The Scholarship and American Society
Scholarships have changed the face of college campuses across America, adding students
who had at one time only dreamed of attending a university to the mix. Companies,
organizations, and individuals that sponsor scholarships are looking for the potential
in younger generations. Most sponsors realize that great potential is often discovered
in unconventional people - many of which need resources in order to see their potential
turned into success. College isn’t free; rather it is a competitive market place
of an exclusive nature. Colleges select students on the basis of merit and yes,
often money. The good news is that students who put forth the effort will have access
to the resources necessary to land them on at least one academic playground in this
country. Scholarships fundamentally support the capitalist structure of our economy
while at the same time leveling the playing field for students across the country.
Such resources provide opportunities that students can reach out for regardless
of their financial circumstance, and place a college education within the grasp
of many deserving individuals.
The Motivation Behind the Scholarship
It’s not often that people are willing to fork over thousands of dollars in cash
to a complete stranger. So what possesses someone to give you (the stranger) money
to attend college? If you have ever wondered why sponsors offer scholarship, consider
how they shape our society:
Scholarships Increase Workforce Diversity. Companies service a
wide range of clients; clients who likely speak different languages, carry different
expectations, and have varying skill levels. By creating scholarships that encourage
the education of a people with varying ethnicities, religions, and cultures, companies
can continue to encourage the creation of a diverse yet mutually understanding workforce.
Many students have looked to Scholarships.com for help in finding scholarships for
minorities—and they have found success. There are countless African American scholarships,
Hispanic scholarships, Asian scholarships and disability-related scholarships. The
list goes on.
Scholarships Create Opportunity. College is an expensive luxury
for most families. There aren’t many families with an extra fifty grand lying around—even
families who earn an above average income. Such households are typically denied
financial assistance from the government, yet they don’t have access to the amount
of money necessary to fund an education. Scholarships provide students from every
socioeconomic background the opportunity to earn a diploma and to develop skills
necessary to create success in their lives.
Scholarships Promote Upward Mobility. Many high school students
realize the necessity of a college education early on and they are aware that their
family may not be able to foot the bill for their tuition. Students who are aware
of the scholarship opportunities available can focus their energy in high school
on optimizing their chances of receiving a scholarship. Opportunities are available,
even through the universities themselves, but students have to make an effort to
gain access to them. By a maintaining a good GPA, participating in extracurricular
activities, and succeeding on the SAT/ACT students can take the initiative to ensure
that financial assistance will be available when it’s needed.
Scholarships Reward Merit. If a student doesn’t exert the effort
to achieve in high school (which is nearly free), continuing to fund an even more
expensive education through college is difficult for anyone to justify. By making
the effort to achieve in high school, students show that they are committed to their
futures. This commitment is what scholarships seek to reward, as it is typically
these students who go on to make great contributions to their communities.
Scholarships Creat Opportunity for the Provider I don’t want to
be sour, but many providers know that scholarship handouts are a great tool for
gaining public favor. So your favorite mom and pop convenience store disappeared
just as Wal-Mart moved into town. The company can’t be that bad if it offers the
Wal-Mart Scholarship. Right?