Are There Scholarships For Everything?

It is always disheartening to hear about college scholarships that go unused.  On the flip side, I am thrilled to learn about high school students who earn scholarships.  And they come in all varieties.

I am living proof of that.

I received a Eugene Pulliam Scholarship that I was only eligible for because I had been a paperboy for the Phoenix Gazette/Arizona Republic.  I later added an Arizona Broadcaster’s Association Scholarship to the mix to help get me through Northern Arizona University.

The Phoenix chapter of the Public Relations Society of America annually awards scholarships to PR students at  NAU and Arizona State University.  I’ve had the chance to actually present them in the past.

I’ve got a niece who has earned an Equestrian Scholarship for Auburn University, where she is expected to attend this fall.  She’s been riding and showing horses all her life.

Two friends of mine have kids who received Debate Team Scholarships, one to William & Mary and the other to New York University.  They’re smart.

Then, I found this.  Richard Obert, who expertly covers high school sports, among others, for the Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, wrote an article about Jacob Jones of Gilbert Christian High School, who has received a scholarship to be on the Dallas Baptist University fishing team.  He told Obert the scholarship covers tournament travel expenses and provides boats for the fishing team.

The moral of the story:  You don’t always have to be a great athlete to get a free or partially-paid-for college education.  And it’s a lot easier on your body.

Too bad there are still so many of “that parent” who don’t realize it.