Students in Granite City Community Unit School District 9 have received a comprehensive bulletin outlining key steps and deadlines for college applications and scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The bulletin emphasizes the importance of completing college applications thoroughly, sending official ACT or SAT scores to prospective schools, and using www.parchment.com to transmit transcripts. Students are reminded that many colleges require applicants to be accepted before they can apply for scholarships, with some deadlines as early as November 1. A FAFSA Completion Workshop is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at the high school’s Media Center.
A list of scholarship websites is provided, including resources such as www.studentscholarships.org, www.finaid.org, and www.studentaid.gov. ResumeTemplates.com offers free scholarship-focused resume templates and guidance for students seeking to improve their application materials.
The bulletin also shares ten tips on securing scholarships, highlighting persistence in searching, organization, meeting deadlines, and avoiding scams. It warns: “If you must pay money to get money, it might be a scam.” Examples of potential scams include promises of guaranteed scholarships or requests for credit card information.
Several specific scholarships are detailed with upcoming deadlines:
– The Ron Brown Scholar Program targets African-American seniors who aim to contribute significantly to society.
– Southeast Missouri State University offers the Cooper Dome Scholarship ($500-$5,000) and President’s Scholarship ($8,000), both with a March 1 deadline.
– The UMSL Opportunity Scholars Program provides full tuition for academically gifted first-generation students; applications are due December 1.
– The Profile in Courage Essay Contest awards up to $10,000; deadline is January 12.
– Tuskegee Airman Scholarship offers forty $1,500 awards based on academic performance and financial need; deadline is January 26.
– Eastern Illinois University has several merit-based scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $16,000.
– Alton Pride Scholarship supports LGBTQ+ youth with three awards available.
– NACME administers over $5 million annually in scholarships for underrepresented minority engineering and computer science students.
Additional opportunities include the Saint Louis University Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship (February 1), Gold Star Mission Scholarship (February 1), Elks Legacy Scholarship (February 2), Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leader Scholarship (February 7), Horatio Alger Association Scholarships (February 15), Granite City Federation of Teachers Local 743 Scholarships (four $500 awards), SWIC College Foundation Scholarships (over 300 available), Dawn Bruder Educational Scholarship ($500 each for two future educators from GCHS), CBAI Foundation for Community Banking Scholarship Program ($21,500 statewide), Southwestern Electric Power for Progress Scholarship ($1,000 each), Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship ($500 award by Sheriff Jeff C. Connor of Madison County), American Legion Essay Contest (awards up to $1,200), Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Scholarships ($2,000 each in an eleven-county area including Madison County), Mathis Marifian & Richter Law Scholarship ($1,000 each in St. Clair, Madison and Perry counties) and Southwestern Electric Cooperative Scholarships ($1,200 each).
Granite City Community Unit School District 9 serves multiple schools within Madison County including Coolidge Junior High School and Granite City High School. According to state data (source), the district employs about 320 teachers with an average salary of nearly $68,000 per year; most teachers are women. The student body is diverse: approximately two-thirds White students alongside significant Black and Hispanic populations (source). In fiscal year 2020 the district spent about $17,739 per student (source).
Students interested in these opportunities should consult their Guidance Office or visit provided links for more details on eligibility requirements and application procedures.
“If you must pay money to get money, it might be a scam.”
