| Unusual, weird and interesting scholarships | | | | presentation, and creativity. |
| Many students believe that they won’t be eligible | | | | David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship |
| for scholarships unless they’re the valedictorian | | | | Because David Letterman was a C student at Ball |
| or a star athlete or got a perfect score on their SAT. | | | | State University, he established a scholarship at his |
| What these students don’t realize is that today | | | | alma mater that is awarded to telecommunications |
| there are scholarships for almost any skill or unique | | | | majors based strictly on the creativity of a submitted |
| quality you can think of. You no longer have to break | | | | project, rather than a student’s GPA. The |
| the state track record or win a national science fair | | | | awards are intended for average students who |
| to get money for college. Now you can earn | | | | nevertheless have a creative mind. Projects may |
| scholarship money simply for having an unusual hobby | | | | involve a variety of media, including written work, |
| or distinctive trait, for anything from knitting to being | | | | research, audio, video, graphics and film. The winner |
| left-handed and from duck-calling to being interested | | | | receives a $10,000 scholarship. The first runner-up |
| in space and science fiction! Take a look at these | | | | receives $5,000. The second runner-up receives |
| weird, interesting, and fun scholarships we found and | | | | $3,333. |
| remember that applying for scholarships, just like the | | | | Aspiring Children’s Television Stars |
| whole college admissions process, isn’t about | | | | Similarly, The Academy of Television Arts & |
| being the world’s most perfect student but | | | | Sciences awards three $10,000 scholarships annually in |
| about highlighting your personal strengths and abilities. | | | | the name of the late Fred Rogers (yes, Mr. |
| Scholarships just for being you: | | | | “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood” |
| Tall Clubs International (TCI) Scholarship | | | | Rogers) to college students pursuing a career in |
| This scholarship is for those who have always been | | | | children’s media. |
| asked to get things down from the top shelf. Tall | | | | Rodeo |
| Clubs International (TCI) offers a $1,000 scholarship | | | | At last those lasso skills can rope you some money. |
| for tall people, the Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship. | | | | Institutional awards, like Colorado State |
| Women who are at least 5’10” and men | | | | University’s rodeo scholarships, are usually |
| who are at least 6’2” are eligible. Candidates | | | | reserved for students on the school’s rodeo |
| must be under 21 years old and plan to attend | | | | team. Private awards, like the San Angelo Rodeo |
| college in the fall. | | | | Scholarship, give students more flexibility in their |
| Little People of America Scholarship | | | | college choice, but often have other requirements, |
| By contrast, The Little People of America scholarship | | | | like county of residence. |
| is an award given to future and current students | | | | Puppetry |
| who are 4?10? or less in height attending a college or | | | | The Connecticut Guild of Puppetry offers the Margo |
| vocational school. Prizes range from $250 to | | | | Rose Scholarship for students involved in puppetry |
| $1,000—sometimes more. Although one does not | | | | who wish to attend the National Puppetry |
| have to be a little person to apply, the greatest | | | | Conference. The American chapter of the theatre |
| preference is given to LPA members who have been | | | | organization Union Internationale de la Marionette, |
| diagnosed with a form of dwarfism. Students with | | | | offers scholarships for students with experience in |
| dwarf-diagnosed family members and those who | | | | puppetry to study at the Institut Internationale de la |
| demonstrate financial need are also given preference. | | | | Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France. Since |
| Scholarship for Left-Handed Students | | | | puppetry degree programs are rare, most |
| For those in the company of greats like Albert | | | | scholarships in this field are for private programs or |
| Einstein, Picasso, and Jimmi Hendrix, Juniata College | | | | for puppetry studies within a theatre arts |
| offers the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship | | | | department. Pinocchio would be proud. |
| of up to $1,000 for left-handed students. | | | | Chess |
| Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship | | | | Chess stars could turn their winning moves into |
