Attention school counselors and community leaders: the deadline to submit nominations for Sallie Mae’s $25,000 Bridging the Dream Scholarship is quickly approaching. High school counselors and community organization leaders have until Sept. 7 to nominate deserving high school juniors and seniors who exemplify excellence inside or outside the classroom.

The ideal candidate should be a high school junior or senior who excels in academics, athletics, community service, or school activities, but whose financial circumstances may not permit him or her to pursue a college education. The online application asks nominators to highlight the nominee’s personal and academic achievements and any major life challenges.

“The Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program embodies the spirit of our mission here at Sallie Mae: helping aspiring young people reach their potential and make college happen,” said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. “Last year’s recipients were truly inspiring young people who are already on their way to big things, and we are looking forward to meeting this year’s winners. Counselors and community leaders, we hope you will nominate your deserving high school junior or senior today!”

Last year’s Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program recipients, Bryana Blanco of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Kendal Cooney of Camden, Michigan, Quinton Lopez of Canoga Park, California, and Kayla Pinzur of Brewster, New York, had their futures transformed after they each received $25,000 from Sallie Mae.

Lopez, Pinzur, and Blanco each completed their freshman year in spring 2017, and all three proudly earned 4.0 GPAs. Lopez is currently attending California State University and plans to pursue a degree in medicine. Pinzur attends Northeastern University and is pursuing a degree in physical therapy, while Blanco is enrolled in the nursing program at the University of South Florida. In addition, scholarship recipient Kendal Cooney started college this fall and is studying nursing at the University of Toledo.

For more information on the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program or to nominate a deserving student, visit SallieMae.com/BridgingtheDream. See official rules. No purchase necessary. Ends Sept. 7, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, or when 1,000 eligible entries are received. Void where prohibited by law.

To learn more about saving, planning, and paying for college, including Sallie Mae’s free Scholarship Search tool, visit SallieMae.com.

Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM) is the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards, scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.