If college students were asked what was the one thing they needed the most, the majority probably would say money.

The University Programming and Activities office has come up with three ways students at NIU can get their hands on up to $500.

Rick Clark, associate director of UP&A, has helped create three monetary scholarships to be awarded to three different NIU students.

“These scholarships are dealing with leadership, so they want students who have demonstrated some leadership abilities,” Clark said. “The applicants should be involved in any activities, a fraternity or sorority, or some other outside organization.”

The companies that are providing the scholarships are UniQuality, Inc., Northern Illinois Gas and New Resources Corporation.

In order to be eligible for the $500 UniQuality scholarship, a student must be a computer science major with at least three semesters successfully completed, have at least one semester left to complete and have a 2.5 grade point average or higher, Clark said.

New Resources Corporation has a $300 scholarship which calls for a student to have financed 50 percent of their education, to be a full-time student in good standing, to be either a computer science or business major and to have at least a 2.8 GPA, Clark said.

The $300 Northern Illinois Gas scholarship is open to any full-time student in good standing who has been involved in various organizations or clubs and has a 2.5 GPA or higher, Clark added.

“I’m hoping we can get these three companies to make this a yearly thing,” he said. “Then hopefully we can add a couple more companies on for next year.

“It’s hard times right now for students to come up with money for college, and any little bit helps,” he said.

Clark said the deadline to apply for the scholarships is March 27. There will be a Leadership Awards Reception on April 24 where the awards will be handed out. Leadership awards other than the scholarships will also be handed out at the reception.

Applications can be picked up and turned in to the UP&A office in room 601 of the Holmes Student Center. Any questions about the scholarships can be directed to Rick Clark at 753-6597.