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There are scholarships available for just about anything these days. In addition to endowed scholarships for students with names such as Zolp, Scarpinato, Gatling, Baxendale, Hudson, Thayer, Downer, Bright, and Van Valkenburg, many organizations offer awards for specific talents or interests.

THE WORLD’S FINANCIAL markets spent the latter part of 2008 in an unprecedented state of volatility. Pictures of frazzled and depressed traders became one of the worst clichés in the news because they seemed to run every day.

IN APRIL 2008, STUDENTS AT the University of Florida in Gainesville staged a hunger strike to protest the investment policies and lack of transparency for the campus’s $1.2 billion foundation endowment. It was dramatic if not exactly effective.

IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, SO we're hearing a lot about income and wealth inequality in the United States. The rich seem to be getting richer, in part because a few sectors of the economy are creating incredible wealth for those who participate in them. These people want their wealth to have an impact on charities that they support.

Use this supplier guide for information on the latest higher education resources. You'll find a wealth of ideas on these Web sites, or use the many toll-free numbers for immediate action. To connect to the links on this page, go to www.universitybusiness.com/DirectConnect. For advertising information contact Maureen Mollahan at 203- 663-0124, mmollahan@universitybusiness.com

When it comes to finding individual ways to save energy-and consequently, money-Florida State University takes a leadership role. The Tallahassee campus's 50 top fuel-consuming buildings have been treated to $8 million worth of energy-smart upgrades in their lighting, HVAC systems, and windows. Specifically:

Insulated thermapane replacement windows replaced the old wooden ones that leaked 10 times more air.

High-pressure sodium lamps have supplanted incandescent bulbs and use only 30 percent of the energy.

When Hillier Architecture conducted a study to explore how colleges and universities deal with space crunches, the Princeton, N.J.-based firm exploded a few well-loved myths in the process. Among them: American schools are indiscriminate and inefficient energy users.

It's a forgivable mistake. After all, large institutions are large consumers, and in this case the buildings may well be old and leaky to boot. Today's students live a 24-hour lifestyle, burning lights, computers, and television sets every minute of the day and night.