How to find scholarships:
Cover Story
Scholarships for Muslim Kids While national tuition rates are on the rise, there are still options to find an affordable path to higher education. By Ruth Nasrullah
P
icture this: you’re graduating from a great Islamic school. Your teachers and other school staff have paved the way for you to embark on a fulfilling post-high school career. Alhamdulillah! The only thing standing between you and a meaningful college career is that daunting tuition bill. Student loans are available but may not be the answer, particularly for students or parents who are trying to avoid paying interest, or simply avoid debt in general. Don’t let finances get in the way of your education or career. Look into scholarships, which may be the best means of funding college. For Muslim students, some of the biggest scholarships support specific career fields, especially those in which Muslims are underrepresented, such as social work, journalism or public affairs. Many Islamic organizations reserve financial support for students who wish to pursue careers in those areas.
work in government, whether as an elected official or in public administration. Training in public affairs also gives you skills in running social service organizations or other nonprofit organizations. Whether you hope to work on behalf of the Muslim community or bring your Islamic values to the public arena, studying public affairs will enable you to begin a career in those fields.
Journalism Journalism is another field under-represented by Muslims. Although journalists must maintain objectivity in reporting and thus can’t use a newspaper or studio as a soapbox, being trained in journalism can prepare a Muslim student for a career track in public relations or marketing. Another consideration in this academic
Social work Social work is one field in which increased Muslim presence would be beneficial. Issues such as foster care for Muslim children or sensitivity training to the special needs and concerns of Muslim patients can best be addressed by Muslim social workers. Social work encompasses a variety of responsibilities, from case management for hospital patients or the needy, to family counseling. Both in the hospital setting and in outpatient treatment, having Muslims in the field will help ensure that special concerns are recognized, acknowledged and addressed. Do you love working with people, giving time and energy to those who need assistance in managing or improving their lives? Consider social work and look into scholarships that would support your study.
Politics and public service At this time there are only two Muslims in Congress and a sadly small number in political office at any level. Studying public policy or public affairs prepares a student for 32
field is changes in modern media. As the newsroom becomes a thing of the past and multi-platform independent reporters – and bloggers – are more present on the scene, editorial choices about what topics to cover are increasingly up to the reporter himself. Also consider freelance writing. Freelancers can pitch Muslim- or Islam-related stories to editors and help shape the exposure Muslim life gets on air and in print. If you love to write, talk with people and research information, journalism may be the path for you.
Scholarships in these fields If you are interested in one of these subject areas, there are several scholarships available. Here are a few to evaluate. The Islamic Scholarship Fund provides academic financial support for Muslims in many of the fields mentioned above. See
1 Just ask around! A good academic funding source might be in your own backyard. There are some scholarships associated with a particular mosque or local/regional community organization for which you might be eligible. 2 A great website listing various scholarships available to Muslim students is here: http://muslimscholarships.blogspot.com/. 3 Scholarships.com is a comprehensive search site that includes a list of Muslim-specific funding options here: http://scholarships.com/financial-aid/collegescholarships/scholarships-by-type/religiousscholarships/muslim-scholarships/. 4 Don’t forget to include generalized sites in your search. Here are some: • FastWeb at http://www.fastweb.com/ • Peterson’s at http://www.petersons.com/ college-search/how-to-pay-for-college.aspx • Student Scholarship Search at http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/. 5 Don’t forget your school’s guidance counselor, your teachers and your principal.
their website at http://www.islamicscholarshipfund.org/. Support for journalism majors is offered through the Aziz Jamaluddin Scholarship in Journalism (administered by ISNA). See their website at http://www.isna.net/articles/ News/ISNA-Unveils-Aziz-JamaluddinScholarship-in-Journalism.aspx. The Jack Shaheen Mass Communication Scholarships, administered by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, support students in journalism and similar fields. See their website at http://www.adc. org/education/jack-g-shaheen-mass-communications-scholarship/. Sisters in Solidarity to Educate, Respond and Serve offers scholarships to Muslimah students with a demonstrated background in community service work. See their website at http://sistersinsolidarity.com/. ISNA also offers the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal ISNA Fellowship Program intended to support Muslim Americans pursuing graduate studies in the management and governance of nonprofit organizations in the U.S. There is more information at their website at http://www.isna. net/events/Special-Announcement/HRHPrince-Alwaleed-Bin-Talal-ISNA-Fellowship-Program.aspx. If you want to be part of politics or organizational management, look for scholarships that will support you as a Muslim citizen in political or organizational endeavors. A key organization is the Dollar-a-Day fund. See their website: http://muslimscholarship.org/ scholar.htm.
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Ruth Nasrullah is a freelance writer living in Houston.
Islamic Horizons March/April 2013