As the landscape of federal financial aid continues to shift, students and families are left wondering how they will afford higher education. With Pell Grant and student loan uncertainties, it is more critical than ever to equip students with the knowledge, tools, and structured support to secure scholarships and reduce their financial burden.
Many students come from households where college funding alternatives beyond federal aid are not actively discussed. Without guidance, countless scholarship opportunities go untapped. To bridge this gap, Scholarship Education Outreach is proud to introduce the Scholarship Planning & Activation Lab, a 6-week guided scholarship immersion experience designed to empower students with real-time application strategies that will help them secure scholarship funding before they even graduate high school.
What is the Scholarship Planning & Activation Lab?
This innovative pilot elective course provides a hands-on learning experience for high school seniors, offering structured time within the school day to actively search, apply for, and submit real scholarship applications. Students will not only learn scholarship search strategies but will also gain essential skills in crafting winning applications, writing compelling essays, and organizing key documents for success.
Each student will receive a copy of Your Scholarship Planner®, an educational tool that helps them track scholarship deadlines, store important documents such as resumes and transcripts, and maintain an organized scholarship application process.
6-Week Course Outline & Learning Outcomes
Week 1: Scholarship Search Strategies & Funding Alternatives
- Understanding different types of scholarships and how to find them
- Learning about financial aid beyond federal loans and grants
- Creating a personalized scholarship search plan
Outcome: Students will develop a list of at least 10 scholarships they are eligible for and create a tracking system.
Week 2: Organizing & Managing Scholarship Applications
- Using Your Scholarship Planner® to track deadlines and required documents
- Best practices for staying on top of multiple applications
- Gathering essential documents like recommendation letters and transcripts
Outcome: Students will compile all necessary documents for at least five scholarship applications.
Week 3: Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay
- Understanding what scholarship committees look for
- Drafting and refining a strong, personal scholarship essay
- Receiving feedback and improving written submissions
Outcome: Students will complete a polished essay that can be adapted for multiple applications.
Week 4: Strengthening Your Scholarship Applications
- Writing compelling personal statements
- Highlighting achievements and community involvement effectively
- Submitting completed applications for real scholarships
Outcome: Students will submit at least two scholarship applications.
Week 5: Scholarship Interview Preparation
- Practicing for scholarship interviews with mock Q&A sessions
- Building confidence in presenting achievements and goals
- Understanding professionalism and communication strategies
Outcome: Students will complete a mock interview and receive feedback for improvement.
Week 6: Submitting Applications & Securing Scholarship Funding
- Completing final scholarship applications
- Creating a scholarship application plan for the remainder of senior year
- Tracking progress and celebrating milestones
Outcome: Students will submit at least three additional scholarship applications and establish a plan to continue applying
Why This Program Matters
The Scholarship Planning & Activation Lab provides students with a structured environment to take real action in funding their education. Unlike traditional college prep courses that focus only on test scores and admissions, this elective course ensures that students leave high school with scholarship applications submitted—giving them a higher chance of securing debt-free college funding.
Bring the Scholarship Planning & Activation Lab to Your High School!
We believe every student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of student loan debt. Partner with us to bring this groundbreaking pilot elective to your school and provide students with the scholarship planning resources they need to succeed.
Contact Niakesha Hollins, Executive Director of Scholarship Education Outreach, to learn more.
Complete the inquiry form today to explore how this program can be implemented at your school!