ZELIENOPLE — The borough community park and a nonprofit group are teaming up for a new scholarship opportunity for students.

The Zelie Park Essay Competition plans to give “no less than $24,000” for college funding during four years.

The scholarship is a result of the park working with The Power of Working Together, an organization that helps students and their families with the planning process and funding for college.

The contest will be open to any student from sixth through 12th grades. The deadline for the applications is Monday.

The Power of Working Together volunteer George Villegas said, “Not only will the one who wrote the (winning) essay win the scholarship, but anyone in the family who would like to go off to college will receive the same benefits.”

“The reason for that is because you ideally want to try for someone to be younger in their school career so they can start utilizing the benefits of membership,” Villegas said.

Benefits for students include career assessment, personality profile and help with SAT tests.

Parks director Alecia Flood said, “It’s fantastic and an awesome opportunity for students.”

The essay topic deals with why it is important to have a park association and what it has done for families.

Villegas said, “We’re starting to get some cool, creative stories about how it’s affected some of these kids and families.”

The winner will be chosen by a panel from The Power of Working Together in Arizona for impartiality.

Although one award is planned, the nonprofit group will have a second scholarship if 30 or more entries are submitted.

Students can get more information by e-mailing zeliepark@powt.org. After that, they will receive an e-mail with an application attached.