Southern Shores— The Outer Banks Community Foundation has four scholarships available this year for students graduating from Ocracoke School and is accepting applications on its website www.obcf.org until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 27.
The Greg and Eden Honeycutt Scholarship helps college-bound, graduating seniors from Cape Hatteras Secondary School and Ocracoke School. This scholarship considers academic record, financial need, volunteer work and extracurricular activities with possible preference to those students bound for a public North Carolina-accredited four-year college or university, community college or technical school. This year, one $3,000 scholarship will be provided to one graduating senior from Ocracoke School.
Ocracoke Island Realty and Village Realty offer a renewable $1,000 scholarship to multiple students. Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, with preference given to dependents of employees at Village Realty and/or Ocracoke Island Realty.
The Sawyer Scholarship is a $5,000 annual, renewable award for students with demonstrated financial need as well as a positive work ethic and history. The First Flight Society provides a merit-based $500 scholarship to deserving high school seniors who plan to pursue a career in aviation. The Sawyer and First Scholarships are open to both Ocracoke and Dare County students.
From the foundation’s website, students can apply for any foundation scholarship. Applicants begin the process by completing a short questionnaire, which then directs them to the scholarships for which they’re eligible.
From there, students complete one common application, upload one transcript, submit any required essays, and apply for all Community Foundation scholarships for which they are eligible, all in one place. Teachers and community members can provide confidential recommendations online without having to make multiple copies.
Though many of the foundation’s scholarships are merit-based, the majority of awards consider financial need. For the need-based awards, students are required to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and upload the resulting Student Aid Report into their application.
Lorelei Costa, executive director, urges interested students to begin the process now.
“Please don’t wait until March 27 to begin your application,” she said. “We have a strict deadline, and if you start too late, you might not get your recommendation letters and Student Aid Report in time.”
Scholarship funds have been generously donated from individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies to help local students pursue higher education. Any community member can establish a scholarship fund with the Community Foundation by calling Costa at 252-261-8839.
Scholarship winners will be announced at Ocracoke School’s Senior Awards Night on Sunday, June 12.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation, 13 Skyline Rd., is a public charity that connects people who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation manages $13 million in 145 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, awards charitable grants to local nonprofits, administers 45 scholarship programs and provides tailored services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. Since its inception in 1982, the foundation has awarded more than $7 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students.
