CollegeInvest, a non-profit division of the Colorado Department of Education, says 65 higher education scholarships are available. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 1.

"Scholarships bring the reality of a college education one step closer for students," Janet Gullickson of CollegeInvest said.

The organization is offering 27 Service Scholarships that provide $6,000 to students over two years, requiring 40 hours of volunteering at a child-centered program each year. Also available are 38 Opportunity Scholarships worth $1,000.

"We've made it easy to apply with a simple online form that only takes a few minutes," Gullickson said. "Applications only take a few minutes and students can potentially receive thousands of dollars as a result."

Students can apply online at www.collegeinvest.org/scholarships. There are no grade or essay requirements, but students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA to receive a scholarship.

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