Laptops 4 Learning Laptop Scholarship

It's why Desert Financial challenged their members, community and team with the promise to match $20,000 in donations to Laptops 4 Learning, a local nonprofit organization that provides quality refurbished laptops to students of all ages.

When Brenda Powell, Executive Director of Laptops 4 Learning received the check, she shared gratitude on behalf of the 300 students and foster youth from the Litchfield and Cartwright School Districts and the North Star Independent Living Center.

"We are all humbled and honored by the generosity and kindness of Desert Financial's employees and members," Powell said. During the check presentation, she also mentioned her own perspective as the first of eight children raised by a single parent.

"I personally know what it means to receive community support such as Desert Financial has provided for these students. We are honored to be selected as a vehicle for success for them," she said.

Desert Financial was founded by schoolteachers more than 80 years ago. As a tribute to their legacy, the credit union has always supported teachers and education.

"Even before the pandemic and the move to virtual school, there were thousands of kids across the state who needed laptops," says Jeff Meshey, President and CEO at Desert Financial Credit Union. "We're humbled by the work Laptops 4 Learning is doing to bridge the 'digital divide.' Their mission is very much in line with our passion for supporting education as a path to success. And we're proud our members, community and team stepped up to help with such enthusiasm!"

Districts such as Litchfield Elementary School are especially appreciative of these donations. With more than 12,000 kindergarten through eighth-grade students in 16 schools [including six Title I schools] roughly 30 percent of their total student population is eligible for free and reduced meals. Further, 24 percent of families reported having no reliable devices at home to accommodate remote learning.

Learn more at laptops4learning.com

About Desert Financial Credit Union

Celebrating 81 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's largest local credit union with $6 billion in assets, more than 340,000 members and 47 locations across the Valley. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2019, Desert Financial gave nearly $11 million to Valley nonprofits, the community and members.

About Laptops 4 Learning

Laptops 4 Learning [L4L] is a nonprofit 501[c] [3] organization, that has created a life-changing program focused on providing laptop computers to Elementary through College students. Special focus is given to underprivileged students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and U.S. Military Veterans. Access to a computer is universally recognized as a required skill set, necessary to succeed in our current educational and work environments.

SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union

Additional Support of Dell Scholars Program

A laptop with a 4-year warranty
$500 annual Chegg credits [for textbook purchases and rentals via Chegg study]
A Scholar Resource Network [includes Confidential counseling, financial and legal guidance, and more]
Professional Teletherapy Counseling

To learn more about the Dell Scholars Program, go here.

Laptops 4 Learning

Deadline: Ongoing
Award: Laptops

Laptops have become an essential device for college students. But buying a good quality laptop can put a bit of financial stress on low-income families. Tablets are cheap but are very limited in functionality. They can’t entirely fulfill the demand of all types of students. For a detailed overview, check out laptops vs. tablets for college students: which is best.

Luckily, Laptop4Learning has taken the initiative to help those students by offering free laptops through their L4L program. As of May 2021, they have shipped over 380 laptops to deserving college students.

If you are a college or university student who needs access to a laptop for classwork, assignments, or other educational needs, then feel free to apply for their free laptop program.

What are the requirements?

Visit Laptop4learning and fill up the application form.
You have to submit a 90-second [minimum] video or sort essay outlining how a laptop will help you succeed. This contest is to provide an economic incentive for individuals experiencing financial challenges and you agree to collaborate with this purpose.
Provide your mailing address to receive the delivery.
Must be a U.S citizen or a permanent U.S resident.
You need to be at least 18 years old.
You must be currently enrolled or intend to enroll at an accredited college or university located in the United States. Applicants that are selected must provide proof of enrollment or proof of intent to enroll, i.e. college application, acceptance letter, etc.

If you want to know more about them, visit their website.

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Apple FCU Scholarships

Deadline: Check on their website to see the available slots
Award: $1,500 [two-year program] and $3,000 [four-year program]

Apple FCU is providing scholarship opportunities for both four-year and two-year college students. This foundation awards $1,500 to $3,000 to deserving high school seniors each year. You are a likely candidate for this scholarship if you have made a recognizable contribution to your family, school, or community. Apple FCU will also consider if you have overcome obstacles or had a unique experience in life.

Scholarship for the two-year program:

Must be a member of Apple Federal Credit Union
Needs to have a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Only ten students will receive this award

Scholarship for the four-year program:

Must be a member of Apple Federal Credit Union
Needs to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Only 20 students will receive this award

Visit Apple FCU’s website to learn more about the program.

