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Oprah Winfrey Scholarship

The Oprah Winfrey Scholarship is available at (ironically) the all male historically black institution – Moorehead College.  She gave $1 million in 1989 to the college and another $1 million in 1997.  Then in 2007, she donated another $5 million and last year gave another $5 million.  That brings the total Oprah Winfrey Scholarship fund to $12 million.

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Weird Scholarships

Normally I post about broader categories of college aid, but today I want to talk about weird scholarships.  These are funds set up just for people who have unusual talents, characteristics, or other distinguishing characteristics.

One of the best ways to find out about weird scholarships is to go to this site:  The Scholarship and Grant Guide to look for all kinds of unusual, wacky, and downright weird scholarships.

You’ll find various scholarship programs that you might qualify for including:

duck calling

unusual last names

photography contests (like the best milk mustache)

short people scholarships

tall people scholarships

David Letterman creativity scholarship

Santa Claus Scholarship

The Excellence in Predicting the Future Award

The best prom dress made of duct tape award

The all American Apple Pie recipe contest / scholarship

The Klingon Language Institute Scholarship

Need More Scholarship Information? Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Coca Cola Scholarship

The Coca Cola Scholarship is sponsored by the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation.  High School Seniors can apply for a 4 year program and students at 2 year colleges can apply for a grant to complete their 4 year education.

Students must be good at school as well as have a commitment to the community.  The scholarships require a 2.5 g.p.a. and 100 hours of community service in the past 12 months.

600 eligible students who plan to register at least half time in college for the upcoming year qualify for the $1000 to $5000 awards.

Scholars cannot be children or grandchildren of officers, owners or employees of Coca Cola or its subsidiaries.

Applications are accepted between September 1 and October 31.  Online applications are acceptable.  The preliminary application is available only online.  It has limited space to discuss your extracurricular activities, so make the most of what you have to work with.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Odd Scholarships

Odd scholarships may help you pay for college.  On this site, we look at scholarships for college.  Some of these are normal and large swaths of the college age population qualify to apply.  These include general scholarships for a student attending a specific school or for children of employees from a certain company going to any school.

But the odd scholarships I’m going to write about today are, well, just odd.

One of the more famous odd scholarships is the Left Handed Scholarship offered by Juanita College in Pennsylvania.  A benefactor left the college an endowment to give $1000 to a left handed student.  About 13 percent of 20 year olds are left handed.

Another odd scholarship is the Milk Mustache Contest. Sponsored by the milk industry, 25 high school seniors can win up to $7500 for submitting a photo of themselves with milk on their upper lip.

Poker players can win another odd scholarship if they enter the Online College Poker Championship Tournament.

Here’s an odd scholarship – the Unusual Last Name Scholarship. It is offered by various colleges for various strange last names.  For instance, Loyola University in Chicago offers a scholarship for a person with the surname “Zolp.”

If you are handy in the kitchen, you can earn this scholarship – the Best Teen Chef Award. The winner gets free ride to The Art Institute of Dallas.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is the sponsor of an award for students with asthma.

Okay, this is downright unusual.  Can you make a prom dress out of duct tape?  If so, you can win the Duct Tape Contest and pay your way to school that way.

I don’t know if vegetarians should be considered odd, but the Vegetarian Scholarship is an odd scholarship sponsored by the  Vegetarian Resource Group.

If duck calling is one of your unusual talents, it could have a nice reward when you win this odd scholarship.

And they say Skateboarding is a Crime.  ThePatrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship is an odd scholarship out there.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Unclaimed Scholarships

Unclaimed scholarships may be the best way to pay for your college education.  There are thousands of dollars worth of unclaimed scholarships each year.   There are also a handful of odd scholarships that are virtually unknown and have very low competition, so if you apply and qualify, you are virtually assured of receiving the money

These are sources of real money that could be paying for your college education.  If no one applies for these scholarships, no one gets the money.  That is why they are known as “unclaimed scholarships.”

All you have to do is find and apply for unusual and unheard of scholarships that you are eligible for.   But, the process of actually doing this that can be challenging.

There are several approaches you can take to find these generally unclaimed scholarships.

Where do you find these unknown odd scholarships? There are several approaches that you can take to find strange, unclaimed, and low competition scholarships.

Fortunately, the internet has made finding unclaimed scholarships easier.  You can simply type in keywords like “unclaimed scholarships” and “unusual scholarships” into Google.

This approach can be time consuming though as you will find literally thousands of web sites to sift through.

It is more efficient to use online databases which allow you to fill out a custom profile which collects details about your personal life including interest, hobbies, skills, and personal characteristics.

After you fill out this simple form, the scholarships will literally be brought to you.  You will have a number of scholarships and grants delivered to your email account which include many unusual and strange scholarships – most of which will go unclaimed unless you step up to the plate.  They will also include traditional scholarships which you may qualify for.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Bill Gates Scholarship

Are you trying to get one of the thousands of Bill Gates Scholarship available every year?  Bill Gates has created numerous scholarship programs including the Millennial Scholarship program also known as the Bill Gates Scholarship.  He has enabled thousands of students to get a college education. These Bill Gates Scholarship have already been awarded to more than 10,000 worthy individuals.

