If you’ve always thought that scholarships are only for top students, we have good news! Plenty of organizations are ready to offer scholarships based on a range of criteria which are not top grades or best athletic achievements. Are you a redhead? Have a superpower? Prefer to sunbathe naked? There’s a scholarship you can apply to!
In this article, we’ve collected 10 unusual scholarships you may have never heard of. It’s both weird and cool to know that there’re options to support your studies other than getting the best GPA, being the most socially active person at school, or being the fastest runner/toughest baseball player. So, here we go.
The Scholarship for Redheads
💰 Amount: $500
👩🦰 Theme: Redheads
⏱ Deadline: Early April
The scholarship for redheads is awarded annually to, well, natural redheads. To qualify, you should be a junior or senior high school student with a GPA of 2.5 and higher. You need to submit two photos to prove that you’re actually naturally redheaded—your childhood photo and your current photo. Besides, you need to write an essay, fill in an application form, and provide your personal statement and your official transcript. Redheads, here you go!
Superpower Scholarship
💰 Amount: $2,500
⚡ Theme: Superpower
⏱ Deadline: March
Have you secretly been dreaming about being able to travel through time or control the elements? Or maybe you’ve always admired Loki for being soooooo cool? You have a chance to tell all about it and get some cash! The Superpower Scholarship awards $2,500 to a student who, in 250 words or less, best answers the question, “Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?” So maybe it’s your chance to clearly tell the world why one of the superheroes is simply the best.
Getting Real About Distracted Driving
💰 Amount: $1,500
🚗 Theme: The dangers of distracted driving
⏱ Deadline: Annually, December
Are you a driver? Are you creative? Then you should combine your knowledge about the dangers of distracted driving with your creativity and create an ad (e.g., billboard, commercial, poster, etc.) that will raise awareness for distracted driving and urge drivers to stay focused on the road. Offered by Comedy Defensive Driving, the Getting Real About Distracted Driving Scholarship aims to educate people on the dangers of inattentive and careless driving. If you’re a current student or are planning to attend college in the nearest future, you are welcome to participate in the scholarship and use all your creative and ironic powers to get extra cash for college funding as well as do a good thing.
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Chick and Sophie Major Duck Calling Contest
💰 Amount: $2,500
🦆 Theme: Duck calling
⏱ Deadline: Annually in the fall
Chick and Sophie Major Duck Calling Contest is held annually in Stuttgart, Arkansas, every fall. All in all, the contestants have 90 seconds to present a hail or long-distance call, a mating or lonesome duck call, a feed or clatter call, and a comeback call. In 2022, scholarships totaling $4,250 were awarded to the most prominent and best duck-like-sounding students. There’s no entry fee; senior students are required to bring a transcript showing that they’re currently enrolled in high school.
The Voris Auten Scholarship
💰 Amount: Varies
👨🎓 Theme: Non-athletes, non-smokers, non-drinkers, etc.
⏱ Deadline: Annually, not specified
The Voris Auten Scholarship is an endowed scholarship offered to a Mount Carmel resident (at least for 10 years) and a Mount Carmel Public High School graduate who is not a smoker, drinker, or else on a regular basis and, what’s more—doesn’t participate in any “strenuous athletic contests.” The scholarship is awarded by the scholarship committee after you’ve been admitted to Bucknell University. A curious scholarship, indeed.
The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarships
💰 Amount: Two $5,000 scholarships
🥦 Theme: Vegetarian
⏱ Deadline: Annually, not specified
If you’re a vegetarian and have something to say about your path to becoming one or have important ideas to share, you’re welcome to participate in a scholarship offered by the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG). The group offers two such scholarships annually, with a $5,000 award each. Applicants are required to send a filled-in application form and an essay containing a range of answers about their choice to become a vegetarian, the challenges they face, and the ways they support and promote the vegetarian movement.
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American Association for Nude Recreation Education Foundation Scholarship
💰 Amount: Not specified
😏 Theme: Nudes
⏱ Deadline: Annually, not specified
The American Association for Nude Recreation Education Foundation (AANR) offers a unique scholarship for those who find naturism important to their mental and physical health. To apply for a scholarship, you need to send an application form with your transcript, add recommendation letters, and answer a series of questions about your educational background, interests, and aspirations, as well as describe “Why you deserve this scholarship to help the selection committee understand and how this scholarship may further your participation in naturism.” This scholarship aims to support the AANR members or those who are somehow connected or have had previous experience with the AANR.
Future Selfie Scholarship
💰 Amount: $5,000
🤖 Theme: Future
⏱ Deadline: Terminated
Bankrate used to offer a scholarship with the curious name Future Selfie Scholarship to the most creative students. To enter the award competition, students were to take a photo (a selfie) and write a caption showcasing their career aspirations and how they envision their future lives: something like, “10 years from now, I’ll be an excellent neurosurgeon who’s helping people with my skills and new technologies.” In return, Bankrate offered a chance to win $5,000. While the scholarship doesn’t seem to be offered anymore, we find it one of the most inspiring and creative scholarship opportunities. We also hope Bankrate will resume it in the nearest future.
Gypsy Lore Society Young Scholars’ Prize
💰 Amount: $500
👨🏻 Theme: Romani culture
⏱ Deadline: Annually
Are you interested in the Romani culture, know a lot about the Gypsy, and want to share this knowledge? The Gypsy Lore Society offers a $500 award—The Gypsy Lore Society Young Scholars’ Prize—for the best unpublished paper by a young scholar on a topic in Gypsy and Traveler Studies with the aim to promote the study of Romani culture. The winning paper will be published in an issue of the journal Romani Studies. Both college students and graduate students alike can participate. The award is peculiar because it’s rare and helps promote the study of Gypsy communities, their history, and their culture.
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Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship Fund
💰 Amount: 3 or more awards up to $5,000
👩🎓 Theme: Vacuum coating
⏱ Deadline: Annually
Are you interested in vacuum coaters? Want to become a future leader in vacuum coating technology? The SVC Foundation offers scholarship opportunities to students and those working in the field of vacuum coating technology: College Scholarships, Industry Scholarships, and Student Travel Sponsorship. Applicants have to be enrolled in a course of study related to this field.
These are by no means the only unusual and unexpected scholarships out there. We’ll be sharing more information about weird scholarships you have real chances to win. And you, in turn, are welcome to share your unique scholarship experiences in the comments on our social media pages: TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram!
And if you are a student looking for different opportunities to secure a scholarship, we recommend reading the following articles as they could be valuable to you: How to Get a Scholarship for College, What Is a Good GPA, Kalibo International Internships.
