Big companies and corporations understand the value of a good education. The very lifeblood of their business depends on it. The candidates they consider and hire for employment are required to have degrees. Having a degree nowadays is essential to finding a worthwhile, good-paying job, and corporations know it. Many of them, therefore, offer scholarship opportunities for graduating high school students and occasionally those who are returning to school after a lengthy absence in an effort to encourage education and add to the market of good, eligible employees.
These types of scholarships are called corporate college scholarships, because they are provided by corporations. Sometimes corporate scholarships are only available to employees and children of employees at that particular corporation – like Walmart, for example – but these scholarships are also fairly easy to get and pay a good deal of money.
Below is a list of great corporate scholarships that are available to the general public:
Best Buy Scholarship – Awards up to $25,000 to high school students in grades 9-12 on the bases of community service, academic standing, and an essay question.
Burger King Scholars Scholarship – Provides $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are employed, active in community or extracurricular activities, and have at least a 2.5 G.P.A.
Apple Scholars Program – Awards an iPod nano, MacBook Pro and $2,000 to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate an innovative use of technology in academics
Discover Scholarship Program – Awards up to $25,000 to high school juniors who have at least a 2.75 G.P.A., proven leadership ability, community involvement and a personal challenge of some sort
Dell Scholars Program – Awards up to $20,000 to high school graduating students who are enrolled in an approved AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, have demonstrated financial need, plan to enroll into a 4-year bachelor's degree college program, have a 2.4 minimum G.P.A. and have participated in a 2-year college readiness program
American Rhodes Scholarship – Awarded to high school students who have sufficient academic standing to complete a bachelor's degree, are between the ages of 18 and 23, and who plan to attend Oxford University for a minimum of two years. Only 32 U.S. scholars are chosen annually.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship – Awards up to $5,000 to graduating high school seniors, who plan to enter the health care field, on the bases of leadership, academic performance and community involvement.
AXA Foundation Achievement Scholarship – Awards up to $25,000 and a possible internship to high school seniors who are ambitious and strong academically, have great self-respect, and respect for their family and community.
There are lots of options and remember to find out the industry leaders in your own community and speak to human resources there.