Applying for scholarships during your senior year takes time and energy but can pay off for the student who is organized and a hard worker. Graduates of the LNE class of 2004 received thousands of dollars of "free money" to help them pay for college. Scholarships come from many sources including national foundations such as Target or USA Today, small local organizations such as Downtown Rotary Club or Delta Sigma Theta or even from Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln Northeast! The summer before your senior year, you are encouraged to "get organized". Here are some things you should be doing to help in your scholarship effort:

* Check out websites for scholarships and financial aid information

*Go to http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp to request pin numbers for parent and student. These are required to file the FAFSA electronically (preferred).

* Ask teachers, employer, and other references to write letters of recommendation for you.

* Talk to the colleges you are considering and ask them about specific scholarships that are available.

* Write an essay to use for scholarship applications highlighting your interests, career goals and leadership qualities.

* Apply for any and all scholarships for which you are eligible. Many scholarships are not awarded each year because no one applied for them.

* Make an effort each week to stop by the Scholarship Bulletin Board outside Rm 216 of the Counseling Center and go to http://www.lne.lps.org/counseling .

* Continue to work hard in school, doing well in classes and being involved in community service and extra curricular activities.

* Check out Education Quest, a not for profit college planning and financial aid resource center located at 13th & O Streets in Lincoln. They have tremendous resources and will assist you personally in your college and financial aid search. Their phone number is 475-5222.