22 Crazy-Weird Scholarships

From the wacky to downright weird, these scholarships leave you hanging on every word and wondering: how many people actually apply for these?

October is the perfect time to celebrate the offbeat, the oddball and the obscure – after all, that’s exactly what the spirit of Halloween embraces, isn’t it?

So, whether you’re looking for a spooky scholarship to celebrate the time of the year or an obscure scholarship because it suits you, Fastweb has them!

At the end of the day, we’re all freaks and geeks in one way or another and not just on Halloween.

Note: Those with passed deadlines will appear at the bottom of the list, just in case you want to keep an eye out to apply next year.

It’s time to embrace your inner freak to celebrate the season of spooks. It’s time to get weird with scholarships!

National Rice Month Scholarship

Deadline: 10/31/17
Available to: High School Senior through College Freshman
Award Amount: $4,000

The National Rice Month Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who are from the rice-growing states of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Texas. You must submit a video of no more than three minutes about U.S. rice, National Rice Month and the importance of rice to your state in order to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the National Rice Month Scholarship .

Morgan/O’Neill Underwater Photography Grant

Deadline: 11/18/17
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $2,000

The Morgan/O’Neill Underwater Photography Grant is open to female students who are looking to continue their development in the field of underwater photography. You must be a certified diver in order to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the Morgan/O’Neill Underwater Photography Grant.

Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) – USA Scholarship

Deadline: 12/01/17
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $1,000

The UNIMA-USA Scholarship is available to members of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) – USA. You must be a North American citizen over the age of 18 and a second-level puppeteer (i.e. some experience and/or a university degree). This award is to support study with a recognized puppetry professional or professional program outside of North America.

To apply, you must indicate professional experience, provide three letters of recommendation from professionals in your field, photos of your completed work, indication of motivation for studying and information about the program or professional with whom you intend to study.

Learn more about the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) – USA Scholarship.

National Cartoonists Society Foundation – Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: 12/15/17
Available to: College Juniors through College Seniors
Award Amount: $5,000

The Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship is available to college juniors and seniors. You must submit eight examples of your own cartooning artwork to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the National Cartoonists Society Foundation – Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship.

ABPA Harrington/Arthur Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: 1/01/18
Available to: Ages 14-19
Award Amount: $1,000

The ABPA Harrington/Arthur Memorial Scholarship is available to all students of high school age (over 13 and under 20 as of December 31). You must submit an essay addressing the following topic: Explain the difference between a containment cross-connection program and an isolation or primary cross-connection program. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each. Which program offers the best protection against backflow and why. Essays must be between 700 and 1,200 words using size 12 font and double-spaced.

Learn more about the ABPA Harrington/Arthur Memorial Scholarship .

Tall Clubs International Scholarship

Deadline: 2/01/18
Award Amount: $1,000
Available to: College Freshmen; Maximum Age 21 Years

The Tall Clubs International Scholarship is available to freshmen students who are above average height (at least 5’10" for women and at least 6’2" for men).

In order to apply, you must contact your local TCI Member Club to request sponsorship. You must be under the age of 21 and entering your first year of college in order to qualify for this award.

Learn more about the Tall Clubs International Scholarship.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Deadline: 2/20/18
Available to: High School Seniors through College Freshmen
Award Amount: 1 Awards of $10,000, 2 Awards of $5,000

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.

Learn more about the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship.

Clowns of America International Scholarship

Deadline: 3/01/18
Available to: High School Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies

The Clowns of America International (COAI) Scholarship is available to students enrolled in family entertainment educational programs that run for a minimum of ten hours.

You must be a COAI member in good standing for at least one year in order to be considered for this award.

Get more information on the Clowns of America International Scholarship.

American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship

Deadline: 3/01/18
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: $2,500

The American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship is open to students who are pursuing study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education in an ABFSE-accredited program.

To be considered for this award, you must have completed at least one semester/quarter of study and have at least one remaining before graduation.

This award is based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities, recommendations and the articulateness of the application itself. U.S. citizenship is also required.

Learn more about the American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship.

Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest

Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 3/02/18
Available to: High School Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5

The Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest is open to currently enrolled high school and college students in the United States. To enter, you must design a holiday, get well, or birthday greeting card and submit your work to be judged. Your photo, art, or graphics submitted must be your own original work and you must be at least 14 years of age to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest.

CKSF Scholarship Competition

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Freshmen to Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $2,500

The CKSF Scholarships are available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in the U.S.

You must register to participate in scholarship quizzes that test your knowledge of topics ranging from general “common knowledge” to specific academic subjects, books, websites, and even movies.

You will be scored based on a combination of time and accuracy. Students with the highest scores at the end of each competition win.

Learn more about the CKSF Scholarship Competition.

