Synergy Connects has introduced a program to help local students find scholarships.
The Youth Scholarship Application Workshop will take place at the Qualico Resource Centre in Langdon on Wednesday, Mar. 19, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Terry Gill, manager of the leadership team at Synergy, said this is the first year the event is being hosted.
“A lot of volunteers have been struggling with scholarship applications, and we’re seeing that need more and more, so we decided to start up the workshop.”
The workshop is free for students between the ages of 13 and 17. According to Gill, the workshop will give students the opportunity to search for scholarships and build a portfolio.
“If you have leadership and show you’ve been involved in the community, as opposed to just your Grade 12 year, who is going to be more successful?” he said.
Gill added that there are many scholarships with niche requirements that very few students apply for.
"Some are so unique that maybe one or two people apply for them. I knew a girl who applied for a football scholarship but knew nothing about it. I had one student write an essay on lamps and receive a grant for it."
With tuition rising every year, applying for scholarships is becoming a necessity for more students.
"So many youths, even if it's for jobs, they limit themselves and have a negative mindset," Gill said. "If you spend 10 hours applying for scholarships instead of watching a Netflix special, even if it's a $1,000 scholarship, you just made $100 an hour."
The workshop will also feature student loan guidance, help with planning deadlines, and assistance in obtaining reference letters.
No registration is required to attend the event.
