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.
Available to: Ages 16-20
Award Amount: $1,000 The CARiD Scholarship is available to students enrolled at an accredited college or university. You must be between the ages of 16 and 20 and submit a photo inspired by any aspect of the automotive industry to qualify for this award. Submissions could be of your first car, custom modifications you've made, something that makes your vehicle unique, the coolest vehicle you've ever seen, etc. Get more information on the CARiD Scholarship.
Available to: High School Seniors through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $500 The Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest is available to high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a college or university. You must create a public service advertisement video (PSA) which portrays the correct way of interacting with a police officer during a traffic stop, or any other encounter, to qualify for this award. The video must be uploaded to YouTube and be no longer than three minutes long. Learn more about the Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest.
Available to: Ages 14-18
Award Amount: 10 Awards from $100 - $10,000 The Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest is open to students who will be attending a high school, home school association, or other school - sanctioned prom. To enter, you must submit at least one photo of you in either the dress or tux category wearing DIY prom attire made out of Duck brand duct tape. One $10,000 grand prize winner will be selected from each category, with 4 runners-up in each category receiving $100. Get more information on the “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest.
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Chester Gould Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Oklahoma State University. You must be a Daily O'Collegian staff member and demonstrate creativity through cartooning, graphics and layout and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Get more information on the Chester Gould Scholarship.
Deadline: Varies
Amount: Up to $18,000
Ages: High School Freshmen through High School Seniors 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. Get more information on the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 2
Award Amount: Varies The Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship is open to students studying broadcasting, motion pictures or video-film at the University of Miami, School of Communication. You must be working in the field comedy to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Available to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Chester Gould Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Oklahoma State University. You must be a Daily O'Collegian staff member and demonstrate creativity through cartooning, graphics and layout and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Chester Gould Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies The Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. You must demonstrate excellence in writing or directing comedy to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship.
Available to: College Freshmen through 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. Get more information on the Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship.
CARiD Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/19Available to: Ages 16-20
Award Amount: $1,000 The CARiD Scholarship is available to students enrolled at an accredited college or university. You must be between the ages of 16 and 20 and submit a photo inspired by any aspect of the automotive industry to qualify for this award. Submissions could be of your first car, custom modifications you've made, something that makes your vehicle unique, the coolest vehicle you've ever seen, etc. Get more information on the CARiD Scholarship.
Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest
Deadline: 6/30/2019Available to: High School Seniors through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: $500 The Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest is available to high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a college or university. You must create a public service advertisement video (PSA) which portrays the correct way of interacting with a police officer during a traffic stop, or any other encounter, to qualify for this award. The video must be uploaded to YouTube and be no longer than three minutes long. Learn more about the Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest.
“Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest
Deadline: 7/09/19Available to: Ages 14-18
Award Amount: 10 Awards from $100 - $10,000 The Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest is open to students who will be attending a high school, home school association, or other school - sanctioned prom. To enter, you must submit at least one photo of you in either the dress or tux category wearing DIY prom attire made out of Duck brand duct tape. One $10,000 grand prize winner will be selected from each category, with 4 runners-up in each category receiving $100. Get more information on the “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest.
Chester Gould Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Chester Gould Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Oklahoma State University. You must be a Daily O'Collegian staff member and demonstrate creativity through cartooning, graphics and layout and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Get more information on the Chester Gould Scholarship.
American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
Deadline: Varies
Amount: Up to $18,000
Ages: High School Freshmen through High School Seniors 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. Get more information on the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest.
Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 2
Award Amount: Varies The Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship is open to students studying broadcasting, motion pictures or video-film at the University of Miami, School of Communication. You must be working in the field comedy to qualify for this award. Learn more about the Kermit and Mickey Schafer Foundation Scholarship.
Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship for What You Don't Do
Deadline: VariesAvailable 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: VariesAvailable 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: VariesAvailable 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: VariesAvailable 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: VariesAvailable 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: VariesAvailable 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.
Chester Gould Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: Varies The Chester Gould Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Oklahoma State University. You must be a Daily O'Collegian staff member and demonstrate creativity through cartooning, graphics and layout and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Chester Gould Scholarship.
Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Year 5
Award Amount: Varies The Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. You must demonstrate excellence in writing or directing comedy to be eligible for this award. Learn more about the Jack Oakie Comedy Scholarship.
BONUS! Fun Internship:
Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through 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. Get more information on the Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship.
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