H. Andrew Morse Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Juniors through College Seniors
Award Amount: $500

The H. Andrew Morse Memorial Scholarship is available to junior and senior aerospace engineering students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. You must have a minimum 2.75 GPA to qualify for this award. Preference is given to students with an interest in helicopters.

Learn more about the H. Andrew Morse Memorial Scholarship .

Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship

Award Amount: $500
Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Sophomores

The Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship is available to full-time students at Gogebic Community College.

You must be active in service in your community and be a resident of Gogebic or Ontonagon County, Michigan, or Iron County, Wisconsin, to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee Annual Scholarship.

Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prize

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5
Award Amount: 4 Awards of $100

The Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prizes are available to student members of the MSA who present the best research papers or posters in mycology.

You must be a student member of the MSA and be a M.Sc. or Ph.D. candidate to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Mycological Society of America Graduate Research Prize.

Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: Varies

The Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver is available to full-time entering freshmen at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

You must be a twin or triplet and all must attend NEO together (but you don’t have to room together) to be eligible for this award.

Learn more about the Twin/Triplet Dorm Room Waiver.

Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship for What You Don’t Do

Deadline: Varies
Available To:College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies

The Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship is open to female students at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. You must live on campus and have never been married.

You must also not have a car and have received no other scholarships to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship.

LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award

Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Juniors through Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5

The LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award is available to graduate students doing a research project in aquatic entomology.

You must submit your resume, a short synopsis of your project, and a letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award.

Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: 4 Awards from $500 – $2,000

The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is available to high school seniors who demonstrate talent in duck calling.

You must participate in a duck calling contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas to be considered for this award.

Get more information on the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.

Rodeo Club Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: Varies

The Rodeo Club Scholarship is open to entering freshmen or transfer students enrolled in the Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

You must be majoring in animal science, be enrolled full time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be planning to participate in the Rodeo Club NIRA sanctioned events to be eligible for this award.

Get more information on the Rodeo Club Scholarship.

Arthur Gittins Entomology Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen
Award Amount: Varies

The Arthur Gittins Entomology Scholarship is available to undergraduate students at the University of Idaho. You must be majoring in entomology and demonstrate academic achievement to be eligible for this award. Preference is given to freshmen, then to transfer students and to those changing their majors to entomology.

Learn more about the Arthur Gittins Entomology Scholarship.

Integrated Project Solutions Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: $6,800

The Integrated Project Solutions Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students at Savannah College of Art and Design. You must be majoring in animation, broadcast design and motion graphics, interactive design and game development, sound design or visual effects. To be eligible, you must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have completed at least 45 credits.

Learn more about the Integrated Project Solutions Scholarship.

Chemistry/ Forensic Chemistry Department Scholarship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen through College Seniors
Award Amount: $2,000

The Chemistry/ Forensic Chemistry Department Scholarship is available to students majoring in chemistry or forensic chemistry at Waynesburg College.

Learn more about the Chemistry/ Forensic Chemistry Department Scholarship .

Bonus: Weird Internships!

Poe Museum Internship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen to College Seniors

The Poe Museum Internship undergraduate students and recent graduates. You must submit a “Statement of Intent” describing, in 250 words or less, why you would benefit from an internship at the Poe Museum and majoring in collections and exhibits management, marketing and public relations, and museum operations to be considered for this position.

Learn more about the Poe Museum Internship.

Holography Internship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen to College Seniors

The Holography Internship is available to students with an interest in holography.

You will assist with work in a laser lab creating and copying holograms.

You will also assist with work in an art gallery: fabricating displays, creating sculptural and computer-generated art, work in cinematography and assist in the running of the business of the gallery.

A personal holography project may be part of your work.

Learn more about the Holography Internship.

Costume and Textiles Internship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: Graduate Students, Year 1 through Year 5

The Costume and Textiles Internship is available to post-graduate and graduate students from the following majors: costume studies, material culture, museum studies, art history, or library science. You must have completed a bachelor’s degree before the start of the internship to be considered for this position. Preference will be given to candidates currently in an academic program who have completed courses in costume and textiles history and with previous experience in a museum setting. As an intern, you will learn about collections care and long term preservation goals specific to costumes and textiles. In addition, handling, documenting, and researching objects while gaining greater knowledge and hands-on experience within a renowned encyclopedic collection of costume and textiles.

Learn more about the Costume and Textiles Internship .

Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship

Deadline: Varies
Available to: College Freshmen to Graduate Students, Year 2

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship is open to students who want to further their education in animal care. You must be at least 18 years of age, be capable of lifting up to 60 pounds and be in good health. You must also be hardworking, dedicated and self-motivating to be eligible for this internship. Students majoring in animal-related fields are preferred, but it is not required. Interns will be involved in the daily care of about 186 big cats and have the opportunity to observe veterinary procedures. Internship duties also include involvement in: food preparation, feeding, cleaning, maintenance of the enclosures and grounds, construction, veterinary care, guest services and educational programs.

Learn more about the Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship.

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