EPHRATA — June seems like a long time away now, but before we know it, students will be graduating and heading off to further their education. For those who will need a little extra financial boost, now is the time to start filling out those scholarship applications. 

“We have over 80 opportunities,” said Kristen Elder, scholarship director for the Columbia Basin Foundation. “And within those opportunities, some of them award multiple scholarships. For example, we have (one fund) we usually award 25-30 scholarships from.” 

Last year, the Foundation awarded scholarships to about 145 students, Elder said. She wasn’t certain of the exact dollar amount, but said it was probably about $250,000. 

The Foundation is kind of a one-stop shopping destination for scholarships. Students can set up an account at cbfcommunity.org, fill out the forms and select the scholarships they want to apply for. From there, the applications go to Elder, who has a team of volunteers to help her narrow down the list for each scholarship. 

“We have an evaluation team that's made up of our board members, some of our staff members and community members … some are former teachers,” she said. “We assign the different scholarships to different groups or different people, and they have the criteria that the donor has set forth. They look at all those scholarships, and they come up with their top five (applicants) usually. And then we go from there.” 

Some of the scholarship recipients are selected by the donors themselves, Elder added. 

The scholarships fall into three categories, Elder said. Some are for students graduating high school and heading off to their first year of college, and others are for college students continuing their education. There’s a good deal of overlap; some are open to both. Some of them have specific criteria: they’re for students planning to major in a specific field, or graduates of a particular high school.  

Applications for those scholarships opened at the first of the year and close March 15, according to the CBF website. The scholarship winners will receive an email once their application is done, and winners will be notified by June. 

The competition for scholarships is tough, Elder said.  

“It’s really hard because there are so many excellent students,” she said. “The GPAs are high. Their resumes are filled with activities, community service, church activities. A lot of times the selection committee will have to … go to the counselors (and) teachers and get just a little bit more information on those kids. Because (the scholarships) are all different. Some (are) need-based, some are (for) students who excel in a certain activity like music or band.” 

The important thing for the student is not to cut corners in filling out the application, Elder said. 

“Thoroughly (fill) out the questions, the ones that ask about community service or what your goals are, explaining what you want out of your education experience,” she said. “There's several of those questions. If you thoroughly explain those and do a good job, it gives us a better idea of who the student is and how hard they work.” 

Students don’t always know at the beginning of their college career exactly what they want, Elder said. Those scholarships are only for one year, so if the student changes their mind about a major or goal, the next year’s application can reflect that. 

The third category is a new one this year, Elder said. Those are workforce/continuing education scholarships and grants, for people who have taken some time off from school and want to go back, or who want to beef up their education to get ahead in a career. 

“We’re going to award those four times a year,” she said. “Say you're in a job and your job won't pay for you to get your CDL, or if you're a nurse and you want to advance your position. Those are the type of people we're looking for … It doesn’t have to be a four-year university. If someone's going to the beauty school in Moses Lake or (an) IBEW apprenticeship, things like that, if there's a way we can still award it to an institution.” 

The deadline for the first quarter for workforce/continuing education scholarships is Feb. 15, according to the CBF website. 

“Everyone (who needs it) should just apply,” Elder said. “You just never know because there are so many different scholarships, especially for students going into vocational programs. Some of those students don't realize they can get scholarships for those programs.” 

Scholarship opportunities through Columbia Basin Foundation can be found at cbfcommunity.org. 

    Selah Loomis, left, of Vanguard Academy receives the Tom and Linda Tiffany Scholarship. That award is open to graduates of the Moses Lake School District, preferably low-income, who are majoring in education.
  

    Riley Rodriguez, left, and Sylas Garza, right, receive the Fight for Mike Scholarship for Othello High School students who plan to major in the medical field. Presenting the award is the scholarship fund’s administrator Sarah Montemayor.