tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253049832008-06-29T09:53:32.751-05:00Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-78946046276218984942008-06-29T09:15:00.003-05:002008-06-29T09:53:26.755-05:00We finally have a winner! Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Once again we were overwhelmed with the quality of the entries. It makes choosing a winner very difficult. For that reason, we have several finalists this year that received free copies of my book <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon/">The Best Kept Secrets for Winning Scholarships</a>.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner - Ryan Rattan, Garland, TX - $500 cash prize</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/uploaded_images/2008PoA-winner-714803.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/uploaded_images/2008PoA-winner-714795.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finalists</span><br /><ul><li> Marcel F. Hidalgo - New York City</li><li>Rachel Offutt - Benbrook, TX</li><li>Aimee Nicole Cruz - Montgomery, TX</li><li>Natasha Skovron - Salisbury, MA</li></ul>Thank you again to everyone and see you again next year!Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-91914804972663513102008-05-18T21:18:00.004-05:002008-05-18T23:36:32.645-05:00Once again, American Spirit Publishing wants to see your "portrait", your vision of America! Last year's entries were breathtaking.<br /><br />Many things are going on in the world - devastation from the China earthquake, famine, war, the Beijing Olympics, new life, blending of cultures, and happy times, too. How do you see America? Share with us an original photograph or photo of your artwork that conveys a sense of "America" as you see it. This is intentionally very open ended.<br /><br />Creativity wins points. The winner receives a $500 cash award.<br />Please print, complete, and mail the application form along with your entry to the address on the application. Please postmark your entry by June 7, 2008. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for this award.<br /><br />Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your entries.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2008.htm">American Spirit Publishing 2008 Portrait of America Scholarship - HTML</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2008.doc">American Spirit Publishing 2008 Portrait of America Scholarship - MS Word</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2008.txt">American Spirit Publishing 2008 Portrait of America Scholarship - Text</a>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-27711970228752293562008-01-20T05:24:00.000-06:002008-01-20T09:07:22.257-06:00Finally, after MUCH deliberation, we have a winner for the American Spirit Publishing 2007 Priceless Pets Photo Contest!<br /><br />Cameron Richmond from Glendora, California<br />Photo features her cat Chamberlain looking out the window...with his paw on the drawstring for the blinds or window shade. Priceless!<br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/uploaded_images/PricelessPetsWinner2007-740989.JPG"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/uploaded_images/PricelessPetsWinner2007-740639.JPG" border="0" /></a> Chamberlain has helped Cameron win a $500 scholarship. Thank you for all the entries. We had several other finalists that received smaller prizes including the book entitled <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon"><em>The Best Kept Secrets for Winning Scholarships</em></a><em>, </em>which can be ordered from <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon">Amazon.com</a>.<br /><br />The runner-up, Weston Mullens from Mansfield, Texas, received a $100 prize.Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-66462188449408288822007-10-15T09:12:00.000-05:002007-10-15T09:53:37.839-05:00This year American Spirit Publishing will sponsor another $500 scholarship - the Priceless Pet Pics Photo Contest! So we want you to send us your favorite cute, funny, adorable, remarkable, puzzling, priceless pet photos. We don't care if you have a dog, cat, horse, iguana, skunk, snake, zebra, tarantula, or something else as your pet; if you love them and think it's a good photo, then send it in. With your photo, you can send us a short caption. For now, please mail the applications to us. Soon we hope to have a way to submit your application electronically. <br /><br />Click here for the application:<br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PricelessPets_App2007.pdf">American Spirit Publishing Priceless Pet Pics 2007 PDF</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PricelessPets_App2007.rtf">American Spirit Publishing Priceless Pet Pics 2007 Word / RTF</a>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-28925339693221389062007-06-25T21:36:00.000-05:002007-06-25T22:07:22.640-05:00<div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;">We have a winner!!!</span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;">Sorry for the delay, but we had thousands of entries again so it was extremely difficult to choose a winner. That's why we had 5 finalists in addition to the winner this year. The winner received $500 and each of the finalists received an award as well. Congratulations to everyone, and we look forward to seeing your entries in December!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><table width="80%" border="1"><br /><tbody><br /><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Genovefa Castiglione</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Weston, FL</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Winner</span></strong></p><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Felicia Kulp</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Ellicott City, MD</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Finalist</span></strong></p><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Daniel Owen Comite</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Swampscott, MA</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Finalist</span></strong></p><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Mark D. Pillor</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Bowie, MD</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Finalist</span></strong></p><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">David Miner</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Louisville, KY</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Finalist</span></strong></p><tr><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Andrew Fruth</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Toledo, OH</span></strong></p><td><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Finalist</span></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-16743949941871058692007-03-22T07:56:00.000-05:002007-03-22T08:11:19.198-05:00Once again, American Spirit Publishing wants to see your "portrait", your vision of America! Last year's entries were breathtaking and restored hope in America for us.<br /><br />Many things are going on in the world - famine, war, new life, blending of cultures, and happy times, too. How do you see America? Share with us an original photograph or photo of your artwork that conveys a sense of "America" as you see it. This is intentionally very open ended. <br /><br />Creativity wins points. The winner receives a $500 cash award. <br />Please print, complete, and mail the application form along with your entry to the address on the application. Please postmark your entry by June 1, 2007. