50. Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Only invited institutions may nominate students to apply for scholarships.

Amount: $10,000


The Dizzy Feet Foundation’s goal is to bring the joy of dance into the lives of children in low income areas and disadvantaged communities. The Foundation provides scholarships to talented students who are studying at an accredited dance school, studio, university or other institution and are at least 15 years old. Applicants must be nominated by their school, and will be judged based on talent, technical skill and dance expression.

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Holiday Scholarships & Internships

Tis’ the season to get a scholarship! These holiday award opportunities will surely leave you feeling jolly and bright.

After all, what better way to get you in the spirit than opportunities to pay for school? Just think – you’ll have that much more to save for years of holidays to come!

All of the awards below are holiday-themed, whether in name, category or spirit.

Apply for these scholarships, celebrating all that is holiday – the only list you need this holiday season is this one!

Holiday-Themed Scholarships

Peace Scholar Dissertation Scholarship

Deadline: 12/12/15

Award: $20,000

Available to: Graduate Students, Year 3 through Year 5

The Peace Scholar Dissertation Scholarship is available to doctoral students enrolled in U.S. universities.

You must be writing a doctoral dissertation on a topic related to peace, conflict, or international security to qualify for this award.

You must have completed all course work and examinations toward your doctoral degree by the time the fellowship begins.

You may submit a project in any discipline.

Get more information on the Peace Scholar Dissertation Scholarship.

IDDBA Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship

Deadline: 1/1/15

Award: $1,000

Available to: College Freshman to College Senior

The IDDBA (International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association) Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship is available to students who are employed by an IDDBA-member company.

You must also have an academic major in a food-related field, business, or marketing and a GPA of at least 2.5 to be eligible for this award.

Students in the last semester of their degree program do not qualify for this award.

Get more information on the IDDBA Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship.

$10,000 Teach Seniors Technology Scholarship

Deadline: 1/20/15

Award: $10,000

Available to: Maximum Age 25

Get this: 40% of seniors don’t use the Internet. At all. This can leave them disconnected from loved ones and lead to feelings of isolation and depression.

This October, DoSomething.org has teamed up with AARP Foundation’s Mentor Up Program to launch the second year of the Grandparents Gone Wired campaign, which asks young people to help seniors stay connected to family and friends by teaching a grandparent or other elderly adult how to use current tech trends like smartphones, social media, video chat, and email.

Participants can not only improve the life of a senior citizen, but earn a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship for school.

Get more information on the $10,000 Teach Seniors Technology Scholarship.

Roothbert Fund Scholarship

Deadline: 2/2/15

Award: $3,000

Available to: College Freshman through Graduate Students, Year 5

The Roothbert Fund Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students attending a U.S. college or university.

Eligible candidates are “motivated by spiritual values” and work to foster fellowship among them.

Preference is given to students who are considering careers in education.

Get more information on the Roothbert Fund Scholarship.

Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest

Deadline: 2/18/15

Award: $10,000

Available to: High School Freshman to Graduate Year 5

The Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to currently enrolled high school and college students in the United States.

To enter, you must design a holiday, birthday, get well or birthday greeting card and submit your work to be judged.

Your photo, art or graphics submitted must be your own original work and you must be at least 14 years of age to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest.

Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association Scholarship

Deadline: 4/1/15

Award: $750

Available to: College Juniors to Graduate Students, Year 5

The Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association Scholarship is available to juniors, seniors, and graduate students majoring in forestry or horticulture.

You must be a resident of Virginia to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association Scholarship.

Anna and Charles Stockwitz Children and Youth Fund

Deadline: Varies

Award: $6,000

Available to: College Freshman through College Seniors

The purpose of the Anna and Charles Stockwitz Children and Youth Fund is to assist Jewish children and teens with a valuable educational, social, or psychological experience, or to assist them in attending undergraduate school.

The fund provides a maximum amount of $6,000 for a grant, loan or both.

You must reside in San Francisco, Marin, Peninsula or Sonoma counties if applying for a grant, and you must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area to be eligible for a loan.

Deadlines for grants vary; therefore, it is encouraged that you apply early.

Get more information on the Anna and Charles Stockwitz Children and Youth Fund.

Snowball Scholarship for Service Learning

Deadline: Varies

Award: $1,500

Available to: College Sophomores

The Snowball Scholarship for Service-Learning is available to full-time second-year students at Monroe Community College.

