There's a Scholarship for That?
It’s no secret, college costs are rising faster than a father’s blood pressure on his daughter’s prom night. According to the College Board, the average annual cost of tuition and fees at a public university for the 2014-15 school year was $9,139 for an in-state student and $22,598 for out-of-state students. For perspective, the average cost of tuition and fees when I entered an in-state college in 1998 was $3,243. That’s an increase of at least $368 each year.
Unless you have to have a trust fund, excel at athletics or you’re an academic prodigy, you’ll need some help paying for college. For the “none of the above” students, there are scholarships available. You just have to search!
Start with your Credit Union! AECU offers a $1500 scholarship to members who are graduating high school seniors. The Vince Jacknewitz Scholarship gives students the opportunity to earn a scholarship by writing a three-page essay or submitting a 3-6 minute video on a given topic. Click here for more information or to download our application.
Free up some time and start searching…there’s a scholarship everyone – vegetarians, little people, fly fishers, and people in certain groups or affiliations. Here are several “There’s a scholarship for what?” opportunities available that you may find fit you or someone you know:
Create-a-Greeting Card Scholarship
Ever see a greeting card and think you could create a better one? Here’s your chance. For a chance to win this scholarship, all you need to do is design and submit an original holiday, get well, or birthday greeting card. That’s fairly easy for $10,000!
Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Daffy and Donald impersonators need not apply, this is for the real mallards and pintails. The Duck Calling Contest is open to any high school senior in the United States who can call ducks.
Tall Clubs International Student Scholarship
Tower over your classmates? If you’re a girl who’s at least 5’10 or a boy who’s least 6’2, you’re in luck! The club awards scholarships of up to $1,000 each to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college the following fall.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Who says The Walking Dead isn’t educational? Probably my favorite of the bunch, this scholarship is awarded to students who can write the best essay explaining how he/she would survive a zombie apocalypse, including hiding places and 5 things he/she would bring to stay alive.
Have an interest or hobby you love, I bet there’s a scholarship for it. Start looking today!