| Do you delight in finding new ways to cook tofu? Do | | | | money for college. Several colleges, including Texas |
| your parents roll their eyes at your “meat is | | | | Tech University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore |
| murder” bumper sticker? If so, you might be | | | | County (UMBC) and the University of Texas at |
| eligible for the Vegetarian Resource Group | | | | Dallas, offer promising chess players up to four-year, |
| Scholarship. High school seniors who promote | | | | full-tuition scholarships. The United States Chess |
| vegetarianism in their schools and communities are | | | | Federation provides information on chess |
| eligible to win one of the group’s two $5,000 | | | | tournaments and available chess scholarships, both |
| scholarships. | | | | college and privately-sponsored. Casual chess players, |
| National Beef Ambassador Program | | | | be warned, these scholarship programs are often |
| For those fonder of big macs than veggie burgers, a | | | | very competitive. |
| few lucky award winners will get the chance to | | | | Rugby |
| represent the beef industry, and will receive a college | | | | Rugby may not be an official sport at most U.S. |
| scholarship. The National Beef Ambassador Program | | | | universities, but it can still help pay your college costs. |
| (NBAP) is a speech and interview competition for | | | | Rugby scholarships are offered at New Mexico |
| students between the ages of 16 to 19. Winners can | | | | University, Texas A&M University, Saint |
| earn between $250 and $2,500. | | | | Bonaventure University and many other colleges. |
| Twins Who Don’t Mind Seeing Each other for 4 | | | | Playing rugby can also send you abroad. The Center |
| More Years | | | | for International Studies offers a rugby study abroad |
| Several schools offer scholarships for twins: Morris | | | | program for students to study for one or two |
| Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, waives tuition for | | | | semesters in Wellington, New Zealand and play in a |
| one twin when both enroll, Lake Erie College in | | | | local rugby club. A $500 scholarship is available to |
| Painsville, Ohio, offers half-off tuition for each twin, | | | | make this program more affordable. Check with USA |
| Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has | | | | Rugby for more rugby scholarships. |
| 45% discounts available on tuition for female twins | | | | United States Bowling Congress (USBA) Scholarships |
| only, Carl Albert State College in Oklahoma offers the | | | | Yes, bowling congress. And each season, bowling |
| Paula Nieto Twin Scholarship, George Washington | | | | associations, councils, tournaments and proprietors |
| University in Washington, DC gives a 50% discount | | | | offer over $6 million in scholarship money. Some of |
| for the second sibling, Randolph-Macon Women’s | | | | these programs include the Chuck Hall Star of |
| College in Lynchburg, VA gives a 15% discount, | | | | Tomorrow Award for $1,500 per year for three |
| Sterling College in Kansas offers a 50% discount for | | | | years, the Annual Zeb Scholarship for $2,500, the |
| each twin, and West Chester University of | | | | Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow for $1,500 per |
| Pennsylvania offers the Bonnie Evans Feinberg | | | | year for three years, the Youth Ambassador Award |
| Scholarship for twins. | | | | for $1,500, and the Gift for Life Award for $1,000. |
| Last Name Scholarships | | | | Bagpipe Majors at Carnegie Mellon |
| A number of schools offer scholarships for students | | | | One of the least competitive scholarships in the |
| with particular last names. The Zolp Scholarship is | | | | U.S.—it’s not unusual for there to be zero |
| restricted to students at Loyola University in Chicago | | | | applicants—is the Carnegie Mellon University |
| who are Catholic and whose last name is Zolp. The | | | | Bagpipe Scholarship. It offers $7,000 per year to a |
| good news is, the scholarship provides full tuition for | | | | student who intends to major in bagpiping. You even |
| four years; the bad news is, have you ever heard of | | | | get a kilt subsidy. |
| anyone named Zolp? Texas A&M University | | | | Just plain unusual scholarships: |
| pays full cost of attendance at for anyone whose | | | | Duck® brand duct tape Stuck at Prom® Contest |
| last name is Scarpinato by birth or marriage. The John | | | | The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest |
| Gatling Grant provides scholarships for students who | | | | is open to students ages 14 years or older who are |
