For writers, an essay assignment is a thrilling opportunity to express yourself.
No matter what your level of experience, writing has many positive elements! Some novice writers enjoy a mental health or mindfulness boost by journaling. Other writers excel at technical writing and sharing important research through term papers.
Writing is an essential skill you’ll use throughout school—from high school to attending college onto your career. In the professional world, a candidate that can write well is highly sought-after—no matter the industry.
All of the below scholarships require an essay entry – some as short as only 250 words – with interesting essay topics. For writers, a few hundred (or even a thousand) words is no biggie. If you’re looking for tips to win scholarship essays, we have you covered.
If you’re not a fan of essay writing, we have a list of scholarships that require no essays, too!
Pencil to paper, typewriter, journal or computer, whatever your preferred method, if you enjoy expressing your opinions through writing, check out these essay scholarships below:
- AES Engineers Scholarship Deadline: 10/8/21
- Dechtman Wealth Management National Scholarship Essay Contest
- Create Real Impact Contest
- Tech for Good Scholarship
- Creativity Leads to Success Scholarship Deadline: 11/15/21
- First Amendment Freedoms Art and Essay Contest Deadline: 12/31/21
- ASD Ascend Autism College Scholarship
- Le Cordon Bleu Future Chef of America High School Scholarship Competition
- Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship Deadline: 2/20/22
- Galvanize the Future: Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship Deadline: 3/31/23
- The Washington Advocates Scholarship
- American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
- Alert Scholarship Deadline: Varies
- George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest
- Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship Deadline: Varies
- Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: $500
The AES Engineers Scholarship is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post-secondary educational facility. You must submit a required essay of between 500 and 1,000 words in answer to the following question: "When you look back on your life in 30 years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful? What relationships or accomplishments will be important on this journey?" You need not be majoring in engineering to qualify for this award. Selection is based on character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted.
Deadline: 10/15/21Award Amount: 2 awards of $3,500 The Dechtman Wealth Management National Scholarship Essay Contest is open to all undergraduate students. You must submit an 800 to 1,200-word essay on the following topic: "Personal finance: Most Americans struggle to save for retirement and keep their finances in order. Please discuss strategies people can use to improve their financial situation and bolster their retirement savings." in order to be considered for this award.
Deadline: 11/3/21Award Amount: 9 awards between $500 and $1,500 The Create Real Impact Contest is open to full-time students between the ages of 14 and 22. To enter, you must create original work (video, music, creative writing, or artwork) showcasing your idea for a solution or strategy to fix the problem of distracted and reckless driving.
Deadline: 11/15/21
Award Amount: $5,000 The Tech for Good Scholarship is available to full - time students who are pursuing a four - year degree in a technology - related field. You must have a strong academic record to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: 3 awards between $1,250 and $2,500 The Creativity Leads to Success Scholarship is available to all high school, college and graduate school students. You must be a citizen of the US and submit an essay of no more than 500 words that answers this year's question: "How do you use creativity in problem solving?" to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $5,500
The First Amendment Freedoms Art and Essay Contest is open sixth through 12th grade students in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. To be considered, you must describe or portray how one of the five freedoms in the First Amendment affects your daily life.
Deadline: 12/31/21Award Amount: $1,000
The ASD Ascend Autism College Scholarship is available to freshman, sophomore, and junior students who have been diagnosed with autism. To be considered, you must submit a 1000 - word essay on the following topic: "COVID has had an affect on all college students. As a college student with autism, what challenges did you encounter on account of COVID? What strategies did you use to overcome these challenges? How did you learn these strategies?"
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: Varies
The Le Cordon Bleu Future Chef of America High School Scholarship Competition is available to high school seniors who plan to enroll full - time at Le Cordon Bleu. To be considered, you must submit an essay on why you want to be the next Future Chef of America.
Award Amount: $10,000
The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors. You must have been active in promoting vegetarianism in your school and / or community; and have demonstrated compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet / lifestyle to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: $2,500
The Galvanize the Future: Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at an accredited four - year college or university. You must be majoring in architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering, construction management, material science, or a related field to be eligible for this award. To be considered, you must submit a 1000 - to 2000 - word essay that addresses one of the two essay questions provided.
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $1,000 The Washington Advocates Scholarship is available to students enrolled at an accredited college or university in the state of Washington. You must submit a 300-500 word essay on the following topic: "What are some ways YOU can contribute to making our roads and highways safer? What are some of the ways the laws can be changed to accomplish that goal?"
Deadline: Varies Award Amount: From $14,000 - $18,000 The National High School Oratorical Contest is open to junior high and high school students who are under the age of 20 and citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. You must prepare an oration on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. A complete list of topics are available on the Legion's Web site. Each individual state winner certified into and participating in the first round of the national contest receives an additional $1,500 scholarship.
Award Amount: $500
The Alert Scholarship is available to high school seniors in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. To be considered, you must submit a 650 - to 800 - word essay about a personal encounter you, or someone you know, has had with drug and / or alcohol abuse, how it was dealt with, and, in your opinion, what was right or wrong about the way the incident or problem was handled. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: VariesAward Amount: $500 - $2,000
The George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is open to high school students. You must submit an 800 - to 1200 - word essay discussing an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Essays will be judged on historical accuracy, clarity of thought, organization and proven topic, grammar and spelling, and documentation.
Award Amount: $500 - $1,500
The Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship is available to high school students residing in Greater Arizona and Southern California. To be considered, you must submit a 400 - word essay on the following topic: "The Importance of Ethics and Integrity in our Community."
Award Amount: Varies The Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program is open to high school juniors who are direct descendants of U.S. wartime veterans who served during one or more of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for membership in the American Legion by the United States government. In order to apply, you must have completed an American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program and plan to attend an accredited U.S. college or university. Selection is based on the following criteria: academic record; involvement in school activities; involvement in community activities and financial need.
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