The deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 1, for two great opportunities at higher education. Thanks to generous donors to the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, students in Birmingham City Schools can get a boost for their college dreams.

Through the Award for Excellence Scholarship, one male and one female student graduating in 2012 from Ramsay High School can win a $5,000 college scholarship. Through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Scholarship, one student from any Birmingham City High School can win a $1,500 scholarship.

Both scholarship opportunities start with the freshman year and are renewable for up to four years as long as the student maintains a 3.0 GPA.

Scholarship manager Koko McCall expects a busy week processing the applications that are mailed by Feb. 1 or dropped off at the Community Foundation offices at 2100 First Avenue North.  This is an exciting time, as she gets to learn more about the dreams of a new set of talented and ambitious young men and women.

To find out more about how you can apply now or next year, contact Koko McCall. Find out more about how you can help young people succeed through a scholarship or  contact Erin Stephenson.