| were born with a surname of Gatling or Gatlin to | | | | attending a high school prom in the spring. Entrants |
| attend NC State University. The scholarship provides | | | | must enter as a couple and attend a high school |
| up to $9,000 for in-state students and $18,000 for | | | | prom wearing complete attire or accessories made |
| out-of-state students. The Van Valkenburg Memorial | | | | from duct tape. The submission must include a color |
| Scholarship awards $1,000 to students with the Van | | | | photograph of the couple together in prom attire. |
| Valkenburg name or a similar variation . Even Harvard | | | | The winning couple gets $3,000 each towards college |
| University has several scholarships based on the | | | | and some cash for their school to boot. Other prizes |
| student’s last name, including Baxendale, Hudson, | | | | include $1,000 for second place, $500 for third, and |
| Thayer, Downer, Bright. | | | | Duck Tape sportswear for honorable mentions. The |
| Money for that unique hobby you never thought | | | | winning couple will be selected based on a variety of |
| would pay off: | | | | criteria, including originality, workmanship, quantity of |
| Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest | | | | Duck Tape used, use of colors, and creative use of |
| Students who can quack their hearts out for 90 | | | | accessories. |
| seconds using four calls: hail, feed, comeback and | | | | Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) |
| mating and can win big ducks, I mean, bucks for | | | | Award |
| higher education (we couldn’t resist a least one | | | | If you demonstrate excellence in academics, athletic |
| bad pun). Seriously though, The Duck Calling Contest | | | | performance, leadership and community service, and |
| awards $1,500 to the best duck-calling high school | | | | like to sport a milk mustache, this is the scholarship |
| student. The first runner-up receives $500, the | | | | for you. Candidates must also be a resident of one |
| second $300 and the third $200 in scholarship money. | | | | of the 48 contiguous states or the District of |
| Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship | | | | Columbia. Each of 25 winners receives $7,500 in |
| Now how to land a kickflip? Could you do Ollies in | | | | scholarship money, a designated place in the Disney |
| your sleep? The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship | | | | Wide World of Sports Complex and a role in a USA |
| awards one $5,000 and three $1,000 scholarships to | | | | Today Milk Mustache special. |
| skateboarders who are high school seniors with a | | | | Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership |
| GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and submit an | | | | Award |
| essay on how skateboarding has had a positive | | | | Candidates of this awardmust have made a |
| impact on their lives. Recipients must enroll as a | | | | commitment to raising awareness of organ donation |
| full-time undergraduate at an accredited college or | | | | and transplantation. Selection is based on |
| university the fall after high school graduation. | | | | effectiveness, leadership, creativity and sustainability |
| Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest | | | | of efforts. Applications may be based either on a |
| In our first scholarship for sci-fi enthusiasts, student | | | | report of previous events that have successfully |
| authors and artists can submit science fiction stories | | | | raised organ donation awareness, or a detailed and |
| and/or illustrations to be considered for this award of | | | | realistic plan to raise donor awareness. One or two |
| up to $4,000. An entry consists of three black and | | | | $500 to $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. |
| white works illustrating a science fiction or fantasy | | | | Evans Scholars Foundation Scholarship |
| story with no recurring theme. Entries may not have | | | | Where would golfers be without their caddies? Not |
| been previously published. Should the artist win the | | | | very far. For all of their help, caddies are finally being |
| Illustrators Contest with their first entry, he is then | | | | rewarded by the Evans Scholars Foundation. Each |
| sent a story from the companion L. Ron Hubbard | | | | year, the Western Golf Association awards |
| Writers of The Future Contest for which to render | | | | scholarships to more than 200 student caddies. |
| an illustration. This illustration then becomes his or her | | | | Scholarship winners are required to reside in the |
| entry in the yearly Grand Prize competition. Three | | | | scholarship house at each participation college. They |
