Lots of local scholarships to help St. Vrain students

College is expensive. The average total cost of public colleges in the United States is $25,290 for in-state tuition; $40,940 for out-of-state tuition, and about $50,900 for private colleges. More than 19.9 million students are projected to attend American colleges and universities in the fall of 2019.

That money has to come from somewhere. Fortunately, there are local scholarships designated for helping out students who need a boost to their college coffers.

The Longmont Community Foundation (www.longmontfoundation.org) manages almost all of the locally focused scholarships in the St. Vrain Valley area. Full descriptions and applications for the scholarships funds they manage are on their website, but short descriptions of those available follow:

Ascend St. Vrain is a needs-based, multi-year scholarship for six St. Vrain Valley School District students who wish to attend a four-year university, community college, vocational, or technical school in Colorado. Specifically targeted to lower to middle income families.

The American Association of University Women-Longmont Branch Scholarship was established by AAUW to provide scholarships to encourage women to pursue higher education in order to increase their ability to have a positive impact in their field and community, including women returning to school to update their knowledge/skills.

A scholarship in the memory of a former teacher who was passionate about education, the Catherine C. Owen Scholarship is awarded to one graduating senior of a St. Vrain Valley School District high school that will be attending the University of Northern Colorado or a Christian college.

The Madeline Marie Molzahn Sherrod Memorial Scholarship provides two St. Vrain School District graduates renewable scholarships based on financial need, academic performance, and civic and church involvement.

The Stewart Golden Music Scholarship enables a high school senior graduating from the St. Vrain Valley School District who plans on studying voice, and/or piano, and/or organ.

The Mark Martinez Scholarship fund provides one-time, non-renewable scholarships to Frederick High School Seniors who wish to pursue a two-year or four-year college degree.

The Mead Area Trades and Vocational Scholarship provides two Mead area graduating students who plan to pursue a trade or vocational occupation.

For scholarships and grants beyond St. Vrain Valley, a visit to http://www.scholarships.com is the gateway to 32 Colorado-specific possibilities for funding higher education.