NICEVILLE — Mensa volunteers across the United States can make the dream of higher education a possibility for anyone who seeks it through the Mensa Education & Research Foundation Scholarship program. The foundation awards thousands of dollars every year to students. The 2013 scholarship application process started Sept. 15 and is open through Jan. 15, 2013.
Applicants must write an essay totaling 550 words or less, as well as fill out a general application at www.mensafoundation.org/scholarships. Eligibility requirements include legal U.S. residency and enrollment at an accredited U.S. institution of post-secondary education for the 2013 academic year.
A number of Mensa Foundation scholarships are awarded with no restrictions regarding age, gender, academic grade point average or financial need, as long as the applicant resides in the area of a participating local group. The Northwest Florida Mensa Local Group, which covers the ten counties in Florida west of the Apalachicola River, is participating again this year with one guaranteed scholarship. Over the past decade, more than $10,000 in scholarships has been awarded to residents of these counties.
There have been years in which as many as three applicants received scholarships. Additional scholarships are awarded at the regional and national levels. Most scholarships are based solely on an essay written by the applicant, and special category scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet specific academic or personal requirements.
The Mensa Education & Research Foundation is a philanthropic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization funded by gifts from members of American Mensa and other donors. American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top 2 percent on an accepted, standardized intelligence test. The organization has more than 57,000 members in the United States.
For more information about Mensa, or to apply for membership, visit www.us.mensa.org or call 800-66-MENSA.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mensa Foundation awarding scholarships