You must be a graduate of a Rochester City School District school and be participating in the MCC service-learning program to qualify for this award.

Get more information on the Snowball Scholarship for Service Learning.

Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship

Deadline: Varies

Award: $500

Available to: College Freshman through College Sophomores

The Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship is available to full-time students at Gogebic Community College.

You must be active in service in your community and be a resident of Gogebic or Ontonagon County, Michigan, or Iron County, Wisconsin, to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship.

Culinary Institute of America National Student Organization Scholarship

Deadline: Varies

Award: $3,000

Available to: College Freshman through College Seniors

The Culinary Institute of America National Student Organization Scholarship is available to students who are student members of SkillsUSA.

You must demonstrate skill in baking, culinary arts or pastry arts to qualify for this award.

Get more information on the Culinary Institute of America National Student Organization Scholarship.

American Institute of Baking Scholarship

Deadline: 5/1/15

Award: $500

Available to: College Freshman through Graduate Students, Year 5

The American Institute of Baking Scholarship is available to students attending AIB’s 16-week baking science and technology and/or AIB’s 16-week maintenance engineering courses.

Selection will be based on educational background, three letters of recommendation, and work experience relative to the baking and food industries.

Get more information on the American Institute of Baking Scholarship.

Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

Deadline: Varies

Award: Varies

Available to: College Junior to College Senior

The Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association Scholarship is available to students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

You must be a junior or senior in good academic standing, studying in a field related to the cranberry growing industry to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

Audrey Medford-National Wild Turkey Federation Art Scholarship

Deadline: Varies

Award: Varies

Available to: College Freshman to College Sophomore

The Audrey Medford-National Wild Turkey Federation Art Scholarship is available to full-time students at Angelina College.

You must be majoring in art and display an interest in wildlife and natural resource management to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Audrey Medford-National Wild Turkey Federation Art Scholarship.

Camelback Ski Corp. Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: Varies

Award: Varies

Available to: College Freshman through College Seniors

The Camelback Ski Corp. Endowed Scholarship is open to students at East Stroudsburg University.

You must be majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management and have a minimum 3.0 QPA to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Camelback Ski Corp. Endowed Scholarship.

Holiday-Themed Internships

Winter Wildlife Intern – Wildcare Inc.

Deadline: Varies

Available to: College Freshman through College Senior

The Winter Wildlife Intern position is open to students who are interested in the care and treatment of injured and orphaned wildlife.

You must be able to work 10 hours per week during the fall and/or spring term to be eligible for this internship.

This internship is unpaid.

Get more information on the Winter Wildlife internship.

Penguin Group Internship

Deadline: Varies

Available to: College Freshman through Graduate Students, 5th Year

The Penguin Group Internship is available to students who are interested in the field of publishing.

Internships are available in the areas of contracts, editorial, graphic design, managing editorial, marketing, production, publicity, sales, subsidiary rights, and operations. A resume and cover letter are required.

Get more information on the Penguin Group Internship.

Toys”R”Us Students Internship

Deadline: Varies

Available to: College Juniors to College Seniors

The Toys"R"Us Student Internships are available to undergraduate and graduate students.

In this paid ten-week summer program, interns will gain valuable business experience, participate in off-site activities, be empowered through learning workshops, and receive mentoring from seasoned executives.

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2015 Scholarships

Let’s kick off the New Year on a great note – starting with plenty of opportunities to pay for school for everystudent.

We’ve found new and exciting scholarship opportunities for 2015 so you can begin to your New Year with opportunities for a better tomorrow. After all, isn’t that what scholarships are really about?

Start your New Year off right by applying for the below 2015 scholarships but – wait – don’t stop there!

Be sure to keep checking out your 2015 scholarship matches for even more opportunities to make this year count. Make 2015 the year YOU win a scholarship!

All it takes is hard work, determination and effort towards your scholarship applications. Oh, and don’t even think about giving up if you don’t win right away – that’s certainly not a scholarship winner’s attitude.

Here are 15 scholarships for 2015 to get you started off on the right foot (and the right financial path) this year:

$10,000 Teach Seniors Technology Scholarship

Deadline: January 20, 2015

Award: $10,000

Available to: Maximum Age 26

Get this: 40% of seniors don’t use the Internet. At all. This can leave them disconnected from loved ones and lead to feelings of isolation and depression.