| winners are selected each quarter and are awarded | | | | must also demonstrate academic merit, financial need, |
| $500 each; the yearly Grand Prize winner is awarded | | | | exceptional character and, of course, a great caddie |
| $4000. | | | | record. |
| American Welding Society Scholarships | | | | Klingon Language Institute Award |
| Student welders familiar with trade skills such as allied | | | | Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a |
| joining, brazing, soldering and thermal spraying are | | | | Klingon-loving Trekky to apply. The Klingon Language |
| eligible for this scholarship. The American Welding | | | | Institute (KLI) awards this $500 scholarship award to |
| Society Foundation offers numerous scholarships to | | | | one graduate or undergraduate student each year. |
| students interested in welding-related education or | | | | The scholarship was created to encourage the study |
| training programs. Award sizes depend on the | | | | of and achievement in the area of language. |
| scholarship. | | | | Applicants must be nominated by a school |
| SPAACSE Scholarships | | | | department and must demonstrate academic merit. |
| The Society of Performers, Artists, Athletes and | | | | Submissions should include the nomination letter, two |
| Celebrities for Space Exploration, Inc. (SPAACSE) | | | | recommendation letters, a resume and a statement |
| offers two $1,000 scholarships: The SPAACSE Galaxy | | | | of future intent. |
| Music Scholarship for graduating high school seniors | | | | The National Candy Technologists Scholarship |
| who are pursuing an interest in space music as a | | | | The American Association of Candy Technologists |
| means of expressing the beauty and inspiration of | | | | (AACT) awards a $5,000 scholarship to sophomore, |
| the universe and The SPAACSE Liliane Webb Art | | | | junior and senior students who demonstrate an |
| Scholarship for graduating high school seniors who | | | | interest in confectionary technology. The award is |
| have an interest in space art.. The music submission | | | | paid in two $2,500 installments to winners who |
| must be recorded on either a cassette or CD and | | | | attend an accredited four-year college or university. |
| should be 4-6 minutes in length. | | | | Applicants must earn a 3.0 GPA and be majoring in |
| Candidates for the art scholarship must provide an | | | | food science, chemical science, biological science or a |
| original two-dimensional space artwork to be | | | | related field, and, of course, be a bit of a chocoholic. |
| considered for this award. Candidates must also | | | | National Marbles Tournament Scholarship |
| include a 1-2 page description of prior artistic and | | | | This isn’t your friendly game of marbles—this |
| other school activities and awards. | | | | game is for keeps for the eight to fourteen-year-old |
| Knitting | | | | players who compete. The King and Queen of |
| If you know the different between a knit stitch and | | | | Marbles (yes, that’s what they call the winners) |
| a purl stitch and your friends make fun of you for | | | | will each receive $2,000, and, to calm things down a |
| having a grandma-hobby, you may be able to get | | | | bit, a sportsmanship award of $1,000 will also be |
| scholarships. The American Sheep Industry | | | | granted. The eight pages of rules, albeit in large |
| Association sponsors four scholarships for applicants | | | | child-like print, will show you just how serious these |
| who submit a sample of an article of clothing they | | | | competitors are. |
| created completely with wool. Philadelphia University | | | | The Spirit of the Hiram College Hal Reichle Scholarship |
| also offers the Bernard Steur Scholarship for textile | | | | Here is some chicken soup for the college student |
| engineering students with an interest in knitting. Also, | | | | soul. This scholarship is administered by the Secret |
| The National Make It Yourself with Wool (NMIYWW) | | | | Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal, otherwise |
| competition awards $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships | | | | known as SSSSH. Hal Reichle had a history of |
| for knitting wool garments. Winners are selected | | | | secretly surprising people with sweet gifts. He was a |
| based on the appropriateness to the | | | | modern-day Santa Clause and SSSSH is convinced |
| contestant’s lifestyle, coordination of fabric/yarn | | | | that Hiram College has more of them. It’s about |
| with garment style and design, contestant’s | | | | time being nice got you some cash! |