Scholarship ‘junkie’ has tips to share with nation’s teens

Sam Lim applied for every scholarship he thought he might qualify for. None was too small.

Seventy-five applications later, he had won 18 – enough to pay for his college degree.

The University of Washington senior and former Mead High School student now travels to high schools sharing the method to his success.

Lim will give his presentation, “Scholarship Secrets: How to Become a Scholarship Junkie – And Pay for College,” at his alma mater tonight.

“In this day and age, when tuition seems to be going up … you need all the help you can get,” said Lim, 22.

His success inspired Lim to build a Web site. “Soon people contacted me and asked me if I did presentations, and I wasn’t doing them, but I said: Yes. I do,” Lim said. He began talking at schools all over the country – nearly 30.

He’s since developed a new Web site. There, students can ask questions, get tips on applications or essays and talk with other winners. “There are scholarships out there for everybody,” Lim said.

One trick, he said, is to look at what scholarships are available at your high school. Then go to rival high schools. They might have something for local students.

In his presentation, he’ll also break down the scholarship application, including the essay. A Q-and-A session will follow the presentation.

Darren Nelson, a Mead assistant principal, helped arrange tonight’s talk. “I think there are a lot of people who don’t know where to start with scholarships,” Nelson said. “He’s able to help them.”