A ‘Second Chance’ for $1000

Any college-bound senior can enter. All that’s required is a ten-question multiple-choice quiz. And the quiz is “open book.”

Through one of the more unique national scholarship competitions still available for this year, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is offering a second “second chance” to win $1000.

Here’s how it works:

• Start by reading the “Fire Sprinkler Essay” about automatic fire sprinklers.
  Hint: print out the essay for later use.
• Complete the registration page by clicking on the “Take Test Now” button. It requires pretty basic information like name, address, birth date, high school, and year of graduation. Income or financial need does NOT count for this contest.
• Take the quiz by selecting answers based on the essay you already read. Because this is an “open book” test, you can refer back to your printout or use the essay text online to find correct answers.
• Click on the “submit” button. You will receive immediate notification of questions answered incorrectly and a chance to correct your answers. Do it.
• Click on the “submit” button again.

Once you submit your answers, you will receive final score notification. For each question answered correctly, you receive one entry into a drawing for one of the scholarships. Ten entries are possible if you answer all questions correctly. Really, it’s that simple!

Note that you will only be allowed to take the quiz once. Any attempt to try twice with a different name or address will result in automatic disqualification.

Winners are not selected based on financial need, and students intending to attend trade school or a 2-year accredited associate degree program are welcome to apply. But all entries must be received by no later than noon on August 22, 2012.

In addition to the online competition, several state AFSA chapters offer additional scholarships through separate essay contests. The Virginia Chapter annually awards 6 prizes totaling $3050.

This year’s prizes went to Austin Shepherd of Albemarle High School, Kelly Sanborn of Westfield High School, Luke Quigley of Abingdon High School Rachel Chuang of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Morgan Dickens of Carroll County High School, and Karsten Coates of Washington and Lee High School,

The bottom line for the AFSA is that you learn something about fire sprinklers. The scholarships are just a sweet incentive.