SCHOLARSHIPS 2009 – 2010 Scholarships Information Center

Using Unusual Scholarships To Fund Your Education

In these tough times when education costs are escalating by the day, scholarships are a welcome relief for students and parents alike. The good thing about a scholarship is that unlike student loans, it need not be repaid. Usually scholarships are available for those students that have outstanding academic or athletic abilities. However, now colleges and lots of private sponsors continue to launch scholarships with weird eligibility criteria. These scholarships are collectively referred to as unusual scholarships.

If you possess unique or even weird skills, characteristics, talents or interests, you can use these abilities to pay for your education with unusual scholarships. There exists a wide range of unusual skills for you to explore. For instance, you can qualify for a scholarship if you are left-handed, if you are a twin or even if you are a vegetarian. In fact, just about anything unusual might win you a scholarship in the world of wacky scholarships.

Although quite a few in number, unusual scholarships manage to garner a lot of attention because of their offbeat nature. The most well-known of these scholarships is the $1000 worth Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship available exclusively for left-handed students who are either already enrolled or will be attending the Juniata College.

Perhaps a wackier scholarship is the one offered by the Duck brand duct tape to students who are aged 14 years or older and who are US citizens. While attending the high school prom held during the spring, applicants are required to don attire and accessories created from duct tape. If a couple manages to qualify, each member will receive a scholarship of $2,500 in addition to $2,500 in cash for the school which hosts the prom.

If you are committed to raising awareness about organ donation and transplantation, you may qualify for two scholarships amounting to $1,500. There are also unusual scholarships worth $1000 and $2000 available for knitting enthusiasts. Although the eligibility criteria for the $7,500 worth milk mustache scholarship emphasizes regular consumption of milk, it also stresses that candidates must excel in athletics and academics along with notable leadership skills and interest in community service.

Then there are numerous unusual scholarships available for students who are:

• Blue-eyed
• Overweight
• Woodworkers
• Teenage mothers
• Animal lovers
• Beef eaters
• Jamaican citizens
• Asthma patients
• Bird watchers
• Cartoonists
• Star Trek fans
• Gospel musicians
• Cheerleaders
• Expert bowlers
• Accordion players

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, there are lots such unusual scholarships and new ones being added on a regular basis. Even though some of these scholarships may only have small amounts like $500, it adds up to a good amount if you manage to win a bunch of them.

So as you can see, you can check out innumerable unusual scholarships to help pay for your higher education. Of course, there will always be folks who ridicule these scholarships. But simply consider how many students benefit from such bizarre schemes and you will understand this is no laughing matter after all. So don’t get upset about not getting a scholarship just because you do not have a high GPA; there are plenty of high-paying unusual scholarships out there for ‘differently talented’ students like you!

Wacky Scholarships – Free Education Funding For The Weirdest Reasons!

Although plenty of high school and college students in the US qualify for scholarships every year, athletes and academics obviously get more preference. If you are neither, there is no reason to fret – because you may be just the perfect person for wacky scholarships. Just as the name suggests, your weird and wacky abilities may actually earn you enough money to pay for your education.

So, what exactly are wacky scholarships? Since the Webster dictionary is yet to include this term, it is best to go with the accepted definition of the term found online: free funding for high school or college education obtained on the basis of odd or unique personal characteristics, weird or strange interests or hobbies, or unique skills or talents.

Wacky scholarships available for high school and college students keep increasing each year. However, most of these scholarships go unclaimed as students remain unaware of them and thus fail to apply for them. Free funding for being red-headed, left-handed or good at playing poker are just a few of the innumerable scholarships handed out every year to aid students in paying for the escalating costs of education.

Do You Qualify For Wacky Scholarships?

These wacky scholarships offer you an interesting and unbelievably simple way to creatively fund your high school or college education. Here are some interesting, weird and – of course – wacky reasons why you may qualify for this scholarship.

• There are lots of wacky scholarships available based on your personal characteristics. So if you are a natural red-head, really short, very tall or hopelessly overweight, there may be a scholarship waiting for you.
• If you are an expert skateboarder or bowler or skilled in knitting, you can use these skills to pay for your education.
• Wacky scholarships are also available for creatively talented students – be it art designing or writing poetry.
• If you are a die-hard vegetarian, you can win about $5000 in scholarship simply by writing an essay about being a vegetarian.
• Do you suffer from medical conditions like asthma? Most students are unaware that wacky scholarships are also available for certain medical conditions.
• Are you one of twins or triplets? If yes, you and your sibling may qualify for a scholarship for just being family.
• Did you know that expert duck-calling skills can get you about $1,500 in scholarships?
• Do you have a unique last name? Then be sure to check out if you can get a scholarship for that. For instance, a last name like Zolp can earn you a full scholarship to the Loyola University.
• This surely has to be the weirdest one. If you are a high school athlete and if milk is your favorite beverage, you might just win $7,500 in scholarship.