In his own career Bill Gates has changed the world through developing technology.  It is fascinating to think of how the world will change because of the achievements of the winners of scholarships provided by Gates.

Bill and Melinda Gates donated $1 billion to create the Bill Gates Scholarship. This program works to promote academic excellence, achieve diversity in education and careers, and to reduce financial barriers to education.

Students must have at least a 3.3 GPA (out of 4.0) and be African American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan, and Asian Pacific Islander to apply for the Bill Gates scholarship.  The money pays for undergraduate studies in college as well as graduate and doctoral programs.  Undergraduate recipients may pick any major; graduate studies may be in education, library science, math, public health, engineering, and science fields.

The application for the Bill Gates Scholarship evaluates academic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. You must obtain nominations from a principal, counselor, or teacher. The yearly deadline for scholarship applications is: December 31 for mailed applications, or January 11th for the on-line application. You must demonstrate financial need and fill out the Pell Grant application and the FAFSA forms.

Since Bill and Melinda Gates began the scholarship program in 1999, more than 10,000 scholarships have been awarded. Bill Gates is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft.

If you qualify, you should definitely apply for the Bill Gates Scholarship.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Short People Scholarships

Attention Short people: scholarships and grants are easy to get if you’re of shorter height. To get a college scholarship for short people all you need to do was to be born short or less then the average height. If you’re tall, the chances of landing one of these unusual short people scholarships for smaller height people do not exist (look for a future post for scholarships for tall people!)

Many people who are of less than average height are often surprised to find that some short people scholarships are indeed actually exist. These unique & easy scholarships for short people may help to take away a little of the sting of being less than normal height.

The short people scholarships awards are provided by Little People of the United States, Inc. (LPA). This organization was founded to offer support & information to short persons & their relatives. Typically, in order to qualify for membership in this organization, a person can be no taller than 4’10″ (58″) tall, though many of the LPA members are actually under 4 feet.

People who qualify for these short people scholarships generally have a medical condition that has resulted in dwarfism.  Over 200 medical problems & conditions can cause people to be small. Because those who struggle with short stature often have a host of other physical & developmental concerns, LPA is committed to helping these individuals succeed & thrive.

Financial college short people scholarships range in amount from $250 to $1,000.. All of these awards are administered by a scholarship committee formed by LPA, Inc. In order to qualify, students must attend a university, college, or vocational school located within the United States.

LPA offers these grants for short people in a specific order. First, preference is given to individuals who have been diagnosed by a doctor with one of the medical conditions that cause dwarfism. If no qualified applicants are found among this group of people, individuals who are paid members of LPA & have an immediate relatives member diagnosed with this condition may be awarded theses tuition scholarships

The third group of people who may qualify for a short people scholarships award include individuals who have been diagnosed with dwarfism but are not members of LPA. Occasionally, no other persons apply for the scholarship, & other disabled students are awarded these education scholarships. If no one else can be found who qualifies for the scholarship, people who are not disabled but have demonstrated a unique or unusual need for financial assistance may benefit from this scholarships fund.

If you are under 4’10 or if you have the dwarfism gene, contact LPA to find out more about these short people scholarships.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Benefits of a College Scholarship

Education is one of the most important investments that you will ever make. It is something that you should have in order to have a good job with a good salary. College education in particular will land you that job you want with a salary that will be more than enough to live your everyday life comfortably.

This is why it is important for you to know that college education can cost a lot of money. Today, college education can be very expensive. Many companies today are requiring a college degree in their applicants. And, you also know how good jobs are really hard to find today. By having a college degree, you will be able to have a better chance in getting that job you want.

However, not many people can afford a college education. This is why many students are working hard in their academics in order to get a college scholarship. Some are also working hard in sports in order to get discovered by college scouts and offer them a sports scholarship.

So, if you want to get to college but you don’t have enough money, you should work hard academically or you should work hard in your game.

Basically, there are three types of college scholarship grants that you should consider. These grants can be given to college students and to soon-to-be-college students. The three types of college scholarship grants are athletic scholarship grant, academic scholarship grant and departmental grant. Each of these college scholarship grants have its own criteria that you should consider before the grant is awarded to you.

• Academic Scholarship Grant – This type of scholarship grant is awarded to students who are eligible for GPA. Some colleges offer this grant to students who have achieved an exceptional academic performance before they enter college. You have to consider that academic scholarship grants are awarded to students who have received honors. This is why you should work hard in your academics in order to get this type of scholarship grant.

Once you have been awarded this type of scholarship grant, the college will be requiring you to keep up maximum rating. If this is not achieved by the end of the term, probational status will be given to you until the grades have reached the required level. If this is not achieved, this kind of scholarship grant will be revoked.

• Athletic Scholarship Grant – There are also scholarship grants awarded to athletes who have performed well in their sport. This kind of scholarship grant is a type of scholarship that many students apply for. This is because athletic scholarship grant doesn’t necessarily require you to achieve high academic grades. You only have to excel in your sport in order to get discovered by a scout and put you in a scholarship.

