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As graduation quickly approaches -136 days to be exact-life after high school seems not just scary, but scarily expensive, as paying for any higher education looms over graduating seniors and their parents. Colleges may offer up some money, but a full-ride is unlikely. For many families, the hunt for scholarships is on.

There are thousands of scholarships large and small up for grabs across the country, and narrowing the field can be a trick for many students. Applying for scholarships tailored to a specific major or career path you are considering can provide a lot of money, but that doesn't help undecided students.

Luckily, a plethora of websites exist solely to aid in the search, including scholarships.com, unigo.com, and the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored careeronestop.org.

Some of the offerings are unconventional or target an offbeat interest, like the Auto Insurance EZ Driver Safety Scholarship Program. This $1,000 award is available to any high school senior continuing onto college and requires an essay on a prompt about public transportation or a specific car that means something to you. For more information, visit (www.autoinsuranceez.com/auto-insurance-ez-scholarship-program/.).

Thanks to the generosity of area families and community organizations, there are also dozens of scholarships offered exclusively to seniors in the St. Vrain Valley School District, including those for students entering specialized fields, for military families, and for first generation students. Awards range from $500 to $5,000, and most can be used at any post-secondary institution, including trade, technical, and certificate programs. Examples include:

Wilma Dunn Student Scholarship ($1,000) - sponsored by the National Society Daughters of The American Revolution Longs Peak Chapter

St. Vrain Habitat For Humanity Scholarship ($5,000) - offered to Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley homeowner, or immediate family member

Longmont Conservation District Scholarship ($2,000)-for students entering a field benefiting agriculture

Paul David Rodriguez Vietnam Memorial Scholarship ($1,500)-sponsored by American Legion Post #32 and named for the first Longmont resident killed in the Vietnam War

Sunshine Dental Club of Longmont Career Scholarship ($2,000)-for students pursuing a career in the dental field.

Many of the local scholarships are offered in partnership with the Education Foundation of St. Vrain Valley (efsvv.org), which will award up to $65,000 to graduating SVVSD seniors this fall. Some of these available scholarships include:

Brendan Dunigan Memorial Foundation Scholarship ($1,000)-for students who plan to attend a trade or vocational school

FRCC & EFSVV Partnership Scholarship ($1,000)-available to 10 students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 who plan to attend Front Range Community College after graduation.

JBSK CPAs Accounting Scholarship ($500)-for students pursuing a degree in accounting

Pearl - Above All Scholarship ($500)-for children of single parents

Tom Nelson Memorial Golf Scholarship ($1,000)-for students involved in high school golf for at least two years, with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The deadline for these local opportunities is quickly approaching, so be sure to check out the full list at the Niwot High counseling website, http://www.niwotcounseling.org/scholarships.html.

Whether you are a stressed senior counting down the days until graduation or a parent trying to figure out how to pay for the next phase of your child's life, there's no time like the present. There are scholarships out there for everyone, in fact, many go unused because no one applies. So find the one that meets your needs and apply today!