Western North Carolina high school students interested in applying for college scholarships through The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina should act quickly as deadlines are fast approaching.

The Foundation will administer approximately 40 scholarship programs in 2010, ranging from one-time $500 awards to renewable scholarships worth up to $48,000 over four years.

In 2008 to 2009, the Foundation awarded nearly $365,000 in college scholarships to 125 students in Western North Carolina.

Scholarship recipients are selected on criteria that vary by program, but generally include financial need, academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities and work experience.

School officials, Community Foundation board members and/or community volunteers review scholarship guidelines and criteria for each award and ensure that recipients are selected in an unbiased manner.

For the first time this year, scholarship details, applications and materials are available for download on the Foundations website.

Those wishing to apply for any of the scholarship programs can review the scholarship opportunities on-line or contact their schools guidance office for assistance. Students must complete and return materials to their guidance counselors, unless otherwise indicated, by the specified deadlines, most of which fall in early to mid-January.

While many scholarships are open to students from the whole region, others are specific to students from certain counties. For further information, area high school seniors are asked to visit www.cfwnc.org.

For more information, visit www.cfwnc.org or call 828-254-4960.