This page presents information dealing with scholarships and financial aid for post-secondary education. This is not an all inclusive listing of scholarship opportunities. The focus is upon those scholarships which should be of special interest to Keokuk High School students. Further down the page are links to other web sites which contain a wealth of information for the student seeking financial assistance.
Keokuk High School Common Scholarship Application System
The KHS Common Scholarship Application System (CSAS) was developed by counselor Jerry Fine during the 1987-88 school year. Since that time it has simplified the process of applying for locally-sponsored scholarships for hundreds of KHS seniors. The number of participating organizations varies somewhat from year to year, but typically a student can apply for 18-20 different scholarships by completing only one application. CSAS packets are available in the Guidance Center immediately following the winter holiday break each year. The following scholarships are included in CSAS for the current school year:
Applicants must be the son, daughter, brother, sister, wife or grandchild of a veteran of the armed services, and plan to attend an Iowa school. Criteria for selection include character, Americanism, leadership and scholarship. Applicants must write a 300 word essay stating educational goals and explaining financial need. A copy of the veteran’s DD214 form or discharge papers must be included.
Open to KHS students. The primary criterion for selection is financial need and participation in extracurricular activities.
Applicants must be female and plan to attend the Keokuk campus of Southeastern Community College. Recipient may have any major, including a vocational program.
Open only to KHS students, the primary criterion for selection is financial need; may be used at any post-secondary school.
Applicants must plan to enroll in the auto mechanics program or a business-related program at Southeastern Community College (either campus). Recipients selected on the basis of dedication, honesty, dependability, and financial need.
Applicants must plan to major in education with an emphasis on teaching. Must include written response to two education-related questions.
Open only to KHS students who are interested in engineering at an accredited college or university. Applicants will be expected to write a 1000 word essay.
Several scholarships awarded. May be used at any school, but some are reserved for use at the Keokuk campus of Southeastern Community College. Must include a short paragraph detailing how the applicant might serve humanity in their chosen profession.
Applicants must have displayed dedication and good sportsmanship as a member of the KHS football team.
Applicants must be female and have demonstrated sportsmanship and dedication while participating in a sport at KHS.
Applicants must plan to attend the Keokuk campus of Southeastern Community College. Selection criteria: scholarship, citizenship and participation in school, church, and community activities.
Applicants must plan to train in a health-related field.
Applicants may plan to enter either an academic or a vocational training program. Criteria for selection: financial need, academic achievement and evidence of aptitude (if entering a vocational program).
Applicants must have a part-time job and a 3.25 grade point average. Criteria for selection: financial need, academic achievement, activities and demonstrated work ethic. May be used at any college.
Applicants must plan to attend the Keokuk campus of Southeastern Community College. Criteria for selection: academic performance and financial need.
Applicants may attend any college and major in any field. Achievement in high school science classes is the primary criterion for selection.
May be used at any college or tech school, but preference is given to Southeastern Community College (Keokuk campus) applicants. Criteria: academic achievement, financial need, work ethic.
Preference is given to those applicants seeking training in fine arts or a hands on voc/tech program (Nurses Training, for example).
Only students from KHS and Cardinal Stritch may apply; may be used at any post-secondary school; financial need is an important criterion for selection.
Additional Scholarships of Local Interest
This section describes a number of other scholarships (which are NOT part of the KHS Common Scholarship Application System) of interest to KHS students. Each of these scholarships has its own separate application.
May be used at any school. Applicants must submit a typed essay relating to the history of the labor movement in the United States. Amount: three area awards totaling $500; three state-wide awards totaling $3000. Deadline: mid Feb.
Sponsors a variety of scholarships. All require that applicants be related to a military veteran or be a veteran themself. Amounts vary. Deadlines for the various awards run from late March to early June. Note: These awards are separate from the scholarship which is included within the KHS Common Scholarship Application System.
One KHS graduate will receive a $250 award; applicants must be a former D.A.R.E. student; writing an essay is part of the application process; may be used at any college.
Essentially a four-year, full-ride scholarship for use at the University of Iowa. Preference is given to graduates of Keokuk High School and Southeastern Community College. Recipients will have graduated in the top 20% of their class and demonstrate financial need. No formal application is necessary, but it is important that students make early application for admission to the University and file a FAFSA form early and insure that a copy be made available to the University’s Financial Aid Office.
One annual award given to a male KHS graduate. Criteria includes financial need, motivation to learn, evidence of work commitment and contribution to the community. Amount: $1500. Deadline: mid May.
Awarded to a graduate of KHS based upon past and future involvement in the study of music and participation in music ministry. Students need not apply – candidates nominated by the heads of the instrumental and vocal music departments at KHS. Amount: $200.
May be used at any school. Amount: two local awards of $500 each, local winners considered for state and national awards. Deadline: early Dec.
Applicants must be the son or daughter of an Elks Club member. Amount is $1000; may be used at any school. Deadline: early Nov.
Twelve $500 awards statewide for students planning voc/tech training of two years or less. Deadline: late March.
At least one $300 scholarship to an area graduate who plans to train for a health-related occupation. Criteria include financial need and academic achievement. An essay is part of the application. Deadline: late March.
May be used at any school. Criteria: academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. Amount: one Lee county award of $250, three state-wide awards totaling $2250. Deadline: mid Feb.
May be used at any school. Applicants must submit a typed essay on a subject relating to the care or treatment of animals (subject varies from year to year). Amount: $250. Deadline: early May.
One award to a KHS graduate based upon financial need, motivation to learn, evidence of work commitment and contribution to the community. Amount: $1500. Deadline: early May.
Applicants must plan to major in the performing arts or a related field. The primary criterion for selection is demonstrated talent in a performing art. Amount: $500. Deadline: early May
Applicants must be a member of a Farm Bureau family and have a grade point average of at least 3.0. Amount: $1000. Deadline: late March.
May be used at any school. Applicants must have an ACT composite score of at least 19 and a grade point average of at least 2.5. Amount: $500. Deadline: mid Apr.
May be used at any school. Amount: two local awards of $500 each; 50-60 statewide awards of $2000 each. Deadline: state=early Feb.; local=early Apr.
May be used at any school. Applicants must major in supply management, logistics, purchasing, materials management or a related business area. Amount: several area awards of $500 each. Deadline: mid Apr.
Highly competitive national awards for use at any school. Financial need is NOT a factor. Amount: contingent upon congressional funding. Deadline: mid Apr.
For use at Southeastern Community College only. A wide variety of awards of varying amounts. Deadline: for most, mid Apr.
Applicants must plan to enter a program leading to an eventual career in the construction industry. $1000 awards are available for those entering a construction management/construction technology program. Deadline: early Apr.
The Keokuk Wal-Mart store awards a $1000 scholarship to an area graduate. May be used at any school. Applications are available at the Keokuk Wal-Mart store. Deadline: late Jan.
A wealth of information relating to scholarships/financial aid exists on the internet. The following site contains many links to other sites, including a number of FREE scholarship search services.
The Iowa College Student Aid Commission administers a number of programs designed to provide financial assistance to graduates of Iowa high schools who desire to further their education within the state of Iowa. Here is a link to their website:
The High School STEM Scholarship for Aspiring Commercial Drone Pilots was created to support high school students ages 16 and up who are serious about learning how to fly drones commercially, and to support the use of drones to further the interest of high school students in STEM subjects.
Scholarship recipients receive free access to Drone Pilot Ground School (usual cost is $299), an in-depth test prep course for the FAA’s “Part 107” certification exam to be a commercial drone pilot. The first 100 recipients will have their FAA exam fee of $150 covered, for a total value of approximately $450. Learn more about the scholarship and application process here.