Scholarships for High School Students

Discover Scholarship Program

http://www.discoverfinancial.com/community/scholarship.shtml

The Discover Scholarship Program awards up to $300,000 in scholarships annually to high school juniors nationwide to support continued education and training beyond high school. Since 1991, Discover has awarded more than $16 million in scholarships to nearly 6,500 students

Qualifications: Any current high school junior who:

• Has at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for 9th and 10th grades
• Demonstrates accomplishments in community service and leadership and has faced a significant roadblock or challenge

Deadline for Application: January 31st

 

100 Club of Buffalo Scholarship of Excellence

http://www.100clubbuffalo.org/scholarship-excellence.php

The 100 Club provides Scholarships of Excellence of up to $2500.00 to high school seniors of active law enforcement, fire or emergency service providers who plan to continue their education at a two- or four-year college. Scholarships are given to seniors who have exemplified outstanding achievement in academics, extracurricular or employment activities and community involvement

Qualifications: To be considered, the high school senior must meet the following criteria:

• Serve as a role model for other young adults
• Demonstrate community involvement
• Demonstrate extracurricular or employment activity
• Demonstrate consistent academic achievement throughout high school
• Exhibit leadership potential

Deadline for Application: Typically in the beginning of May, please look at website for current deadline date.

 

Council for America’s First Freedom
(Essay contest- High school students only)

http://www.firstfreedom.org/education/students.html

The right to religious freedom is set forth in constitutional and international human rights law. Today’s youth play an important role in upholding and strengthening this liberty; therefore, the First Freedom Student Competition has been developed to:

• Help high-school students better understand religious freedom - its history and current significance;
• Encourage high-school students to explore their individual and civic rights to and responsibilities for religious freedom;
• Engage high-school teachers and students in the study of American history and the First Amendment; and
• Challenge high-school students to strengthen their analytic writing skills.

Qualifications: The competition is open to public, private and parochial school students and to home-schooled and distance-learning students living in:

• The United States of America;
• The District of Columbia; and
• U.S. territories.

Deadline for Application: Please visit website for further information

 

AXA Achievementsm Scholarship

http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/AXA-achievement-scholarship.html

The AXA Achievementsm Scholarship in association with U.S. News & World Report provides $670,000 in annual scholarships to young people throughout the nation.

Qualifications: Open to high school seniors only. Please visit website for more information.

Deadline for Application: December 15, 2009

 

Cargill Scholarship for Rural America

http://www.aie.org/scholarships/detail.cfm?id=17806

Qualifications: Applicant must be a high school senior from a United States farm family whose primary income source (50% or more) is derived from farming. Recipient must enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. Applicant cannot be a dependent of a Cargill employee. Selection is based upon financial need, academic achievement, and other accomplishments.

Deadline for Application: Mid-February

 

The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
National Americanism Commission

http://www.legion.org/programs/youthprograms/oratorical

The purpose of The American Legion’s National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Qualifications: Open to all students in grades 9-12 who are less than 20 years of age (as of the national contest date) and are U.S. citizens. Students must be able to prepare and deliver speeches in public to win these awards.

Deadline for Application: See website for annual deadlines

 

The Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program

https://www.horatioalger.com/scholarships/program_national.cfm

As one of the nation's largest college financial aid programs in the country, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship Program is the only major scholarship effort that specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. While many aid programs are directed primarily to recognizing academic achievement or leadership potential, the Horatio Alger program also seeks students who have a commitment to use their college degrees in service to others.

The National Scholarship Program is awarded to eligible students in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. National Scholars receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. during the spring of their senior year to participate in the National Scholars Conference.

** This scholarship only applies to students who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree **

Qualifications:

• Applicant must be enrolled full time as a high school senior, progressing normally toward graduation, and planning to enter college no later than the fall following graduation;
• Applicant must have a strong commitment to pursue a bachelor's degree at an accredited institution located in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
• Demonstrate a critical financial need ($50,000 or less adjusted gross income per family is preferred; if higher, an explanation must be provided);
• Cite involvement in co-curricular and community activities;
• Demonstrate academic achievement (minimum grade point average of 2.0); and
• Be a United States citizen

Deadline for Application: Please see website for specific deadline date.