Students who possess such unusual and unique skills must seriously consider applying for any of the wacky scholarships out there. Agreed – these weird scholarships are not really traditional in the academic sense; but the free money is real. So why not take some time to find out if scholarships are available for your unique talents? After all you never know what wacky scholarships you may find.

Here’s wishing you good luck in your wacky scholarships hunting!

African American Scholarships

One of the largest minorities in the United States is the African American community. Having migrated from various countries across Africa like Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, to name a few, this community has contributed to the United States in more ways than one can imagine. African Americans have played a major role in the evolution of the American culture through their literature, food, art, music etc. The fact remains, however, that a lot of students from this community are unable to pursue higher studies owing to financial constraints. This is where scholarships meant for specifically helping this community in further studies come into play.

There are a number of scholarships that are available for African Americans. Some of the more prominent ones are listed below:

1. United Negro College Fund: One of the oldest and largest scholarship organizations, the United Negro College Fund has helped thousands of African American students avail scholarship. To qualify for a scholarship with this institution, students are required to enroll in an affiliated college. One would need to apply for the scholarship using the specific forms available through the United Negro College Fund. Once a student applies, the organization processes the application and helps the applicant choose the best available scholarship program, based on the course applied and the quantum of financial aid required.

2. Thurgood Marshall College Fund: This Fund offers scholarships to meritorious students with a genuine need for financing their higher studies. The Fund specifies that students utilize the scholarship only for purchasing study material, hostel boarding fees and tuition and/or other educational fees.

3. Vivien Thomas Scholarship: Sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Vivien Thomas Scholarship is offered to African American students who are pursuing degree courses in science or medicine. The scholarship was created to commemorate the life of an African American named Vivien Thomas who withstood the challenges of racism and similar hostilities and went on to become an established surgeon.

4. Ron Brown Scholar Program: The Ron Brown Scholar Program has a history of successfully helping African American students avail scholarships worth $40,000. All the students chosen for this scholarship, in addition to being financially deprived, distinguished themselves in academic achievement, leadership, and instances of community service. The major feature of this scholarship program as opposed to other programs is that it does not restrict applicants from studying only in a chosen few colleges. The scholarship program from Ron Brown offers up to $10,000 annually for a four-year degree, and covers tuition fees, health insurance, study materials, and even computers.

In addition to these scholarships, there are programs reserved for women students seeking financial aid. The “Miss Teen Africa” competition does not limit itself to choosing women for their good looks. Winners of the competition are also offered the option of a scholarship for higher studies.

While deciding which scholarship program to choose, students would do well to first analyze their own financial needs, the course they are interested in studying and the place where the scholarship may be availed. One should also take adequate care to choose only such scholarship organizations that have an established credibility and have a history of offering scholarships to genuine students.

Teaching Scholarships

With a shortage of qualified teachers, the easy availability of teaching scholarships has been a great boon. Those who are interested in making a career in teaching, the availability of financing through scholarships have brought relief to a large number of individuals. Across the United States, a variety of scholarships are made available for those wanting to get into teaching as a profession. There are various scholarships that are not only available at the local level, larger universities also offer national level teaching scholarships to attract the best talent available in the country.

Regional Scholarships

For those wanting to evaluate the teaching scholarships available locally, the easiest way to explore the available opportunities would be to check with any school’s financial aid department. Additionally, in most local universities, the various departments have the facility of advisors who are the best source of information regarding scholarships in a particular school. Those who are enrolled as students in a school or college should get in touch with their respective departments to understand the scholarship benefits on offer. While evaluating the scholarships one has access to, it is advisable to check the quantum of financial assistance one can avail in addition to any material financial aid one could use to manage the living expenses to be incurred during a teaching job. Although in most cases, the amount of financial aid that a local teaching scholarship can offer might be less in value than a national scholarship, it is nevertheless an important source of aid. One can, based on previous academic record, attempt to get multiple local scholarships so that the resulting aid is substantial.

National Scholarships

Students who decide to make career in teaching, especially in a particular stream, should try to understand the various national-level scholarships. These scholarships are especially useful for those who wish to specialize in a particular area over time. Some of the more prominent national scholarships include:

• Phi Delta Kappa (PDK): PDK offers graduate fellowships annually to graduate students pursuing degrees at master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels. More specifically, those students that have plans to pursue teaching options in elementary or secondary education can receive scholarships of up to $1,000 from the PDK’s International Education Foundation.
• KSTF Teaching Fellowships: KSTF, a group established by the Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation offers fellowships to men and women with a keen interest in teaching high school science and/or mathematics in U.S. schools. As a pre-condition, the Foundation requires applicants to have a bachelor’s or advanced degree in science, engineering or mathematics. The fellowship supports successful applicants through a teacher preparatory program for a period of five years.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: This organization offers solutions relating to employer-sponsored childcare, early education, and work/life. The firm offers scholarships up to $10,000 for students enrolled in a full-time degree in early childhood education.
• Charles McDaniel Teacher Scholarship: This Georgia-based scholarship program offers $1000 annually to those high school graduates who enroll with the department of education to obtain a degree in teaching.