Financing Your college Education

1. Financing Your college Education Steve SingletonSt John’s Commandery #8 Stillwater

2. Take the college funding logic test… YES NO NO YES

3. First things first… • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid • Site where students & parents may apply for federal financial aid, and… • Apply for most state and college aid www.fafsa.ed.gov

5. What will you need? • Register for PIN number (both parent and student) • 2006 tax return • Computer access • On-line application is quickest and easiest

6. Then what? • They will notify you of your eligibility for federal grants or loans and • Information can be sent to schools for scholarship consideration AND • Work-study program

7. What else can you do? • Register with FASTWEB (http://www.fastweb.com/) • Web site that list all sorts of scholarships (based on grades, financial need, or some type of competition, like an essay or quiz) • Oklahoma offers a $1000 scholarship based on knowledge of Oklahoma history and geography ! !

9. And, what else can I do? • Check with the college you plan to attend for specific scholarships they offer (and how to apply) • Take concurrent enrollment through local college or university (saves on cost and gets you ahead) • Take a CLEP test or enroll in AP class (gives you college credit while minimizing cost ($40 versus $300-$400))

10. And you wondered why you joined Masonic youth groups? • Blue lodges, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star, Amaranth,… all provide THOUSANDS of dollars of scholarships to DeMolay, Jobs Daughters and Rainbow for Girls.

11. Masonic Youth Scholarship Opportunities • Frank S. Land Scholarship Fund * • Grotto Medical / Dental Scholarship* • The Scottish Rite Paul R. Kach, 33° DeMolay Essay Competition * • York Rite Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons Scholarship Fund • Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship Fund • Amaranth • Knights Templar Scholarship Fund * National DeMolay Scholarships- check the DeMolay International web site for details and application.

12. Guthrie Scottish Rite Scholarship • This scholarship is offered to those who desire to further their education beyond the high school level and must have financial help to do so. • Every student selected must have at least a 3.0 GPA through high school on a 4.0 scale and must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours for the first semester of college. • Complete this application and return it to the Guthrie Scottish Rite Foundation by May 1. • Selection is based upon overall GPA, financial need, activity in DeMolay, other activities.

13. Amaranth • The Amaranth Youth Scholarships are presented to deserving and worthy members of Job’s Daughters, Rainbow for Girls and DeMolay in Oklahoma. • Applicants must be active in their Orders, and representative of the teachings and ideals of Masonic Bodies. • The money will be sent to the college or school of their choice to be applied toward tuition or required material upon receipt of proof of enrollment and verification of grade point average of 2.5 of above. Each applicant must have been a member of his or her Order for TWO years of more as of April 15 to be eligible to receive a scholarship. • Each applicant must be a member in good standing at the time of the application. • Applications must be postmarked not later than APRIL 15 to be considered by the Youth Scholarship Committee of the Grand Court, Order of the Amaranth.

14. Knights Templar (York Rite) • ACT FAST ! ! ! • Four $1250 scholarships • Two young men/two ladies • High School Senior, undgrad, in-state Career Tech eligible. • 2.5 GPA on 4.0 scale • Must be postmarked by15 FEBRUARY

15. Masonic Youth Scholarship Opportunities • John T. Liebrand Scholarship Fund – McAlester Scottish Rite • Jirous Scholarship Fund • LV Orton Scholarship Fund • Charitable Foundation – Neil Stitt • OES Rainbow Scholarship Fund – Pat Mullenix

16. Jirous Scholarship • This scholarship is for Masonic youth and is for $1000.00. There will be three scholarships awarded this year. • Must be an active DeMolay who will be starting college this fall or is a current college student. Senior DeMolays who are currently enrolled in college may also apply. • If you have any questions, please contact Jan Hanna. Phone # 405 733-1876 e-mail rhanna4@cox .net.

17. L.V. Orton Scholarship • The L.V. Orton Award is presented annually for outstanding achievement in five areas: Education, Self- Expression, Activities outside the Order of DeMolay, Religious Life, and DeMolay Activities. • Each Chapter is allowed to place one of its Chapter members for consideration for this recognition and award. • The 10 finalists will be interviewed by a selection committee during the Annual State Conclave. • Presentation of the award will be made at the awards banquet which concludes each Annual State Conclave.

18. To summarize • Start NOW ! ! Get your parents to do their tax returns early (!) and establish your base-line eligibility through FAFSA • Be aggressive- do not wait until the end of the school year to start submitting paperwork • Interviews – be confident, be prepared, and use your experience as a public speaker when talking to interviewers