 

Elks National Foundation’s Legacy Scholarship Program

http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars/mvs.cfm

The ENF Legacy Awards contest provides educational assistance to children and grandchildren of Elk members who are high school seniors, going on to college, and exhibit the core values of the Elks National Foundation: knowledge, charity, community and integrity.

Qualifications: Any child or grandchild (or step-child, step-grandchild, or legal ward) of a living Elk who joined the order on or before April 1, 2003, or a charter member of a Lodge that was instituted on or after April 1, 2003, is eligible to apply. The Elk must also be a paid-up member through March 31, 2009. The applicant also must take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) by November 2, 2009. For more specified directions regarding the application process please visit the website listed above.

Deadline for Application: Applications are typically made available in September and are due the following January.

 

Kaplan/Newsweek "My Turn" Essay Competition

http://www.kaptest.com/oneoff/essay/index.jhtml

Kaplan/Newsweek "My Turn" Essay Competition will award ten winners with college scholarships of up to $5,000. What do you need to do? Submit a 500- to 1,000-word personal essay on a topic of your choice.

Qualifications: Applicant must be a high-school student intending to attend a college or university following high school. All other entries will be disqualified. Prize winners of past Kaplan/Newsweek essay competition(s) and employees of The Washington Post companies, affiliates and subsidiaries are ineligible.

Deadline for Application: February 1st

 

The National Merit® Scholarship Program

http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)— a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.3 million entrants each year — and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

Qualifications: Applicants must take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern; be enrolled full time as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to enroll full time in college no later than the fall following completion of high school; and be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

Deadline for Application: Not specified. Please visit website for further information.

 

Wendy’s Heisman Scholarship Program

http://www.act.org/wendys/index.html

The WHSH program has set the standard for high school student-citizen-athletes, and gained tremendous prestige in its own right. Each fall, the program recognizes the nation’s most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in academics, community service, and athletics.

Qualifications: Principals, Guidance Counselors, and Coaches from every high school across the United States are asked to nominate one male and one female athlete who best exemplify the program criteria. Men and women entering their senior year of high school who have at least a “B” grade average and participate in at least one of the 32 sports officially sanctioned by the National Federation of State High Schools. Students are judged based on their academic achievements, community service involvement, and athletic accomplishments.

Deadline for Application: October 1st

 

The David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund

http://www.wilsonfund.org/requirements.htm

The David and Dovetta Wilson Scholarship Fund (DDWSF) was established on May 26, 1990 by the nine children of David and Dovetta Wilson to honor their mother for her untiring gift of self to her family, community and God and in loving memory of their father, David Sr. Though raised in the Lincoln Houses, a public housing project, they were taught that education is the key to attaining goals in life. Because of this determination and vision, each was able to attend college and pursue the careers of his or her choice. Admonished by their father to remember their roots and to give back to their community, the nine children decided to pool their limited resources and create a family scholarship fund.

Qualifications: Applicant must be a high school senior that is an active participant in community or religious activities and demonstrates financial need. Application must include three letters of recommendation, a photo and a $20 application fee.

Deadline for Application: March 31st

 

The SAMMY award

http://sammy.bodybymilk.com/index.php

The SAMMY award is sponsored by the 'got milk?'/Milk Mustache campaign and USA Today. SAMMY is given each year to 25 high school senior student athletes

in recognition of outstanding academic performance, athletic excellence, leadership skills and community service.

Qualifications: Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, who are enrolled in grade 12 (as of November of the specified academic year) and who participate in a high school sport or club sport during the specified academic school year.

Deadline for Application: March 6, 2009

 

The Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Essay Competition

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=150

The Voice of Democracy, endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' is an audio essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12. The annual contest, which is designed to foster patriotism, allows students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a three to five minute essay based on an annual theme. Created in 1947, the scholarship program annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. Each Department's first-place winner receives an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for national scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $25,000 scholarship.

Qualifications: Students can enter by submitting the required entry form, along with their essay and recording to a local VFW Post.

Deadline for Application: Changes annually (see website for further details) Deadline is usually in the beginning of November.

 

National Association of Secondary School of Principals

http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=571&DID=48231

Qualifications: Open to high school seniors who are members of the National Honor Society (NHS). Contact your NHS adviser for more information about obtaining applications.

Deadline for Application: Mid-January annually