10 unexpected ways to fund your child's college education

BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES

Amy Sutterer, guidance counselor at Central High School, encourages students to Google business and companies and find out if they offer scholarships. Burger King, Coca Cola, Best Buy, Kohl¹s, McDonald¹s and KFC are just a handful of the companies giving scholarships each year. Here's a start:

Burger King Scholars Program

$1,000, $5,000 and $25,000 scholarships are available for high school seniors and Burger King employees. Visit www.haveityourwayfoundation.org.

KFC Colonel¹s Scholars Program

$5,000 per year for U.S. citizens pursuing a bachelor¹s degree at a public, in-state college or university; minimum GPA 2.75 required. Visit www.kfcscholars.org.

U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship Program

Forty scholarships of $1,000 each for full-time students attending a two or four-year college. Visit www.usbank.com/studentbanking.

Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program

For students ages 6 to 18 who have not yet graduated from high school and make a difference in their community. Awards range from $50 gift cards to $9,000 scholarships. Visit www.kohlscorporation.com/communityrelations/scholarship/index.asp.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

Many clubs and organizations offer scholarships. Ask around the community, check websites, and tell your aunts, uncles and parents' friends to be on the lookout for scholarship opportunities. "It's good to get parents and family members involved in looking for scholarships," says Laura Milligan,

director of financial aid at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. "It's good to have backup."

Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarships

500 four-year scholarships worth $1,000 to $15,000 per year. Students do not need to be Elks members or related to Elks members, but must demonstrate financial need, leadership and scholarship. Visit www.elks.org.

Jackson Evening Optimist Scholarship

Applicant must be a graduate of Jackson High School or Notre Dame Regional High School and planning to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Preference will be given to students with civic involvement and Junior Optimist members.

National Wild Turkey Federation's Academic Scholarship Program One-time scholarship worth $500 locally, up to $3,000 at state level or up to $10,000 at the national level. Must be a current member of the National

Wild Turkey Federation and have a hunting license. Visit www.nwtf.org.

Old Town Cape Scholarship

Available at Southeast Missouri State University. First preference to full or part-time students having a direct working association with Old Town Cape or downtown in general (own or work for a downtown business or organization). Second preference to full or part-time student having an indirect association with Old Town Cape or downtown in general (immediate family relative of someone who owns or works in a downtown business or

organization). Third preference to a student majoring in historic preservation.

FAMILY AND FRIEND CONNECTIONS

Milligan says to check your parents' or grandparents' workplaces and colleges, because scholarships may be available to their children and grandchildren.

American Legion Charles L. Bacon Memorial Scholarship

Two awards of $500. Must be a Missouri resident and a member of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, or a descendant of a member of any of those organizations. Visit www.missourilegion.org.

BioKyowa Scholarship

Available at Southeast Missouri State University. First preference will be given to children of BioKyowa employees with more than six months of current employment with BioKyowa. Second preference will be given to children of

BioKyowa employees with less than six months of employment.

College entry timeline

Grades 9 and 10

-Research your career interests, and look into what education and training will be required.

-Make a list of schools you might apply to, and compare expenses for each one.

-Get involved in extracurricular activities.

-Take the PLAN test in October of the sophomore year. Use your results to start preparing for the ACT.

Grade 11

-Obtain admission, scholarship and financial aid packets from your schools of interest.

-Register to take the ACT and/or SAT about five weeks before the test is scheduled.

-If your school hosts sessions with college representatives, start attending these sessions in the spring.

Grade 12

-Register to take the ACT and/or SAT by September.

-Continue meeting with college representatives through the fall and early spring.

-Visit college campuses.

-Attend any financial aid workshops or college expos offered in your area.

-Apply for colleges by Dec. 1.

-Turn in financial aid and scholarship applications as soon as possible after Jan. 1.

READ ABOUT MORE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN FLOURISH. PICK UP A COPY AT THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN AT 301 BROADWAY IN CAPE GIRARDEAU.