Applications are now being accepted for the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE). Closing date is Mar. 3, 2005.

Now in its 21st year, the WAVE scholarship program recognizes senior high school and community and technical college students for outstanding achievement in career and technical education, leadership, and community service.

New to this year’s program is increased flexibility. “In addition to having three years to begin using the award and six years to fully use the funds,” explained Ellen O’Brien Saunders, executive director of the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board that administers the program, “funds can be used to pay for any valid educational expense.

Items now covered include tuition, books, supplies, room board, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. This is a significant change from the earlier program which was tuition-based.”

Since its inception in 1984, WAVE funding has enabled almost 3,000 Washington students to further their education. Today, WAVE recipients are working in hundreds of occupational fields ranging from healthcare and firefighting to video games programming and food preparation. Many also have started their own business, and others have obtained four-year degrees or higher.

More details about the award and an application form are available at http://www.wtb.wa.gov/wave.html.