This October, DoSomething.org has teamed up with AARPFoundation’s Mentor Up Program to launch the second year of the Grandparents Gone Wired campaign, which asks young people to help seniors stay connected to family and friends by teaching a grandparent or other elderly adult how to use current tech trends like smartphones, social media, video chat, and email.

Participants can not only improve the life of a senior citizen, but earn a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship for school.

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4 Reasons to Consider a Bad Credit Credit Card

People get sick. Jobs come and go. The roof leaks. Life happens, and sometimes that means you end up with a low credit score.

Credit cards for people with bad credit can make a big difference when you’re getting your finances back in shape. Here are some reasons you might want to consider applying for a bad credit credit card.

1. Applying for lots of credit cards hurts your score.

Every time you apply for a credit card, your score slips about five points. If your score is high, five points is just a blip. But if your score is low — anything below 630 is considered bad credit — you can’t afford to do anything that causes it to go down even further. So if you’ve been applying for the best credit cards out there without success, stop now. Get realistic and apply for a card that’s geared toward people in your situation. The card issuers will be more sympathetic to your plight, and you won’t keep bringing your score down even further by applying for cards without getting approved. And don’t worry — when your score improves, you’ll be able to apply for any card you want.

2. You’re responsible, but you need a chance to prove it.

The best credit cards for people with poor credit are often secured cards. With secured cards, you pay the card issuer a refundable deposit so they feel more confident you’ll pay back what you borrow. Getting a secured credit card gives you a chance to build up a positive credit history. To take advantage of the opportunity, make sure you pay on time, every time, and keep your overall balances as low as possible, and definitely below 30% of your available credit at all times during the month.

3. They’re not necessarily a bad deal.

It’s true — many financial products for people with few options have high, exploitative fees, like payday loans and some prepaid debit cards. But many of have annual fees comparable to other credit cards, and the Credit CARD Act of 2009 prevents credit card companies from jacking up the fees higher than 25% of your credit limit in the first year you have the card.

4. Bad credit credit cards build your score — debit cards don’t.

It’s pretty hard to get through life without plastic these days, so many people with poor credit (or even no credit history at all) get a prepaid debit card. While these are useful, they don’t report to the credit bureaus, so they don’t build your score and you’re never able to move up to a better card. Choose an option that will bring your score up if at all possible.

A good credit score makes it easier to find a place to live, get a job and get insurance — all things that will improve your sense of security and your quality of life. Make this the last credit card for poor credit you ever apply for. Use it as a tool for rebuilding your credit, and put good financial habits in place to ensure you’re never in this position again.

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When 0% Interest Credit Cards Are the Best Available Option

Deciding on a credit card to apply for can be confusing. Even for those with little understanding of how credit cards work, however, the appeal of a zero interest credit card is obvious. But is it the best card for you?

Like many questions in life, the answer is that it depends. Everyone has a unique credit history and financial situation, and with hundreds of different credit cards available, no one card is best for everybody. Here are some cases in which a 0 interest credit card may be best for you.

You already have a lot of credit card debt

If you have a lot of credit card debt, paying it down while interest mounts can feel like treading water. Getting a card with no interest can be a great option to consolidate existing credit card debt and pay it down. If you’re thinking of this option, check into cards that also offer 0% balance transfers at the same time. Saving money on interest that you’ll just pay in the form of balance transfer fees isn’t really saving any money at all.

This debt consolidation option is most attractive if you can pay down the existing debt before the introductory period is over. That’s the time frame for which you’ll be able to use the card without paying interest, and it varies by card offer. Make sure that if you decide on this option, you have a plan to pay down as much of your debt as you can during the 0 APR introductory period.

You have one big purchase to make

If you’re facing a large purchase you can’t quite afford in one payment, a 0 interest credit card offer may be just what you need. This option can give you the time you need to pay for something expensive without worrying about interest. Unlike the debt consolidation option, finding a credit card with a 0% balance transfer option may not be necessary.

Even though you may not have to worry about balance transfers in the case of a large purchase, you should pay attention to the length of the offer. If you’re going to buy your item interest free, it’s your responsibility to plan accordingly. Make sure you can pay off the balance on the card before the introductory period runs out, or else it might not be worth it.

What to know before you apply

In general, the best interest free credit card offers are available only to those with good or excellent credit. If that doesn’t sound like you, and you’re checking out 0 interest credit card offers, be sure to read the fine print, and make note of any extra fees. When deciding whether it’s worth it to get a no interest credit card, ensure those fees don’t cancel out what you’re saving on interest.

