Students can win money for college at scholarship fair

Tenth annual event is set for Jan. 25 in downtown Atlanta.

With college acceptance letters making their way to students’ mailboxes, some are looking for scholarships to help cover tuition and other costs.

The Scholarship Academy is hosting its 10th annual scholarship fair Saturday, Jan. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Loudermilk Conference Center, located on 40 Courtland St. in down- town Atlanta. The Scholar- ship Academy Founder Jessica Johnson said she started the organization as a student at Howard University in 2006 to help people get scholar- ships for college.

“I had $200,000 in schol- arships, but I quickly realized that wasn’t the case for some of my peers,” she said, adding some would pay her to find scholarships for them. Johnson turned her passion for helping others into The Scholarship Academy, a cur- riculum-based program that teaches families how to save and find funding strategies for college.

At the scholarship fair, two students will be awarded $1,000 scholarships and four will have the opportunity to win $250 scholarships to cover the cost of books by delivering a 30-second “elevator pitch” on why they deserve the money.

Johnson said between 500 and 750 students are expected at the fair, which is co-sponsored by United Way of Greater Atlanta, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Achieve Atlanta, Georgia State University and Atlanta Councilman Andre Dickens. Dickens said he’s been involved with the scholarship fair for the past five years.

“I knew the value of it was vital,” he said, adding the fair is particularly beneficial for parents, who “really learn a lot of the economics of college.”

The event is open to high school juniors and seniors in metro Atlanta, who will also receive help with personal college essays, résumés, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. Those interested in attending can register at scholarshipacademy.wufoo.com.