Elks National Most Valuable Student Scholarship – Awards are based on community service, honors and awards, leadership and extracurricular activities, parental financial statement, Counselor report, transcripts, ACT score, and employment.  Applications are available online at: www.elks.org/enf/scholars.  Allow plenty of time to complete this application, as it has several areas required.  Applications can be mailed to the Cottonwood Elks # 2344, P.O. Box 57403, Salt Lake City, Ut.  84157-0403 or you can deliver your application to Cottonwood Elks, 4894 S. State St. Murray, Ut.  84107  Tele. 801-266-2344. Deadline:  December 2, 2011.

AXA Achievement Scholarship – The AXA Achievement Scholarship offers college scholarships of $10,000 and $25,000 to high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their activities in school, the community or the workplace. The scholarships are sponsored by the AXA Foundation, in association with U.S. News & World Report.  The 2012 program will be accepting applications from September 1, 2011 through December 1, 2011. Your application must be one of the first 12,000 submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CST on December 1, 2011 to be considered. Apply early online at: http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/AXA-achievement-scholarship.html.  Deadline:  December 1, 2011.

Soroptimist/Violet Richardson Award – This award recognizes young women between the ages 14 and 17 who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts.  These are merit award and are not based on academic achievement.  The Violet Richardson Award begins with a cash award ($500) at the local Club level (Salt Lake), with the Club winner becoming eligible for region-level awards of $1,000 and $1,000 will also be chosen from 29 winners for an additional award.  Girls interested can use the website www.sislc.org and then email it to kzns8@clear.net.  Deadline:  December 1, 2011.

The Bill of Rights Institute’s 2011-2012 Being an American Essay Contest- This contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students in Grades 9-12. Essay Question: “How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?” In an essay of no more than 1000 words, analyze and discuss:

• How one of the Founding principles (read about the Founding principles on the web link) established in the Constitution helps preserve liberty

• Why at least one Founder, as evidenced in a primary source document, believed your chosen principle was a safeguard to liberty

• Why your principle continues to be important today

• How you personally help preserve a culture that insures the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in America

First Place: $1000 (5 winners)

Second Place: $500 (5 winners)

Third Place $250 (5 winners)

*Winners will be announced in February.

Visit www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/essaycontest for more details and complete rules/regulations.  Students must submit their essays online between Constitution Day – September 17, 2011 through Bill of Rights Day – December 15, 2011 at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/submit  Deadline: December 15, 2011, 11:59pm (PST).

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award Program – Awards are given to students who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and initiative through examples such as: participating in organizations such as: starting his/her own business; participating in organizations such as DECA, FBLA and others.  An officially established business is not a requirement.  In selecting final winners, the Selection Committee will consider each applicant’s academic record, extracurricular activities, leadership activities, and essay content.  Evidence of entrepreneurial spirit and initiative will be heavily weighted.  Visit the website: www.NFIB.com/YEA to apply and to get more information.  Deadline:  December 15, 2011.

Top Ten List Scholarship 2011 - ScholarshipExperts.com is again offering the Top Ten List Scholarship and will award three scholarships of $1,000 each.  Applicants must:  Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application, be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2017) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education, submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the scholarship topic: “Create a list of your 10 favorite books and what they have taught you.”  Apply online at www.scholarshipexperts.com/apply.htx#5K2. Deadline: December 31, 2011.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Scholarship – Three scholarships totaling $850 will be awarded annually to the authors of the top Apprentice Ecologist essays. Scholarships are available for students aged 13-21. To become an official Apprentice Ecologist and be considered for a scholarship: 1) conduct your own environmental stewardship project in 2011. 2) Take a few digital photos of your project in action. 3) write an essay about your project and what it meant to you. 4) Register and upload your favorite project photo along with your essay. For examples of environmental projects, tips on writing the essay, and complete details, visit http://www.wildernessproject.org/volunteer_apprentice_ecologist.  Deadline: midnight GMT December 31, 2011.

Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship – The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship is open to 9th-12th grade high school students, college students or graduate school students who are legal U.S. residents. Students not currently in school must plan to enroll in a higher education program within 12 months.  Winners are chosen by committee, which bases its decision primarily on the submitted personal statement.  The first place award is a $1000 scholarship.   For complete details and to apply, visit http://www.gkscholarship.com Deadlines: August 1- December 31, 2011 (Fall Competition); January 1- July 31, 2012 (Spring Competition).