If you are a single parent looking to go back to school, every little bit of help matters. Consider applying for the Katz & Phillips Single-Parent Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to one high-achieving, bright student intending to pursue a career in law who is also a single parent.

Amount: $1,000 scholarship for single parents pursuing a law degree.

Requirements: To qualify you do not need to be enrolled in a law school; however, if you are not you must either be declared as a pre-law major or actively plan to attend law school. Applicant must be either a current law student at an accredited law school or at an accredited undergraduate university planning to attend and accepted into law school for the following academic year. Must have a minimum 2.8 GPA. Applicants must submit an official copy of their transcript.

Description: Applicants will be judged on their academic merits as well as the content of the application essay they provide.

Essay Topics: Please choose one of the three questions provided for your essay. Essays must be between 500 and 1000 words.
• How has being a single parent affected your education?
• How have you overcome a particularly difficult obstacle in pursuing your legal education?
• How will this scholarship help you and your family while you pursue your legal education?

Deadline: July 31, 2015

For more information: Visit the Katz & Phillips Single-Parent Scholarship website.

> Not sure if law and public safety is the right career path for you? Take a career skills course first at NextStepAcademy.com.

It’s easy to dismiss those things that take time. We want everything to be quick and easy, but also fulfilling and worthwhile.

Next Step Academy is quick (when compared to some other online courses), but also rewarding. Sometimes all we need is a snippet. Just a enough information to justify that we are headed in the right direction (our “Careers In…” courses) or a refresher course in a skill we know we really should have (any of our Life Skills courses).

Here is where we think you’ll find those minutes each day to complete a course at Next Step Academy.

That seems easy! So what are you waiting for? Take a course today!

“Back to School: 1,001 Facts You Learned and Forgot in High School” by Benjamin Smith is the book every learner needs to pick up before possibly heading back into the classroom.

Written by a former high school principal and teacher, Smith enjoys reminding people of facts they already learned.

The book is written in larger type and broken up into periods, reminiscent of the periods used during high school. The first period covered is English, moving on to science, geography and so on — only to end on the last chapter: the final exam. Twenty quick multiple choice questions greet you at the end to validate your time spent with the book.

The chapters about sports and foreign languages are interesting and add a well-rounded approach to the book. When working with textbook-style facts, this book could have been a lot to digest, but the author instead makes it easy to want to read it — and learn something!

Whether you are going back to school or maybe just want a refresher about what your kids are talking about at the dinner table, this easy read will be sure to bring back memories of the lessons you forgot you already knew.

You can find this book on Amazon.

> For refresher courses to polish your soft skills, check out Next Step Academy’s Life Skills courses.

Getting an internship is great — getting an internship that also offers a scholarship is even better!

The Intertek Scholarship Program continues to promote STEM learning and women in engineering fields by offering its scholarship and internship program for a second year. Intertek is now seeking candidates to receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 paired with a paid internship at an Intertek office during the summer of 2015.

The scholarship reflects Intertek’s commitment to promoting STEM education and inspiring students to pursue their dreams. In particular, Intertek is encouraging female candidates to apply for the scholarship and internship experience in an effort to foster the advancement of women in engineering fields.

“Intertek continues to be at the cutting edge of the engineering and scientific industries, and we are honored to be investing in the next generation of leaders,” said Julie Vlahos, Vice President of Global Products & US Marketing at Intertek.

To qualify for this scholarship, students must be full-time, currently enrolled college sophomores or juniors at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada, and pursuing a career in engineering.

Online applications are due February 6, 2015, and recipients will be announced in April 2015. Learn more at www.intertek.com/scholarships.

> Learn more about the skills you would need to succeed in college or in an internship!

Sometimes you need a little emergency fund to help us stay on track with higher education.

The Mark A. Gabis Stepping Stone Scholarship is available for students for needs that come up and prevent them from attending classes. Its purpose is to keep students from having to drop out for reasons like car repairs, gas money, medicine, etc. It is not intended to be used for on-going living expenses like rent, house payment, car payment, electric bill, etc.

This scholarship can also be used to pay for certification exams, board exams, or other exams to further the student’s qualifications that would help them obtain the job they want upon graduation.

This scholarship application can be submitted anytime. However, the applications are only reviewed on the 1st and 3rd week of each month. The range of the scholarship amount is $50-$300 dollars per student, and is paid directly to the student. A student can only access Stepping Stone Scholarship funds one time.

To be eligible for this scholarship, take note of the following requirements:
• Submit application
• Submit administrator form
• Must be at least in the second quarter/semester to apply
• Must follow the essay guidelines provided

> To apply online visit http://markagabisfoundation.org/apply.

We’ve all got somewhere to go.

Maybe that “somewhere” is back to school or to take a college course for the first time. Maybe you already have a job you love, but you feel left behind in the climb to the top.

We found an inspiring graphic with quotes from leaders. This is sure to help motivate you to put one foot in front of the other and achieve what needs to get done in your life.

Source: Pinterest

> Are you looking to raise your leadership level in your current position at work or in school? Take the Leadership course at Next Step Academy to see if you have the natural inclination to step up to the plate. You may be surprised to find you are destined for greatness!

When it comes to continuing your education, every little bit helps. Here is a scholarship to help you with the cost of taking your GED test.

This scholarship is used to pay for the GED exam. The scholarship pays up to $100 per student. Applications can be submitted at anytime. Applications are reviewed weekly. The funds are paid by credit card to the testing center online.

Take note of the following requirements to apply for this scholarship:
• Pass the practice exam
• Submit application
• Pay the remaining $20.00 fee (if applicable)
• Must follow the essay guidelines provided

Either the student and/or the instructor must call to set up the payment process.

> To apply visit http://markagabisfoundation.org/apply.

Not sure if you are ready to take the GED? Take these two courses to make sure you’re prepared.
• GED I
• GED II

Finding scholarships for a nontraditional education can sometimes be difficult. Here is a scholarship we found that you may be interested in!

This scholarship is for females over 40 years old that have gone back to school. The application can be submitted at anytime, however, applications are only reviewed two times per year, in August and January. This scholarship is paid directly to the college/university financial aid department and credited to the student’s account.

The range of the scholarship amount is $1,000-$2,500 per student award. Students can re-apply for this scholarship.

 To be eligible you must complete the following requirements:
• Submit the application
• Submit administrator form
• Submit a transcript
• Must be in your second quarter/semester to apply
• Must follow the essay guidelines provided

> To apply visit http://markagabisfoundation.org/apply/.

Image source: Pinterest

With the new year quickly approaching, we know many of you are considering resolutions or even grand new plans for your life. Maybe it’s time to start a workout plan, a diet or even just a promise to yourself to be better at something.

For those of you considering going back to school, we know you aren’t taking that decision lightly. Want to make sure you are choosing the right major? Right career? Right school?

Here are some of the courses you can take to help eliminate any careers that aren’t right for you, or help reassure you that you are on the right track with a career field.

• Culinary Arts
• Accounting
• Criminal Justice
• Medical Assisting
• HVAC careers

Of course, you can also check out the free life skills courses just to brush up on some of the skills you’ll need to have to succeed in a college setting. Perhaps you need a reminder on basic writing or grammar. Maybe a time management refresher.

Whatever your goals are for 2015, we’re pullin’ for ya! Best of luck as you conquer those next steps.

Next Step Academy just launched the Careers in Culinary Arts course this week. To get you thinking about all things foodie, we found this great graphic on Pinterest we thought you might enjoy.

Source: Pinterest

It’s time to sharpen those blades — and your skills! Think a career in the culinary arts might be right for you? Take the short course to find out if you have the natural skills and interest to pursue this career choice.