By Angelica Avila
Pulse Staff Reporter
Palo Alto College is giving away money. All you have to do is be enrolled full time and have a 2.0 GPA. Between $250 to $1,000 is awarded to Palo Alto students from scholarships.
“Over 50 percent of students get money,” said Leticia Inocencio, senior coordinator of Alumni and Scholarships. “If you apply for scholarships, you stand a really good chance of receiving a scholarship because not many students apply.”
For instance, around 600 students at Palo Alto applied this year for the general scholarship. “It’s not the number I would like to see,” said Inocencio.
She has seen lives change with the help from scholarships since not all students are eligible to receive Financial Aid.
“Students don’t realize how expensive it is,” said Inocencio. “Students expect to transfer to major universities without considering the price of tuition, housing, transportation and food.”
“Since no one applies, a lot of the time the money just sits there,” said Aracely Bowling, SEED advisor.
Bowling does not receive many visits from students for information about scholarships. However she does encourage students to apply by sending them emails about upcoming scholarships and their criteria.
In the spring of 2016, in late March or early April, Inocencio will hold a scholarship luncheon event where donors of scholarships will send representatives to meet with their recipients.
Companies like Toyota, USAA, Valero, Los Sembradores and others will attend. This is also a great networking opportunity for anyone interested in these companies. Food and drinks will be provided at the luncheon.
The General Scholarship opens Jan 11, 2016, at 8 a.m. To be eligible, you must have completed the FASFA. One application can be applied to 30 different scholarships.
The priority deadline to be eligible for a scholarship is Sunday, April 3, 2016, at midnight. The final deadline to be considered for any additional scholarships is Sunday, Sept. 11, of 2016.
You may find the General Scholarship Application at https://wwwsecure.alamo.edu/scholarship/application.aspx.
“I receive about $750 from a scholarship awarded to me by my dad’s employer,” said Natalie Soto, a sophomore Liberal Arts major.
Her scholarship is good for two semesters. All she has to do is be a relative to someone who works for the Army Residency Community, have a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled full time.
For a list of scholarships, the deadlines and the requirements, visit http://alamo.edu/pac/scholarships/, or ask your employer. Your advisor is also able to give you scholarship information.
You may also visit Inocencio’s office in the Executive Offices Building, Room 163, next to the Student Center, during her office hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You may also email her at linocencio@alamo.edu or give her a call at (210) 486-3117.
PAC Student Media 