Google Lime Scholarship

Deadline: Check on their website for availability
Award: 10,000 USD [for students studying in the U.S.], and 5,000 CAD [for students studying in Canada]

Google has partnered with Lime Connect to help students with disabilities achieve their academic goals and help them elevate towards a promising career. This program includes students, professionals, as well as veterans with disabilities. It is a Computer Science based program that is currently focused on U.S. and Canadian nationals. To get enrolled, you need to be a current undergraduate or a graduate student of a university.

Requirement for obtaining Google Lime Scholarship:

Needs to have a visible or invisible disability
Need to have a strong academic performance
Aims to enroll as a full-time student in a University
Be either a computer science student or have a degree in a closely related field.
Needs to demonstrate leadership and passion for computer science

Learn more about the program on their website.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program

Deadline: February 01, 2022
Award: $30,000

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program provides a four-year scholarship to students with leadership potentials. They will not only grant you a $30,000 scholarship but also will offer hands-on mentorship and help to develop your leadership skills. You can choose the undergraduate school of your choice.

They will also enrol you in their “42 Strategies for Success Curriculum”, which includes:

Internship/Job Placement opportunities
Year-round webinars and on-site workshops
Mentorship and leadership conference
Community service [JRF scholars have to do community service work]

Requirement for obtaining Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program:

Must be a graduating high school senior
Needs to have leadership potentials
Must be a U.S. citizen
Minimum SAT score of 1,000 combined with Math and critical reading sections.
You don’t already have a two or four-year college degree.

Visit this Jackie Robinson website to learn in detail about their scholarship program.

The Coca-Cola Scholarship

Deadline: August 1, 2021
Award: $20,000

If you are good with academics and currently in the final school year – you are in luck. Coca-Cola’s achievement-based scholarship rolls out each year with a grant of $20,000 for 150 graduating high school seniors. Until now, at least 6,450 students have been benefited from this scholarship. Applicants will be assessed based on their leadership capabilities, academics, and service to school and community. Once you are awarded the scholarship, you can use the funds within 4 to 10 years. Coca-Cola also allows you to spend that fund for other educational purposes, such as buying computers, paying for on-campus housing and textbooks.

Requirement for obtaining The Coca-Cola Scholarship:

Must be a current high school [or home school] student
Need to be a U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Permanent Residents, Temporary Residents [in a legalization program], Refugees, Asylees, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, or Humanitarian Paroles.

To learn more about Coca-Cola’s Scholarship Program, visit this link.

The Gates Scholarship

Deadline: Check on their website for availability
Award: Full Funding

The Gates Scholarship is backed by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has been operational since 2017. It offers an excellent opportunity for minority and high school seniors with low financial status. Each year, the program provides full funding to 300 students for up to 5 years. This scholarship covers everything starting from your tuition, fees, room, board, and transportation. It doesn’t end there; The Gates Scholarship will also support scholars with mentorships, career counselling, and other facilities needed for proper career development.

Requirement for obtaining The Gates Scholarship:

Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent citizen
For high school seniors
A minimum GPA of 3.3 of 4.0 [or equivalent]
Applicable for only: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American.

For more details, visit The Gates Scholarship website.

College Board Scholarships

Deadline: Check on their website for availability
Award: $40,000
Exceptions: Regardless of the citizenship status, anyone can apply as long as they are living in US territories.

The College Board offers an excellent scholarship opportunity for students living in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories. This opportunity is open for all students regardless of their family earnings. Still, at least half of the scholarship will be allotted to students whose family earning is less than $60,000 per year. Also, you don’t need to take PSAT or SAT exams to qualify for this scholarship. However, to increase your chances of getting the scholarship, you need to participate in their six college planning steps [available on their website]. Completing each step will allow you to earn $500, and once all are completed, you will be eligible for their $40,000 scholarship.

Requirement for obtaining College Board Scholarships:

Need to have a college board online account
Attends public, private, or home school located in U.S. territories.

Visit their opportunity scholarships page to know more about the program.

United Negro College Fund

Deadline: Multiple programs are available with a varying deadline [UNCF Scholarships]
Award: The award will depend on the scholarship you choose

The UNCF is amongst the largest private scholarship provider in the U.S. for African American nationals. Until now, they have helped over 500,000 students earn their college degrees through scholarships. Each year, they award $100 million in scholarships to over 10,000 students all across the country. UNCF offers multiple scholarship programs; check out their website to find the program that suits you the most.

