More Than a Test Score

Congratulations to Haley Williams, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

There’s one thing all students dread—finals! But if you were a teacher, how would you create a fun final to test your students’ knowledge? We asked that very question as our latest scholarship prompt, and boy, you guys had some cool ideas! Ultimately Haley’s essay was chosen for finding a way to incorporate live performance, language proficiency, and creative expression into her final exam.

Here’s her winning essay:
I would teach Spanish language and have the students write and star in their very own telenovelas. I would supply a guideline of the verbs and conjugations and they would have to come up with an original idea. On the day of finals, we would watch all the telenovelas in class.

Here’s a bit more about our winner:
I’m a senior at Killeen High School in Killeen, Texas. I’ve applied and been accepted to the University of Texas at Austin where I’ll major in Psychology. I aspire to be bilingual in English and Spanish, and get a PhD in psychology to help sexually abused teenagers.

Here’s a few of our favorite runner’s up:

Timothy D. – I would let my students be teachers for the day. Teaching helps students apply their knowledge creatively. In my twelve years as a student, there is one thing that all of my teachers say that remains constant; they learn more as teachers than they have ever learned from teachers.

Rachel W. – I would have the students go out in the field and show me what they learned. I’d take them to a greenhouse if I was a biology teacher and they’d have to classify the plants and how they grow, or [have my students] classify animals at a wildlife park. Written tests don’t accurately show what we learn.

Solomon D. – I would have my students teach kindergartners so they can have that knowledge when the time comes. It’s already hard teaching little kids with little attention spans, but making it plain to them is a challenge. This will test if they really know their stuff.

Do you have a fun idea for a final of your own? If so, leave it in the comments below!

And if you’re a college bound student, the best prepping you can do is getting a jumpstart on your tuition costs. Enter to win our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship for your shot at $1,000. Three sentences for a thousand bucks? You’d be nuts to pass that up!

Congratulations to Amanda Sullivan, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

For most students their room is their sanctuary. It’s a place to put your anxieties on hold and bask in your own world. Considering this perspective, we asked you to tell us three things in your room that represented you are or what you’re passionate about. Amanda’s essay was chosen for her unique selection of
items and the creative facets
of her character they symbolize.

Here’s her winning essay:
[A] framed feather – representing the virtue of persistence, even though this bird has lost its feather it will still soar.

A Chinese letter by my pen pal – where you’re going is important too.

Here’s a bit more about our winner:
I love to make people smile and laugh, I love to write and read, and I love to have fun. I am unsure of my future plans in life, there is just so much out there. I want to become a dentist, and work with give back a smile. I want to be an artist, a graphic designer. I want to be a steamroller. I want to help people. I want to be happy. There is so much I want in life, and I hope to make the best of it. I’m not sure where I belong but it should be a great adventure.

Here’s a few of our favorite runner’s up:

Allexa B. – One would have to be my books because I am very interested in knowledge and the power of words. Another would be my music collection because they each hold a different memory for me to get inspiration from. Lastly would be hamster because I love and respect all animals.

Ally G. – My Buddha bookmark represents my love of reading and passion for life. My framed picture of my acting camp friends represents my passion for the stage and dedication to my friends. Lastly, my glasses represent my desire to see the world in many lights—my passion for diversity.

Taylor S. – The laptop I write on, the guitar I jam on, and the bed I blissfully sleep on. Eat, sleep, write and rock.

You know what looks good in any room and represents your hard work? A college degree. Apply for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship and you could be $1,000 closer to one of your very own. Simply write your essay, fill out the application, and send it off. It’s so easy a caveman an 8th grader could do it!

Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money Winner Kevin Shepherd! Kevin was awarded the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Scholarship for $800, and because he found and applied for the scholarship through Zinch, we’re hooking him up with another $800. We wanted to bend Kevin’s ear for a moment with a few interview questions, and here’s what he had to share.

What’s your strategy behind applying for scholarships?

When applying for scholarships I look to see where my background and qualifications can fit a criteria for a scholarship award as best as possible. As a minority I’m aware there are many opportunities out there for myself. However without putting in the effort into finding these scholarships I’ll be out of luck when it comes time to pay tuition.

What’s your favorite late night snack?

I’m not much for late night snacking to be honest. However if I do wish to avoid having a rumbling stomach before I go to sleep I can usually make myself a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

What are three things you can’t leave the house without?

I usually never leave the house without my wallet, phone and keys. Of course I’ll need to get back into my place and you never know when I’ll need my wallet or phone in case of an emergency.

How are you more than a test score?

I’m more than a test score because a test score can’t determine a person’s goals or ambitions. Over my few years in college in Wisconsin and abroad in Australia I have learned plenty about myself. In this time I have figured out what interests me and which direction I would like to head after graduation. It’s still not a clear path and I’m not sure if it will ever be but I’m not as in the dark as I was when I began my freshman year.

Do you have a classmate that’s a super student like you? Then invite them to Zinch! Thanks to our Win Your Friend’s Money program, any scholarship they win will land you a check for the same amount. Pretty cool, right?

Ten years ago the phrase “social media” didn’t even exist—today it’s the hottest set of buzzwords on the web. Everyone from your best friend to your next door neighbor to your favorite grandma has jumped onboard and started
posting, but they’re not alone.

A recent study conducted by Student Advisor sought to find the Top 100 Social Media Colleges in the country, and quite a few schools partnering with Zinch were included in the list. Just who made the cut? Check out the names below, and make sure to click through to visit their Zinch profile!

• University of Notre Dame
• Stanford University
• Princeton University
• Butler University
• Yale University
• Mississippi State
• UC Berkeley
• Vanderbilt University
• Babson College
• Lynn University
• Duke University
• Full Sail University

Interested in attending any of these tech savvy school? You can get more information directly from their admission offices by visiting their Zinch profile and clicking on the green “LIKE” button at the top of their page. And if you want to keep up-to-date on these universities make sure to follow our Schools on Zinch Twitter List!

Image courtesy: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At Zinch we believe every student should have the opportunity to pursue a higher education. Our goal has always been to help students research, connect, and pay for college, and everything we do is in support of that mission.

With that in mind, we are proud to announce our selection for the winner of the 2010-2011 Sweet Diggity Dawg scholarship competition and the $20,000 grand prize. So a hearty congratulations to Michael Reasoner, our Top Dawg for the year!

We would also like to recognize a few of our finalists for their hard work and outstanding Zinch profiles. So congratulations to our runner’s up Cala Fils, Colleen Quint, and Alexandra Kraft, all of whom will also be receiving an additional $500 scholarship.

Thanks to all our students out there for making this year’s Sweet Diggity Dawg competition the best one to date, catch ya on the flipside!