Scholarships: Beware of scams, check out little-known offerings

Scam-free scholarship info

Beware scholarship scams that ask for money: They don't offer anything you can't find for free.

Here are two good, free sources for scholarship info:

• College Planning Network, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that features free searching for both local and national scholarships: www.collegeplan.org

• The College Board, www.collegeboard.com

Three best-bet scholarships

Here are three scholarships that often go begging for applicants, according to College Planning Network:

Alpha Omicron Boulé Scholarship:

Renewable $1,000 scholarship grants awarded to African-American men from King County who are high-school seniors enrolling in colleges or universities. Must show evidence of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement and financial need.

Deadline: March 31

How to apply: www.seattlefoundation.org/scholarships

Nora Stone Smith Scholarship

Renewable scholarships of $2,000 for graduating high-school seniors or graduates of the past year who are current or former ESL/ELL (English as a Second Language/English Language Learners) students. Must be enrolled full-time at a two- or four-year college or university or vocational/trade school.

Deadlines:

Feb. 1 (for spring or summer semester/quarter 2009)

May 1 (for fall quarter 2009)

How to apply: www.seattlefoundation.org/scholarships

The Car of MY Future: Washington State Auto Dealers Association Student Scholarship Program

One $3,000 scholarship; two $2,000 scholarships (one in Eastern and one in Western Washington); two $1,500 scholarships (one in Eastern and one in Western Washington).

To eligible you must be a senior who resides in Washington and is enrolled in a Washington state high school or is home-schooled.

Requires an essay and art work that envisions your personal vehicle of the future, as well as a recommendation.

Deadline: Postmarked by March 1

How to apply: Details and the application:

www.collegeplan.org/cpnow/pnwguide/guideupdates.htm