In elementary school, we’re taught that it’s okay to be different. What they don’t tell you is that a bunch of people will still make fun of you and give you a hard time about it. Well, you can get the last laugh by using your freakiness to fund your education through one (or more) of these weird, bizarre, and unusual college scholarships.
1. Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships
Have you been looking at the tops of people’s heads since middle school? If so, you probably qualify for the Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships. These scholarships of up to $1000 are annually awarded to freakishly tall students attending their first year of college. Women must be at least 5’10″ and men must be at least 6’2″ to be eligible.
2. Little People of America Scholarships
Short people shouldn’t feel left out. Little People of America offers educational scholarships to prospective and current students who are no taller than 4’10″ in height. Scholarships can range from $250 to $1000 (or more).
3. Scholarship for Left-Handed Students
You left-handed freaks may want to consider going to Juniata College to take advantage of the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship. This scholarship of up to $1000 is awarded to left-handed students of Juniata College based on academic performance.
Photo by Ayoumali
4. Duck® Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest
So those weirdoes that showed up to your prom in duct tape aren’t so weird after all. They were probably just trying to win the Stuck at Prom Contest. With a $3,000 cash prize for each member of the winning couple, who could blame them? All you have to do is send in a picture of you and your date wearing complete attire or accessories made from duct tape.
Photo by Billy V
5. Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
If you’re a high school senior and duck calling is your thing, then you should be heading to Stuttgart, Arkansas at the end of this month to enter the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest. The first place winner receives a $1,500 scholarship and a jacket.
6. Evans Scholars Foundation Scholarship
Did you know that you could get a free ride to college for being a golf caddie? Okay, it’s a little harder than that, but each year the Evans Scholars Foundation covers tuition and housing for hundreds of student caddies from all over the country.
Most Evans Scholars go to one of the fourteen universities where the Evans Scholars Foundation owns and operates a scholarship house. Scholarship winners are required to reside in the scholarship house, so it’s like a really competitive, coed caddie fraternity/sorority.
Photo by frankh
7. Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests
Did your English teacher make you read The Fountainhead because it’s the second best book ever written next to Ayn Rand’s other masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged? Well, if she/he did and you’re in 11th or 12th grade, then you could win up to $10,000 by writing an essay on one of the three topics listed at the Ayn Rand Institute site.
12th graders and current college students also have an opportunity to win up to $10,000 by writing an essay on Atlas Shrugged. Any person who can discuss themes from a book that thick using only 800 to 1,600 words deserves $10,000 in my opinion.
8. National Candy Technologists Scholarship Program
Have you demonstrated an interest in confectionery technology? Students with sophomore, junior, or senior status in the 2009-2010 school year majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science, or a related area can apply for this $5,000 scholarship sponsored by the American Association of Candy Technologists. Who wants candy?
9. Scholarships Based On Your Last Name
What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot of money if you can meet all of the requirements. For example, if your last name happens to be Zolp, you have a certificate of baptism or confirmation to prove that you’re Roman Catholic, and you get accepted and decide to go to Loyola University Chicago, then you’re set. Your tuition will be covered for the next four years.
At Texas A&M, the magic surname is Scarpinato. Anyone whose last name is Scarpinato by birth or marriage gets a full ride to the university. The scholarship was endowed by Lee Scarpinato, a member of the class of ’34.
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Very funny scholarships and I’m sure there are more out there. For sports, apparently a very good, easier scholarship to get is if you are on the crew team, or do some type of crew activities. So few high school kids do crew or would ever think about waking up that early. If you do, it’s a great resume item.
Craig
http://www.budgetpulse.com
“Any person who can discuss themes from a book that thick using only 800 to 1,600 words deserves $10,000 in my opinion.”
Ha ha, very aptly put, but yes, I recommend this contest. The ARI is dedicated to getting people to not just flick through these books, but to really read them. You get $10,000 if you win (there are also lower prizes for 2nd and 3rd prize I should add) and, who knows, if you end up actually really getting interested in the themes expressed in the book, the ARI can even provide you a proper education in what the philosophy, ‘Objectivism’ is all about.