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Credit History vs. Credit Report: What’s the Difference?

You know the difference between your credit score and credit report—but the difference between a credit history and a credit report still might be a head-scratcher for you if you have no credit.

Simply put, your credit history is included on your credit report, and you can’t have one without the other. Here’s how it works.

Credit history

Your credit history is an exhaustive record of all your lines of credit, bill payments and credit usage. If you don’t have any credit cards or loans, chances are you have no credit history. But that’s easy to fix.

There are credit cards for people with no credit; they’re called secured cards, and they report to the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Transunion and Experian. To establish credit for yourself, consider applying for one. Make your payments on time and use less than 30% of your credit limit. By starting small, you can build a strong credit history over time.

Credit report

Credit reports are the documents potential lenders look at to see if you’re a responsible borrower. They include a person’s credit history as well as other information, like the borrower’s Social Security number and address. You’re entitled to one free credit report per year from each credit bureau.

If you have no credit history or use a credit card that doesn’t report to the credit bureaus, you won’t have a credit report. This doesn’t mean you have bad credit; it just means that lenders don’t have enough information to determine whether or not you’d be a responsible borrower.

If you have a longer credit history, here’s a look at what could be included on your credit report:

Bankruptcies, foreclosures, collections and public records—More than 3 million foreclosure filings were made during the economic downturn of 2008, according to a study by RealtyTrac. But come 2015, those foreclosures, which currently stay on credit reports for seven years along with bankruptcies, public records (such as liens) and payments that went into collections, will come off borrowers’ credit reports.

Inquiries—Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years and ding your credit score about five points each. Every credit card application counts as a separate inquiry, so if you have no credit, remember to apply to new cards one at a time.

Late payments—Late payments might not sound like a big deal, but like bankruptcies, they’ll be on your credit report for seven years. Automate your credit card payments to ensure you pay your cards on time, every time.

Closed accounts—If you close an account, it doesn’t just disappear. Accounts paid on time will show up for 10 years from the date of closure, but accounts paid late will show up on your report for seven years after the last missed payment. Before closing an account, think about the impact it will have on your credit report.

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4 Reasons to Consider a Bad Credit Credit Card

People get sick. Jobs come and go. The roof leaks. Life happens, and sometimes that means you end up with a low credit score.

Credit cards for people with bad credit can make a big difference when you’re getting your finances back in shape. Here are some reasons you might want to consider applying for a bad credit credit card.

1. Applying for lots of credit cards hurts your score.

Every time you apply for a credit card, your score slips about five points. If your score is high, five points is just a blip. But if your score is low — anything below 630 is considered bad credit — you can’t afford to do anything that causes it to go down even further. So if you’ve been applying for the best credit cards out there without success, stop now. Get realistic and apply for a card that’s geared toward people in your situation. The card issuers will be more sympathetic to your plight, and you won’t keep bringing your score down even further by applying for cards without getting approved. And don’t worry — when your score improves, you’ll be able to apply for any card you want.

2. You’re responsible, but you need a chance to prove it.

The best credit cards for people with poor credit are often secured cards. With secured cards, you pay the card issuer a refundable deposit so they feel more confident you’ll pay back what you borrow. Getting a secured credit card gives you a chance to build up a positive credit history. To take advantage of the opportunity, make sure you pay on time, every time, and keep your overall balances as low as possible, and definitely below 30% of your available credit at all times during the month.

3. They’re not necessarily a bad deal.

It’s true — many financial products for people with few options have high, exploitative fees, like payday loans and some prepaid debit cards. But many of have annual fees comparable to other credit cards, and the Credit CARD Act of 2009 prevents credit card companies from jacking up the fees higher than 25% of your credit limit in the first year you have the card.

4. Bad credit credit cards build your score — debit cards don’t.

It’s pretty hard to get through life without plastic these days, so many people with poor credit (or even no credit history at all) get a prepaid debit card. While these are useful, they don’t report to the credit bureaus, so they don’t build your score and you’re never able to move up to a better card. Choose an option that will bring your score up if at all possible.

A good credit score makes it easier to find a place to live, get a job and get insurance — all things that will improve your sense of security and your quality of life. Make this the last credit card for poor credit you ever apply for. Use it as a tool for rebuilding your credit, and put good financial habits in place to ensure you’re never in this position again.

---

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