Requirement for obtaining United Negro College Fund:

GPA 2.5 out of 4.0
Full-time enrollment in a college or university
You need to apply for FAFSA [Federal Student Aid]
Financial needs have to be verified by the college or university you want to attend

Visit their UNCF’s scholarships page to learn more.

Scholarships for Black Women

Deadline: Check on their website for available slots
Award: The award will depend on the scholarship you choose

The NANBPWC, Inc. is offering scholarship opportunities dedicated to African American women. They aim to establish leadership skills, help women participate in governance and parliamentary procedures, and provide educational awareness. There are multiple scholarship opportunities available. Each program has different requirements. Check out the scholarship programs on their website.

Here’s the list of scholarship programs they are currently offering:

National Scholarship
The Dr. Blanca Moore-Velez Woman of Substance Scholarship
Peola Smith-Smith Educational Leadership Scholarship
Sherelle T. and Timothy T. Carper III Scholarship
Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship

Foot Locker Scholarship

Deadline: Visit their website for the upcoming deadlines
Award: $20,000 [You will receive $5000 per year, for up to 4 years]

The Foot Locker Athletes scholarship program is aimed at students with leadership capabilities who have strong moral characters, are confident, and are committed to helping others in the community. Although it is focused on student-athletes, Foot Locker also requires students to have good intellectual capabilities, which they need to demonstrate through their academic grades. They will award $20,000 to 20 college students, which students can spend on tuition, fees, and other required supplies as billed by the college/university.

Requirement for obtaining Foot Locker Scholarship:

Should be involved in high school sports, intramural sports, or community-based sports.
You are entering college in the fall of the year [e.g., 2021] as a Freshman. You are studying for a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
Need to have a minimum of GPA 3.0
Must be a U.S. citizen
Foot Locker employees are not eligible for the program. Immediate family members of employees are also not allowed for the program.

For more details, visit Foot Locker’s website.

How to Apply for Scholarships

Applying for a scholarship is like applying for college or a job. There are certain things you need to keep in check to ensure everything works out fine. To help you with the process, here are some key points you need to consider.

Check for eligibility and read carefully:

Once you’ve found a scholarship, first check if you are eligible to apply. Each scholarship program will likely have different requirements. Some will focus on your academics, while others will prioritize your financial needs.

For example, if you have poor academic results, then merit-based scholarships will not apply for you. Whereas, if the program is aimed at helping with financial needs and doesn’t focus on academics, you may have a chance.

So first, see their requirement details for which students are qualified for the program. If you need clarification on any details, talk to the scholarship providers directly.

Keep track of the deadline:

The deadline for Scholarship programs usually lasts up to a few months. But that doesn’t mean you should delay your application. Getting all the required documentation can take time, so complete the application and submit it as early as possible. If you are applying for multiple scholarships, then mark the deadline on your calendar.

Organize your applications:

Keeping the applications organized is very important. Mark each of the scholarships that you want to apply for by due dates. Each scholarship application will require different documents, so keep them in separate folders as well.

Carefully re-check the application:

Make sure you don’t leave out any essential details in your application. Your application also needs to be easily readable and should not have grammatical or spelling mistakes. If possible, ask someone else to find errors and provide their feedback.

External Scholarship Resources

The scholarships we mentioned are just some of the notable ones. You can find a lot more by searching the web. You can talk to the financial aid advisors to see if they know of any opportunities. Also, local tech companies often offer various scholarship programs, so contact them to see if they have anything available. Regarding online resources, here are some additional ones that will give you exposure to more scholarship options.

College Board – Here, you can find over 2,200 programs worth around $6 billion.
Fastweb – Here, you will find scholarships, colleges, student loans, part-time jobs, etc.
Scholarships.com – Whether you are a high school freshman or a college senior, this site offers a vast range of scholarship programs for students of varying ages.

Final Thoughts

Benefits achieved from scholarship programs are very evident. Many programs aim to lead students out of financial hardship in terms of paying tuition. In contrast, others help students achieve their career goals by including mentorships, internships, and other career-based support. Event some colleges provide laptop programs to new students.

In short, you will find tons of opportunities that cater to various student’s needs. Once you find the scholarship of your interest, we suggest taking your time to work on the application and do as needed to win the scholarship.

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