Special to The Chronicle

Applications for scholarships available through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa are currently being accepted. In 2017, the foundation awarded 283 scholarships totaling nearly $400,000 to Iowa students. The deadline to apply for 2018 scholarships is March 7, 2018.

Interested students should visit cfneia.org/applyforscholarships to apply for scholarships and view the scholarship eligibility checklist. The eligibility checklist will help determine if a student is eligible for one or more scholarships. Submission requirements include an online application form, essay, academic transcript and a letter of recommendation. Some scholarships will require additional information. All required materials must be submitted through the online system. Each scholarship may have its own eligibility requirements, but there is only one common application to complete. Once the common application is completed, it is automatically matched to all scholarships for which students are eligible. Applicants should carefully read the description of each scholarship. Students must visit CFNEIA’s website for instructions and to begin the application process.

Scholarship awards vary in size from $250 to $10,000 and are awarded based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, academic excellence, financial need, for pursuing certain careers or majors, past experiences, location or high school attended. Most scholarships are for one year, but some are 2-year, some 4-year, and some are renewable.

Online applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2018. For more information about scholarship opportunities, please contact Tom Wickersham, CFNEIA Program Director, at 319-287-1356 or visit cfneia.org.