The Scholarship Boot Camp

Students Can Learn How to Find and Win College Money

The Scholarship Boot Camp is a live scholarship training designed to support TRIO programs, college access initiatives, and educational advisors working with college-bound students. This interactive 3-hour virtual workshop equips high school and college students with practical strategies for finding scholarships, writing competitive scholarship essays, and building strong scholarship résumés. The Scholarship Boot Camp can be in-person or virtual.

Led by nationally recognized scholarship expert Marianne Ragins, a $400,000 scholarship recipient with years of student training experience, the Scholarship Boot Camp provides proven, student-tested approaches that align well with TRIO program goals of increasing college access, persistence, and affordability.

For TRIO advisors, counselors, and coaches supporting first-generation, underrepresented, or financially eligible students, this workshop provides structured scholarship guidance students can immediately apply.

How The Scholarship Boot Camp Supports TRIO Student Success

Rising college costs disproportionately impact first-generation and underserved students. Many TRIO participants qualify for scholarships but lack access to targeted scholarship training, essay coaching, and structured application strategies.

The Scholarship Boot Camp helps your students:

• Identify legitimate scholarships aligned with their academic interests, background, and career goals
• Develop compelling scholarship essays that highlight resilience, leadership, and achievement
• Build scholarship-focused résumés that reflect program participation, service, and academic strengths
• Understand how scholarship review committees evaluate applications
• Gain confidence navigating the scholarship search and application process

These skills directly complement TRIO program objectives around college readiness, retention, and financial literacy.

Exclusive Scholarship Opportunity for Participating Students

Students who attend The Scholarship Boot Camp become eligible to apply for the Ragins/Braswell National Scholarship, sponsored by Marianne Ragins and The Scholarship Workshop.

This national scholarship opportunity is available specifically to workshop participants and can provide an additional funding pathway for motivated students preparing for college.

Participation in the workshop does not guarantee scholarship awards but strengthens student preparation while expanding access to scholarship opportunities.

Ideal for TRIO and College Access Programs Including:

• Upward Bound
• Talent Search
• Student Support Services (SSS)
• McNair Scholars Programs
• GEAR UP initiatives
• College readiness nonprofits
• High school college access counseling programs
• Community-based scholarship preparation initiatives

The Scholarship Boot Camp works well as:

• A supplemental scholarship training session
• A college readiness workshop
• A financial literacy enhancement program
• A targeted scholarship application preparation event

What Students Gain During the 3-Hour Live Scholarship Workshop Boot Camp

• Direct scholarship strategy instruction from an experienced scholarship winner
• Essay writing frameworks tailored for scholarship competitions
• Scholarship résumé development guidance
• Scholarship search strategies beyond common databases
• Practical next steps students can implement immediately

The workshop includes interactive elements, examples, and actionable guidance designed to engage students from diverse educational backgrounds.

Benefits for TRIO Directors, Advisors, and Coaches

Partnering with The Scholarship Workshop for the Scholarship Boot Camp can help your program:

• Expand scholarship readiness support without increasing staff workload
• Provide expert-led scholarship training aligned with access and retention goals
• Strengthen student confidence about paying for college without excessive loans
• Enhance measurable student outcomes related to college affordability
• Offer a structured, credible scholarship preparation resource

Many TRIO professionals find The Scholarship Boot Camp especially valuable for first-generation students who benefit from explicit guidance on navigating scholarship opportunities.

Important Note

Participation in The Scholarship Boot Camp does not guarantee scholarship awards. The workshop provides preparation, strategies, and skill development designed to improve student competitiveness for scholarships and college funding opportunities.

Bringing The Scholarship Boot Camp to Your Students

If you support students pursuing higher education and want to strengthen their scholarship readiness, The Scholarship Boot Camp offers a practical, expert-led solution that complements TRIO program services.

Providing structured scholarship training can help your students:

• Reduce reliance on student loans
• Increase scholarship application confidence
• Improve college affordability outcomes
• Better understand the scholarship landscape

Schedule a boot camp or another session with Marianne Ragins for your students TODAY!

______________________________________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions (For TRIO Professionals)

Is this workshop appropriate for TRIO students?

Yes. The content aligns well with the needs of first-generation, income-eligible, and underrepresented college-bound students.

Is the training live or recorded?

The Scholarship Boot Camp is delivered live online or in-person, allowing student interaction and real-time instruction.

How long is the workshop?

Approximately three and a half hours, including breaks and interactive elements.

Do students need essays prepared in advance?

No. Students can start from scratch or refine existing essays.

Does participation guarantee scholarships?

No. The workshop provides strategies and preparation but does not guarantee awards.

Are students eligible for any scholarships after attending?

Yes. Attendees become eligible to apply for the Ragins/Braswell National Scholarship sponsored by Marianne Ragins and The Scholarship Workshop.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP LEADER, MARIANNE RAGINS

In Marianne Ragins senior year of high school, she won over $400,000 in scholarships for college. As perhaps the first student ever to amass nearly half a million dollars in scholarship money, she has been featured in many publications including USA Today, People, Newsweek, Money, Essence and on the cover of Parade. She has also made hundreds of radio and television appearances on shows such as “Good Morning America,” “The Home Show,” and the “Mike & Maty Show.”

Ragins is the author of the highly successful Winning Scholarships for College: An Insider’s Guide, College Survival & Success Skills 101, and other publications. She is the president of The Scholarship Workshop and sponsor of the Leading the Future II and Ragins Braswell National Scholarships. Ragins is an experienced motivational speaker and lecturer who has traveled nationally and internationally conducting The Scholarship Workshop presentation and giving other motivational seminars and speeches.

Marianne graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from Florida A&M University and received an MBA from George Washington University. Both her degrees were entirely funded by scholarships and other free aid. Marianne is originally from Macon, Georgia and currently resides in northern Virginia.