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for this award.<br /><br />Good luck, and we can't wait to see your entries. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2007.htm">American Spirit Publishing 2007 Portrait of America Scholarship - HTML</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2007.doc">American Spirit Publishing 2007 Portrait of America Scholarship - MS Word</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/PortraitOfAmerica_App2007.txt">American Spirit Publishing 2007 Portrait of America Scholarship - Text</a>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-74514165246698969442007-01-06T18:55:00.000-06:002007-01-16T06:53:33.455-06:00Finally, we have the results for you! We had some technical difficulties with our site so we apologize for the delay. We received some outstanding and oh-so-cute photos... and some downright scary ones, too. Thanks to all who participated, and congratulations to our winners.<br /><ul><li><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Winner</span>: Annie Liu from Oakland, CA with her "On Top of My World" photo with her dog</li><li><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Runner-up</span>: A.J. Bradshaw of North Richland Hills with his Texas Longhorns pug</li></ul>Thanks again, and please remember to participate in the 2007 Portrait of American contest. Applications must be obtained from the website and postmarked by June 1, 2007.Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1159200204152410502006-09-25T10:52:00.000-05:002006-09-25T11:18:56.243-05:00This year American Spirit Publishing will sponsor a new $500 scholarship - the Priceless Pet Pics Photo Contest! So we want you to send us your favorite cute, funny, adorable, remarkable, puzzling, priceless pet photos. We don't care if you have a dog, cat, horse, iguana, skunk, snake, zebra, tarantula, or something else as your pet; if you love them and think it's a good photo, then send it in. With your photo, you can send us a short caption. For now, please mail the applications to us. Soon we hope to have a way to submit your application electronically. <br /><br /><strong>Include the following:</strong><br /><ol><li>priceless pet photo</li><li>caption including your pet's name</li><li>your name and age</li><li>your email address</li><li>your home address and phone number</li></ol><p><strong>Mail to:</strong></p><p>American Spirit Publishing<br />ATTN: 2006 Priceless Pets<br />PO Box 120937<br />Arlington, TX 76012</p><p><strong>Eligibility: </strong></p><p>All current public, private, or home schooled high school students who who are US citizens are eligible for this $500 scholarship award. Please postmark your entry to us by December 1, 2006.</p>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1150815570992618082006-06-20T09:52:00.000-05:002006-06-20T09:59:31.003-05:00We loved them all; it was so hard to choose! Your creativity is awe inspiring. Please nourish it throughout your college career and beyond! Ok, so here's the news you've been waiting for...<br /><ul><li>$500 Winner<br />Lisa Ann King<br />Longmont, Colorado<br /></li><li>Finalists<br />Zachary Lovelace of Woodbridge, Virginia<br />Brady Thomas Overacre of Kimberly, Idaho<br />Andrew Propp of Falls Church, Virginia<br />Tessa Reynolds of Grandview, Texas</li></ul><p>Congratulations everyone! Don't forget - our new scholarship contest details will be published soon! We will have a pet photo contest so take pictures of your dog, cat, hamster, turtle, horse, pig, or whatever!</p>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1150738757422265422006-06-19T12:37:00.000-05:002006-06-19T12:39:17.423-05:00<p>Thank you to everyone this year for all the wonderful essays! You truly move us with your inspired writing. We laugh, we cry, and we are amazed by so many of the essays. Choosing a winner is so difficult, but alas, we must. This year's winner and runner up are: </p><ul><li>Winner - $500<br />Isabel Sokol-Oxman<br />Hillsboro High School<br />Cornelius, Oregon<br /></li><li>Runner up<br />Julia Siegfriedt-Wilson<br />Christian Academy of Louisville<br />Louisville, Kentucky</li></ul><p>The winners of the Portrait of America photo contest will be announced soon. Also, we will ahve the details of the next scholarship contest, soon. I'll give you a "sneak peek", though. It will be the "Priceless Pet Pics" photo contest! Start taking photos of your pets today! </p>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1150109657009982472006-06-12T05:52:00.000-05:002006-06-12T05:54:17.010-05:00This is just a quick update to inform everyone that we are in the final process of selecting the scholarship winners. We had a wonderful response this year. Thank you to everyone! We will announce the winners this week so stay tuned!<br /><br />~BrendaBrenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1150108801322502982006-06-12T05:21:00.000-05:002006-06-12T05:42:05.866-05:00Many people have asked me how they can order the book if they can't attend one of my scholarship workshops. It's pretty easy, really. We tried to make it as convenient as possible.<br /><br /><ol><li>Order from our web site by <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/page2.php">clicking here</a>. The order will be processed by PayPal, and we will ship it the next business day.</li><li>Order from <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon">Amazon</a>. They will ship it within a few business days depending on your shipping preference.</li><li>Go to the <a href="http://www.ucla.edu/">UCLA</a> Boookstore - this will probably only be convenient for those of you in LA... unless you're a teleporter! <img src="http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/alles_moegliche/mixed-smiley-003.gif" /> </li><li>Go to the <a href="http://www.uta.edu/">UT-Arlington</a> Bookstore - good if you're in the Dallas area</li></ol><p>And, of course, you can always buy one at my <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/scholarship1.php">workshops</a>. I hope that helps. Please <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/page4.php">contact us</a> if you have any problems!</p><p>~Brenda</p>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25304983.post-1144687130353653782006-04-10T11:35:00.000-05:002006-04-10T11:41:30.206-05:00<p>Hi, my name is <span style="color:#ff0000;">Brenda Smith</span>, the author of <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Best Kept Secrets for Winning Scholarships</span></em>. We've been running this web site for a couple of years now, and we're finally getting into blogging. This is exciting news for anyone searching for scholarships and financial aid! I'm so happy that I get to share updated tips and secrets about finding and <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">WINNING</span></em> scholarships!</p><p>Be sure to come back often for the latest tips, or subscribe to our RSS or Podcast feed. While you're waiting for the next post, don't forget to order the book. <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon">Click here </a>to order from <a href="http://www.bestkeptsecretsforwinning.com/Amazon">Amazon </a>now!</p><p><span style="color:#ff0000;">Wishing You Scholarship Succe$$,</span><br />Brenda</p>Brenda Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657866002298707726noreply@blogger.com