• Departmental Awards – this type of grant is provided to students who have excelled in a particular department. The departmental grants are given to students in order to keep the students in that particular department.

These are the three types of scholarship grants that you can aim for. If you don’t have the cash to finish college, then you should study hard, excel in sports, or be good at a particular department.

Always remember that a college education will be the one to determine what your future will be. With a college education, you can make your dreams come true.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

Guaranteed College Nursing Scholarship

If you’re on your way to college, you might be confused with the many courses being offered. Choosing one can give you a headache, but if you already know what particular career you want to pursue after college, you will not have much difficulty.

Observe the trends in the job market. The medical field hires a lot of competent people every year, and the demand for medical professionals is still increasing at present. Even those who already have a career are looking for ways to join this particular field.

Nurses are badly needed. The demand for nursing graduates is growing. Health agencies and other services are looking for highly trained and qualified nurses. That is probably why many students are attracted to this field.

The primary problem that most students encounter before they go to college, especially with a nursing course, is funding. Though this field is very much in demand, not all aspiring nursing students are able to graduate because of financial problems.

Public colleges which offer nursing courses can cost you around $14,000 a year; and if you want to attend college in a private university, the cost can reach as high as $30,000 a year. And to think that the tuition fees increase every year. You can just imagine how much it’s going to cost you if you want to graduate with a nursing degree.

Nursing is quite an expensive course, and if you don’t have the money, you can’t possibly graduate. What a sad ending for an aspiring student, but don’t lose hope yet. There are still ways to pursue your college studies without anymore worrying for your expenses.

Education helps people learn about different things, but it doesn’t end there, it is also a business in itself. If you don’t have enough money, you can’t get the best education possible. If you don’t have money, that is not a problem. If you want to finish a course in nursing, you must be aware that it entails a lot of coursework. So if you are a working student, you will surely have difficulty in keeping up with your job and the coursework. What you need is a college scholarship to fully concentrate in your education.

First and foremost, you must contact nursing associations in your locality, your state’s nursing board, and the American Nurses Association (ANA). Check the website of ANA on the net because they can provide you with the necessary information you will need for a nursing scholarship and grants. All it takes is a little research.

Federal government funds certain nursing scholarships, as well as private entities. Schools, agencies, and corporations offer nursing scholarships for individual students.

You will need all indispensable information from certain people like the college of nursing department head. He/she can provide you with scholarship/grant applications. Or you can also contact the person in authority who provides scholarship/grants to nursing students.

You’re quite lucky if you have parents who can fund your way to college, but if you’re one of the less fortunate ones, you definitely need some form of assistance. Stand up and make a move, don’t just sit there and wait for someone to offer you a scholarship of some sort. Chances are it wouldn’t come looking for you.

If you are quite confident that you can maintain a scholarship, apply for one. It never hurts to try.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

A Note on Music Scholarships

Education is the key for a successful career, which is why it is the primary responsibility of all parents to send their children to school. Although education is a necessity, not all parents are able to fund their children’s schooling. Others usually stop after they graduate from high school.

This is truly happening in almost any part of the world, and according to statistics, the number is increasing year after year. And this is probably why the government and other private organizations are looking for ways to give scholarships to capable students with limited financial resources.

Students are not alike; in fact, each individual has his/her own distinct characteristic and talent. Some students have talents in the arts, dancing, singing, and music. Now, there are scholarships for particular fields of interest. And if you do love music very much, there are a lot of scholarships for college music.

Music is very popular, and many students are becoming interested in this certain area. Although some parents may not like their children to pursue a career in music (because what they want is a more stable career), students have a choice.

Here is a list of some of the music scholarships available for students:

1. vocal scholarship from Bel Canto; this foundation awards over $15,000 to opera singers with ages ranging from 20-37 who want to pursue an opera career in America
2. John Lennon program for BMI scholarship; this is a scholarship awarded to songwriters who are able to write original compositions. But you can only take advantage of this scholarship if you are invited
3. Scholarship award by String Magazine; this is open for students who are currently in undergraduate program; the award is usually based on academic merit, community service and financial need.
4. FAME also awards college scholarships for students who are nominated for professional achievement for senior college students.

The internet can provide you with a wide range of music scholarship resources. There are different websites which you can visit, and once you’re in their site, see what requirements are needed in order to qualify for the scholarship.

Almost any big university offers a form of scholarship, check with their registrar for scholarship information. There are universities in your local area, take time to visit them. It would be best if you make a list of the different college scholarships awarded to students with interest in music.

Music is a field of interest which only very few individuals take interest. So if you’re one of the few people struggling to get a college degree in music, begin your search for the scholarship. If you think, you can pass the required qualifications, go and take the chance.

Like any other student dreaming of a life in college, you should not be discouraged by the difficulty that you’re now facing. People have problems, and that can’t be avoided.

Financial constraints are not enough to stop you from getting that college education. Choose the best option available for you. This is your way to a dazzling career in the near future.

You are a gifted individual. Share your talent with other people, and show them your love for music. And who knows, you might just be the one that the music industry is waiting for all these years.

Click here to get your copy of The Scholarship and Grant Guide.

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