In February, we were delighted to announce the recipients of the 2007 Inside Self-Storage Scholarship Program. We received applications from many qualified and gifted students, which made the selection process a right challenge, let me tell you! But our committee narrowed it down to these five worthy winners:

If youd like to learn more about our esteemed recipientstheir goals and backgroundswatch for a profile piece in our April issue.

Every spring, ISS begins collecting applications for this annual competition, which awards five $2,000 grants to students closely affiliated with the industry. The funds are good toward tuition at any accredited college or university, and can be used to study any designated field. The program has been around for several years, but the buzz is really buildingthe app pile grows deeper every year! The application deadline? The first of November.

I personally work with applicants to ensure their entry packets are complete. They are required to submit a completed application form (available via download at www.insideselfstorage.com/scholarships), brief answers to five essay questions, and proof of a minimum one-year affiliation with self-storage. Some actually work in the business, others are close relatives of storage owners, operators, managers, etc.

Participants are also required to be at least 17 years old and must plan to attend a college or university during the academic years immediately surrounding the date of scholarship presentation. For example, this years recipients received their funds in late January. The monies could be applied to the 2007 spring or fall semesters, or the 2008 spring semester. Checks are made jointly payable to the student and his or her school.

So start checking the ISS website and magazine for info on the 2008 program. Dont miss this great chance to further your education (or that of a family member) on the ISS dime! And you dont need to be a high school student to applywe support students of all ages. Just fill out an application and submit it by Nov. 1. What have you got to lose? For questions or more info, feel free to drop me a line at [email protected].