenge to enter and see the rules. Take the 40-question online contest that runs from January 9-17, 2006. The top five in all 50 states and DC will vie in the state finals on March 7-9, 2006. The winners will receive prizes and an expense-paid trip for two to the national competition at Universal Orlando from May 13-16, 2006.

First prize is a $25,000 scholarship. Second prize is a $15,000 scholarship and third prize is a $10,000 scholarship. See the rules for other prizes.

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Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

FSEOG are campus based aid, meaning that the financial aid offices at the participating schools handle the distribution of the funds. Once they run out of funds, that's it for the year. So, you want to make sure that you get your application in on time.

The FAFSA is the required form, but schools may have their own deadlines for submission which are earlier than the Federal date. Check with your financial aid office to be sure. (Hint: tomorrow would be a good day to check).

For this school year, the awards varied from $100-$4000. The amount can depend on your financial need, school policies, when you apply and how much funding is available.

The money may be paid directly to your school account or a check may be issued to you.

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Aid lets smaller colleges ask, why pay for Ivy League retail?

Interesting article below from New York's Amherst Times about smaller private liberal arts colleges who are wooing students with larger merit scholarships in order to compete with lower cost public universities and the elite schools like Harvard and Princeton.

Amherst Times, written by Alan Finder, January 1, 2006 - Lindsey Mackney's choice of colleges came down to two very different places: Boston University, with its urban appeal and lively youth culture, or Allegheny College, a small, friendly liberal arts institution here in the rolling hills of northwest Pennsylvania.
Amherst Times

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