Many students have yet to discover the free money that Sacramento State’s Scholarship Office posts on its bulletin board in the form of scholarships.

With a little time, effort and use of tools readily available through the Scholarship Office, students have the chance of receiving as much as $10,000 from a single scholarship according to Scholarship Coordinator Jackie Morris.

“One of the major things I tell students is that the energy they use to look for outfits in the mall should be used with the same persistence in looking for scholarships,” Morris said. “It’s not just going to drop in your lap.”

The Scholarship Office offers listings of where to find scholarship information and Web sites that can also aid in the scholarship search.

According to Morris, hundreds of scholarships come through her office on peak time and many go unused because students believe it is not within their grasp.

“A lot of students’ mind set is that they are not going to get it so they don’t apply,” Morris said. “If they don’t apply, they never give themselves a chance.”

Three kinds of scholarships are available on campus including institutional scholarships, departmental scholarships and community scholarships, all of which the Financial Aid Office administers.

These scholarships are located on the bulletin boards outside of the Financial Aid Office, the Scholarship Office and the Student Access Center in the University Union.

Scholarship donors often want students to go to their individual Web sites to apply, which makes the process easy for student applicants, Morris said.

Morris said that scholarship donors are usually companies, community organizations, relatives of Sac State graduates and alumni.

According to Morris and Financial Aid Director Linda Clemons, scholarships typically ask for a short essay disclosing personal information such as how the money will be used, the student’s plans after graduation, grade point average, financial need and community service.

Clemons said that Morris provides students with helpful hints on essays, makes sure papers are formatted properly and sees that an appropriate cover letter is attached.

The peak time for newly posted scholarships is mid-Oct. or Nov. with their deadlines falling between Feb. and March, Morris said. Any awarded money from these scholarships is intended for use in fall 2003 and spring 2004.

“I make sure that every student (who received an award) gets their scholarship,” Morris said.

Though processing goes through Morris, she is not involved in choosing the scholarship recipient. The process of recipient selection varies for each type of scholarship.

Once the community scholarship donor selects the community scholarship recipient; the check is attached to a memo with instructions on the check’s disbursement, Morris said. For institutional scholarships, a committee consisting of faculty, staff and students completes the selection process.

Athletic scholarships are available, but fall under the authority of the Athletics Department.

“Athletic awards are determined by the coaches,” Clemons said. Some scholarship donors require reapplication after every year while others, who know a previous recipient maintained his or her grades, will send notice to continue the recipient’s scholarship for the following year without reapplication.

Many students feel that applying for scholarships is time consuming, so they have not reaped the benefits offered to them through scholarships.

Sac State junior Pete Frederickson said he had not applied for scholarships on campus or elsewhere.

“Applying for scholarships is a hassle because of requirements for recommendations from professors,” Frederickson said. “I’m investing time with no real guarantee.”

Kelly Ryan, a Sac State senior, has never applied for financial aid or scholarships because she felt no need for them.

“My parents supported my first four years by paying for everything,” Ryan said. “I’m fortunate enough to have a job that pays for my living expenses.”

The Scholarship Office is located in Lassen Hall with hours from 9 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.