Unusual Scholarships
Key to know: You can win a scholarship for a clever tweet, creative use of duct tape, and other strange and wonderful activities! Check out the list below to see some examples:
Tweet Earns $20,000 Scholarship As reported in newspapers all over the country, a Long Beach, CA high school senior recently wrote a clever tweet and won a $20,000 college scholarship! She entered a contest sponsored by the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation. Her winning tweet was: “Hey Colonel! Your scholarship's the secret ingredient missing from my recipe for success! Got the grades, drive, just need the cash!”. Learn more about the KFC Foundation annual scholarship. But hurry – the deadline for 2011 is February 9, 2011.
Duct Tape Prom Outfits? Probably the best known unusual scholarship is Stuck at Prom®, an online contest that “challenges students to create and accessorize their prom outfits with duct tape for the chance to win scholarship money.” First place couples win $5000 each; 2nd place $3000 each and $2000 each. Seven runners up will win $500. The school where the winning students attend Prom will also win the same dollar award. This year, in addition to awards for the entire outfits, there are special awards for categories such as “Best Purse”, “Best Shoes”, etc. Contest entry period ends June 13, 2011. Apply for the Duct Tape Scholarship.
Pro-Vegetarian? Check out the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship, which awards two $5,000 scholarships each year to graduating US high school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and communities. To enter, you must write an essay about how you have promoted vegetarianism in your high school or community. Apply for the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship.
Prefer Red Meat? If vegetarianism is not for you, check out the National Beef Ambassador Program. This is actually a speaking competition, with winners chosen to represent the beef industry and to win scholarships and cash prizes. The scholarships are actually sponsored by the American National Cattlewomen Foundation and award $1000 for first place, $750 for second and $500 for third. Apply to be a Beef Ambassador.
Candy More Your Style? The AACT National Candy Technologists Scholarship might be for you! According to their website, The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) sponsors an annual $5,000 scholarship for college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have “demonstrated an interest in confectionary technology. Candidates should be attending an accredited, four-year college or university in North America, be majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science or related area, and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.” Deadline for application is is March 31. Check out the sweet Candy Scholarship.
Cool Cash for Caddies You may caddy to earn some extra cash – now you can cash in through the Evans Scholars Foundation. The Western Golf Association sponsors the Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. Scholarship for golf caddies. Applicants must be nominated by their club, they must be in the top 25 percent of their high school class, have a superior caddie record for two or more years, have qualifying financial need, and have outstanding personal character. You could be one of more than 200 Evans Scholars selected each year.
Speaking of Ducks… Not into Duck Brand duct tape? Check out the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest. This competition offers a prize of a $1500 to the winner of its scholarship. Additional prizes include $500, $300 and $200 for the first, second and third runners-up. You may enter if you are a high school senior in the Unites and are able to call ducks. Contestants have 90 seconds to use four calls (hail, feed, comeback and mating). Get Quacking!
To check out different sources of funds, learn about Grants at Types of Grants and Where to Find Them.
