Scholarships

How do I apply for scholarships?  

• Almost all scholarship applications are online. The counseling office will send out links through the Remind app (make sure you sign up for your class!) and will also post links through social media sites including FaceBook.  Watch for deadlines! These are never negotiable. 

 

Can I apply online? 

• Local scholarships specific to DHS will be available to apply for in February online, but there are thousands of other scholarships available online. See our Local, State, and National Scholarship pages for specific scholarship websites. (NEVER pay to apply for any scholarship!)

 

How do I know which scholarships I should apply for? 

• Look carefully at the application or talk with a counselor. Scholarships can focus on a specific career goal or path of study. Every scholarship has requirements and a deadline. Some have essays, interviews, presentations, and/or a GPA requirement.  Pay attention, do your research and start early.

 

My GPA isn’t really high. Should I even look at scholarships?  

• Some scholarships are NOT based on grade point average. Some are based on how much your grades improved over time, what classes you’ve taken or what career you’re pursuing. Some are also based on family affiliations or where your parents work. Look at every scholarship. If you are serious about college and need the money, apply for every scholarship you can! 

 

I’m not going to a 4-year college. I’ll probably attend a trade or 2-year school. Are there scholarships for me?  

• There are many scholarships for students who are going to short term training. Every year thousands of dollars go to DHS graduates who attend Community Colleges, Technical Programs, Art Schools, Culinary Arts Colleges, Air Academies, Beauty Colleges and Professional Trade Schools. Almost every school offers scholarships. 

 

I keep getting mail from companies who guarantee that they will find scholarship money for me. Should I just hire a company to do this?  

• While there are many reputable organizations that will do scholarship searches for you, be wary. On a computer, you can access EVERY scholarship they can and you should never have to pay to apply for any scholarship. All it takes is time. Beware of guarantees to find money. Some of these organizations are very expensive and the student still must do all the applications. There are also some expensive scams. We do not recommend EVER paying for a scholarship search.

 

Are there other resources to help me find scholarships?  

• There are a multitude of scholarship resources available.  We have some great resources available on our website that we recommend our students and families use.  Please refer to the local, state, and national links on our website.

Learn More Here

View a list of local scholarships here.

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Chemeketa Scholars
Scholarship criteria: Earn a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5 or better (as of first semester/quarter grades of final year in high school).  Minimum placement into Reading 115, Writing 115, and Math 095 or higher.  Be on track to earn a regular high school diploma.  Enroll full-time at Chemeketa in the fall following high school graduation. Click here for more information. 

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Chemeketa General Scholarships
One online application, 120+ Scholarship Funds and only 30 minutes to apply.  1 in 4 chance at $1,200.
Click here for more information.

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Western Oregon University Financial Aid & Scholarships
Click here for more information.
Or call toll free: 1-877-877-1593
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Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) 

There are 600+ scholarship programs available through OSAC. You do NOT need to be a merit scholar or a student with financial need to apply. Many are based on criteria such as high school attended, school and community activities, academic interests, or career goals. Some require a minimum GPA and others require no GPA whatsoever. If you choose to only fill out one scholarship application.
​For a "how to apply" video click here
For more information click here

Oregon Promise Grant

Oregon Promise is a state grant program that covers some or all of the tuition at an Oregon community college. Oregon Promise is for recent Oregon high school graduates and GED recipients that enroll in an Oregon community college within six months of graduation.
For more information about the program and application process click here

Oregon Goes to College 

Oregon Goes to College provides a multitude of information that assists students and families in navigating the college and scholarship application process. 
For more information on Oregon scholarships click here

Fastweb is the leading online resource in finding scholarships to help you pay for college. Once you complete your profile you'll have access to the database of more that 1.5 million scholarships. Click here to start your search! ​

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College-Scholarships

College-Scholarships has a free scholarship search with links to more than 70 free, online scholarship search sites listing thousands of scholarships and financial aid awards worth billions of dollars.  
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RaiseMe is a scholarship resource that helps you earn scholarship money just for being a high school student! Earn good grades, participate in clubs or sports, and volunteer to earn micro-scholarships. Many of our local colleges are offering micro-scholarships through RaiseMe. Create a profile and start earning micro-scholarships for college today!