When you think of Halloween, you likely think of creative group costume parties, trick or treat, pumpkin carving, scary movies, or haunted places. But, what about free scholarships to help you pay for college? When applying for college and finding the niche scholarships to pay for school includes special talents, and obscure hobbies, paying for school gets really get weird—AND FUN!
From the wacky to downright weird, these weird 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 Halloween season, the oddball and the obscure - after all, that's exactly what the spirit of Halloween embraces, isn't it?
Embrace your inner freak to celebrate Halloween night. It's time to get crazy-weird with scholarships!
National Rice Month Scholarship
Deadline: 10/31/23Memorial Classic Scholarship
Deadline: 11/1/23Pest Management Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 11/30/23Colonial Ghosts Scholarship
Deadline: 12/15/23Center for Alcohol Policy National Writing Competition
Deadline: 2/1/24American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship
Deadline: 3/1/24"Unboxing Your Life" Video Scholarship
Deadline: 3/31/24Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund
Deadline: 4/1/24Clowns of America International Scholarship
Deadline: VariesLaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award
Award Amount: VariesChick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Deadline: VariesSpencer's and Spirit Halloween Summer Internship
Deadline: VariesCT Veterans Funeral Care Mortuary Science Internship
Deadline: VariesHolography Internship
Deadline: VariesCostume and Textiles Internship
Deadline: VariesExotic Feline Rescue Center Internship
Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: $2,000 - $5,000 The National Rice Month Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors residing in the rice - growing states of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. To be considered, you must submit an original three - minute video about U.S. rice, National Rice Month, and the importance of rice to you, your state, or the world in general.
Award Amount: $5,000 The Memorial Classic Scholarship is open to students pursuing a degree in mortuary science. You must be enrolled in an ABFSE - or Canadian - accredited institution / program to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $2,000 The Pest Management Foundation Scholarship is available to junior, senior, and graduate students. You must be majoring in biological sciences, with a focus on urban pest management, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 The Colonial Ghosts Scholarship is available to students majoring in marketing. To be considered, you must submit a 1,000 - word essay explaining your education goals and plans after graduating college.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
The Center for Alcohol Policy National Writing Competition is open to students who are over the age of 18. To be considered, you must submit an essay on the following topic: "90 years ago, this nation undertook a raw exercise of political power only done 26 other times in our country’s 235 year constitutional history. The 21st Amendment was passed in 1933 and it performed two critically important actions. First, it repealed National Prohibition caused by the 18th Amendment. Second, the 21st Amendment put regulation of alcohol primarily in the control of the states. Fast forward 90 years and reflect, does the 21st Amendment work? Has it achieved what it set out to do: provide for an orderly marketplace, prevent abuse of the product, and protect public health and safety?"
Award Amount: $1,500 - $2,500
The American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education in an ABFSE - accredited program. You must have completed at least one semester / quarter of study and have at least one remaining before graduation to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $4,000 The "Unboxing Your Life" Video Scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. To be considered for this award, you must create a five-minute video based on the following prompt: "This Is Who I Am: Unboxing My Life."
Award Amount: Varies
The Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund is available to students with an interest in the costuming of dolls. You must submit a research topic and plan in order to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: Varies
The 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. The deadline for applications is 60 days prior to the event for which the scholarship is requested.
Deadline: Varies
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.
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.
Weird Internships!
The Spencer's and Spirit Halloween Summer Internship is available to junior-level undergraduate students and above. As an intern, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your skills, explore your talents, and network with peers and leaders. This internship program offers a challenging, hands-on experience in a rewarding, supportive, and collaborative environment. Interns have access to all home office amenities (collaborative workspaces, fitness center, and subsidized cafeteria), networking opportunities, community events, engagement activities, professional development workshops, and a discount on on Spencer's and Spirit Halloween merchandise. Internships are located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
The CT Veterans Funeral Care Mortuary Science Internship is available to students enrolled in accredited mortuary science programs. As an intern, you will be exposed to all aspects of the funeral service industry. This opportunity is located in Waterbury or Wallingford, CT.
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.
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.
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.