So, I’d recommend anyone out there considering this, to go for it. The ARI isn’t just a disinterested money-bank, giving out money out of guilt or charity. It is aimed at getting people to think about these ideas seriously – it’s aimed at getting you to think. Any Institute that is trying to get you to think to gain a scholarship is worth its salt, I think.
My sister and I both have the Tall Clubs International scholarship. I’m 6’7′ and she’s 6’2″. It’s an awesome group to get involved with.
why don’t they have easy scholarships for NORMAL white american kids with a good GPA but not good enough. I’ve been searching and searching for my son but you either have to belong to this, have this intrest, be left-handed or tall, going into this field. my god why not just a normal scholarship for normal kids ones who are in need of financial help but are white, healthy, sexually straight, and american citizens. i’m totally blown away by how unnormal you have to be to get a blooming scholarship. My son wants to be a teacher this nation NEEDS good teachers yet where are the blooming scholarships to help those who fit my sons criteria??? I never thought America to ever be anti-normal but by god we are. How shameful.
Dawn, that’s what fafsa is for. Plus, there are plenty of scholarships for essay writing or things like that. Would you give money away to some average joe? Scholarships are given to those who are not ordinary, whether they are good students or just tall ones.
dawn, since when is being white and straight being normal? who are YOU to decide what “normal’ is?
Yea I defiently agree. I’m white, straight and have very good grades so I guess I’m “normal” you can not decide if someone is normal based on their grades race or sexual prefence… I do agree it is hard to find scolarships based on the characteristics that he has, but they are out there. Are living in a world that is very compedative and average grades aren’t going to cut it when you’re looking for “free” money. But let your son keep searching. He’s bound I find something!
funny shcolarships. but dawn, what does being white have t do with being normal? was the white statement even necessary?
Nice list. Those are some weird scholarships indeed. I, for one, definitely need some money.
im a lefty the only thing is i want to be a truck driver and i am a sophmore plus i have no clue if they have a truck driving class.
honstley i think that being “normal” is now the weird thing….like dawn’s son i dont qualify for very many scholarships even though i have a 3.7 gpa (but im in a class of 9 so im in the lower half of my class and dont qualify for any of those scholarships), and even though i’m highly active in the community and my school- im not active in the right things to get scholarships….and i honestly don’t see the big deal about her saying white…it wasnt racist it was a fact….and yes they do have scholarships for every other race out their, most religeons, people who aren’t straight or have parents that aren’t straight—i agree with dawn there should be a “easy” scholarship out there for the rest of us
I agree that it was just a fact being stated about being “White.”
I do though, want to share the fact that when I was looking at scholarships before I entered college, there weren’t many scholarships I qualify for, because I was white.
Hell, even the coca-cola and Ford scholarships were minority only.
So much for equality.
where are the scholarships for those born on a leap day???
Another “weird” scholarship is the flashcard scholarship where it gives any student that will destroy their paper flashcards on video a $500 scholarship.
The student must be currently enrolled in high school or college.
The application and details are at: http://www.flashcardscholarship.com
Wow wish I would have heard of the Duck tape one. Thats wild.
I have 2 sons in college and the “WHITE” word is very relevant. There are many scholarships for Mexican- Amer, African-Amer, Indians, etc. the biggest problem is that my husband and I both have jobs. FAFSA tells us we have too much money and can only get unsub. loans! We have just enough to PAY OUR BILLS and that is it! The majority of the scholarships are for minorities…. just like everything else!
I do agree it is hard to find scolarships based on the characteristics that he has, but they are out there.
