Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Going to college means digging for dollars, especially in a down economy.
But it turns out anyone, of any age, can win scholarships for school.
Kurt Supe, founder of Indycollegefunding.org, helps families find college cash.
"You're never too early. You're never too late. But the sooner you start, the better you are," Supe said.
How about starting in kindergarten? That's right. Your five-year-old could win cash for college.
"The company, Toshiba, they have a scholarship for kids as early as kindergarten that they can apply for. It's a science based scholarship."
Toshiba's top prize is $10,000. But what if you're way past kindergarten?
"The women's clothing store, Talbot's, they have a scholarship for non-traditional women, working women who are looking to go back to school, so no matter where you fall in life, there are scholarships out there available for you," Supe said.
High school students can get money even if they didn't finish at the top of their class.
In fact, at the downtown library, it didn't take long to find some surprising scholarships in scholarship directories: free money for school, from unexpected sources.
Tall Clubs International offers a $1,000 scholarship. It's for women 5'10 and above or men taller than 6'2.
$3,000 is awarded through the Possible Woman Foundation. That scholarship targets working women or stay-at-home moms looking to start or change careers. Women can be any age at any education level.
There's a $10,000 scholarship for high schoolers who've fostered ethnic tolerance and acted against bigotry. The Gerda and Kurt Klein Scholarship, through the Houghton Mifflin company, encourages teens to effect positive change in their communities.
Experts say finding and applying for scholarships takes some work, but anyone looking to earn a degree can earn money to get it.
"It's just a matter of being persistent," Supe said.
Some of the best scholarship resources are online. There are lots of websites that help you search. But remember, you should never have to pay to find free money.
Experts say the spring is the best time to start researching because applications and essays do take time.
Related links:
College answer
Fast web
Indy college funding.org
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTHR. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
