| Paying for college can feel like a daunting task, | | | | was expanded from 31 to 45 community colleges in |
| especially with the cost of tuition rising faster than | | | | order to help a wider range of students. |
| the rate of inflation. Still, potential students should not | | | | Dreamkeepers also has a special mission. It realizes |
| feel discouraged by the overall cost. There are many | | | | that some students suffer a financial disaster of |
| scholarships, college grants and other financial | | | | some type in the middle of their academic career. It |
| assistance packages available for degree candidates. | | | | provides emergency cash so the student need not |
| Many of these are need-based, and almost every | | | | drop out. |
| potential student can find the funding that best suits | | | | The majority of individuals planning on attending one |
| their lifestyle and education goals. | | | | of the country's many schools online or |
| Rather than give up on the dream of attending | | | | campus-based programs can use financial assistance |
| college, young people should look for financial aid, | | | | in the form of scholarships or college grants. If one |
| especially if they come from middle-to-low-income | | | | does not qualify for need-based funding, he or she |
| backgrounds. Because their financial need is more | | | | may be able to find a scholarship that speaks to his |
| immediate, it is often less difficult for such individuals | | | | or her interests or talents. |
| to obtain funding. | | | | There are many sports scholarships available, and |
| One program aims to encourage those from such | | | | individuals can start planning for college before they |
| backgrounds to stay in school and earn the | | | | have picked out their program of study. Even in |
| qualifications that will build the foundations for their | | | | middle school, if one has a strong interest in a certain |
| future. The Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial | | | | sport, that talent can be developed and nurtured. |
| Assistance Program, for example, is geared towards | | | | Eventually, this may lead to the student's school of |
| helping students who are enrolled in community | | | | choice offering funding to play sports at the college |
| colleges. It seems to be catching on as a number of | | | | level. |
| major corporations, including Kresge's and Wal-Mart, | | | | On the other hand, those who enjoy volunteer work |
| have added millions of dollars to this trust fund for its | | | | may find scholarships that reward this. This can be |
| continued assistance. | | | | both on the local level, from philanthropic |
| The funding from this scholarship program is intended | | | | organizations with whom the student has a |
| to encourage individuals to stay in school and | | | | connection, or nationally-acclaimed programs that aim |
| complete their associate's or bachelor's degrees. In | | | | to help young people make the world a better place. |
| essence, the scholarships allow these students to | | | | A classic example of this is AmeriCorps. |
| start the rest of their lives. Recently, the program | | | | |