Always knew that those who were taller had extra benefits! LOL
I do agree that there aren’t many scholarships for “average” people – at least it seems on the surface. But when my very white daughter started to school, we went to scholarships.com. WOW! For everything – more than 25 religions, NATURAL-streaked long blond hair (yes, a real requirement), Irish heritage (that’s usually pretty much “white”); learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels before age-5 (pictures to prove), “community service” – i.e., humane society, posting lost-puppy pictures; cleaning up on specific days, planting a tree on arbor day, etc.; took ice-skating lessons and got all 6 approved patches; and yes, ambidexterity – have to video yourself doing activities with either/or hand nearly equally well; specfic horse or dog breeds you’ve ridden/owned; are you the first in your family to attend college, a 4-years college, etc.; first to graduate H.School; diabetic; father/grandfather worked at the Indianapolis Newspaper or Coca-Cola or was disabled in any particular war; and the list goes on and on and on. And NONE of the above ask about race; some only require a GPA of 2.5 (C+) – that’s average, not minimum. Yes, it is very true that being white in America has advantages AND disadvantages. The trick is digging for the advantage no matter who /where you’re from. Hey – did you family arrive in American within the last 100 years or are you 1st, 2nd or 3rd-gen born in America? (Race, nationality unimportant..) Yes, there’s one for that, too. Sorry this is soooo long, but just don’t blame or excuse or put off because you feel “average” – even average always has something special.. Just find it!!!
Everyone is unique, and as such, everyone has some ability or family history that qualifies them for one or more of the weird scholarships offered each year. Many of these scholarships go unclaimed each year as many students struggle to work and pay for college. Why go through the trouble and struggle of working full time while attending school when you can get free college money for your own strange habits and hobbies.
are there any suggestions for hs students?
Just for your information, Klingons are not furry. They have long hair, but the term furry is “cutsey” and is much better applied to “tribbles” than Klingons. Klingons are known better for their brown skin and forheads, which in the later years of Star Trek contained ridges.
Why can’t any left-handed person get a scholarship? I never heard of Juniata College and don’t plan on going and I want a left handed scholarship to someone who lives in the middle of nowhere texas who is already has to waist gas going into a different county to go to college but can’t afford to live closer. And why can’t I find scholarships that goes out to people who can play over 5 instruments? It like I do so much and I can’t get anything because my GPA is too average, I never played a sport, I was never first chair in band, or participated in chess clubs, 4H, NHS, student council or any of other clubs.
“Duck Calling” contest… Lol… that’s amazing.
I am white and I cannot find any scholarships for myself. Sorry, I was born this way.
have already been reading your blog around several days. really love your posts. by the way i’m conducting a research concerning this issue. do you happen to know any websites or online forums in which I might learn more? thanks a lot.
Hahaha, these college scholarships are hilarious! : ) Thanks for this post! : ) It made me smile. : )
Ayn Rand is terrible.
That is really neat i had no idea. Wish I would have seen this when i was in High School.
Great article! You did a great job outlining a number of weird scholarships. I really like reading about the tall club scholarship. This seems like a cool scholarship for tall students.
Gyanwave organizing an online mathematics olympiad . For all who want to test there skills in maths you can register from the site
very very funny
Thnak You Admin Nice Post
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no good I am an inch short of making the tall people s scholarship for girls
Those are really weird
I am in college right now and I am paying for it with all scholarships and two loans. I got the LIFE Scholarship and I got it because of my test scores and gpa. FAFSA helped me get the Pell Grant, I got the LIFE enhancement for my major, and the Robert Magwood Jr. Scholarship for an essay. Scholarships are easy to get if you look in the right places.
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I find very interesting
very very funny
Wow those are weird
Dear Miss Dawn,
I’d like to shake your hand.
God bless,
Chelsea, just a normal poor white straight girl from the Midwest
P.s., FAFSA doesn’t help s___ except some scholarships say you have to have filled out a FAFSA to be eligible to apply. I’m too poor to pay for an education but too rich to get any help. Well how the he__ about that?!
And as for Miss Julie’s question about scholarships for those born on a Leap Year …………. they come around every four years. XD jk, had to play.
getting the message along had been pretty good and have continually encouraged ladies just like me to achieve their goals. Your own important guidelines