Unique, Silly & Fun Scholarships

Weird. Wacky. Outlandish. Some of the most ridiculous things in life are what you take notice of.

The same goes with scholarships. Some of the best are also some of the silliest, weirdest, oddball awards that often get a “I can get an award for what?!” type of reaction. This is exactly why they’re worth celebrating.

Here are some of Fastweb’s all-time favorite take-notice scholarships. These fall under the silly, outlandish and how’d-they-come-up-with-that? category of scholarship opportunities that may make you think or, perhaps, look twice. They make you wonder exactly who is applying for these scholarships and how on earth can you meet them?

But, at the end of the day, a scholarship is a scholarship! And these are nothing short of awesome.

You never know, one of the following awards could be perfect for you! If so, you are our hero.

Writers of the Future Contest

Deadline: 9/30/17
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $5,000

The Writers of the Future Contest is open to amateur writers. Your entry must be a new short story or novelette with a science fiction, fantasy, horror or speculative fiction theme, that has not been previously published. Poetry and children’s literature cannot be accepted for this contest. There are four quarterly deadlines each year (September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30) with three prizes per quarter of $1000, $750, $500 and a yearly grand prize of $4000 is offered.

Learn more about the Writers of the Future Contest.

“Hit the Books” Scholarship

Deadline: 9/30/17
Available to: Ages 18-25
Award Amount: $500

The “Hit The Books” Scholarship is available to students between the ages of 18 and 25. To be considered, you must submit a maximum 500-word essay on the importance of education in your life and how the scholarship money will assist you in achieving your goals. Bonus points will be awarded to students who find a creative way to include their passion for coffee within their essay without losing sight of the primary topic.

Learn more about the “Hit the Books” 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.

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 UNIMA-USA Scholarship.

Scholars Helping Collars

Deadline: 2/15/18
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $1,000

The Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship is open to current high school seniors. You must submit an essay of between 500 and 1000 words with two to three photos of your volunteer efforts to help animals in need and how that involvement has changed your lives or shaped your perceptions on the importance of animal welfare in order to be considered for this award.

Learn more about the Scholars Helping Collars.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Deadline: 2/20/18
Available to: High School Seniors through College Freshmen
Award Amount: 3 Awards from $5,000 – $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.

Learn more about the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship.

CKSF Scholarship Competition

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Freshmen through 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.

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.

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.

Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $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.

Prom Pics Contest

Deadline: Varies
Available to: High School Juniors through High School Seniors
Award Amount: $250

The Prom Pics Contest is open to high school students. To be eligible, you must submit a high resolution photo from your prom event. Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories: promposal, pre-prom, prom dance, and post-prom.

Get more information on the Prom Pics 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.

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.

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