Thirty-five awards are given to underserved students based on academic, personal, service, and entrepreneurial accomplishments. Along with receiving the monetary award, honorees participate in a five-year empowerment program at no cost to them.
This oratorical content has a mission of instilling a deeper knowledge of and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution in high school students. Students must speak about some aspect of the Constitution, emphasizing citizens’ obligations to the government.
Carson Scholars give back to their communities through community service. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.75, and only one student per high school may apply.
Coolidge scholars display academic excellence, as well as a demonstrated interest in and appreciation for public policy and the values of Calvin Coolidge. Award recipients participate in an orientation in Plymouth Noth, Vermont the summer before their senior year of high school and return for one week for the next three summers.
Top applicants are designated “Coolidge Senators” and are invited to participate in the Senators Summit in Washington, D.C.
For this scholarship, students submit a personal statement responding to a prompt or topic of their choice. Applicants may reuse an essay used for another purpose, such as a class or other scholarship application.
This competition challenges students to write an original essay in which they grapple with political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in his book, Profiles of Courage. This year’s topic is:
“Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1917.”
Your PSAT scores qualify you to be considered for this prestigious award. Semifinalists will complete applications through their school, once notified of their status by National Merit. Scores are ranked within states, so students from higher-scoring states are less likely to become semifinalists. Approximately 7,500 students receive scholarship awards. To learn more about the process, read How to Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Applicants submit a written explanation of an environmental project they are conducting or planning to initiate for Earth Day. In their applications, they must describe the process, impact, and future impact of the project. Students are also asked to include a creative component, such as a video, painting, drawing, or collage, to supplement the project.
This award recognizes students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national level. (Find more community service scholarships here.)
In order to qualify for this scholarship, you must have attended one session of The American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program and be a direct descendant of a wartime U.S. military veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates. The scholarship is awarded based on academic record, involvement in school, and community service.
Choose one from five essay topics concerning the classic selected by the publisher. This year’s book is Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Students apply for this competition through state selection contacts. They must display leadership by serving in an elected or appointed position within an organization related to student government, education, public affairs, or community service. Two “student leaders” from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington.
Students submit projects that show engagement in real-world problem-solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. All entries must include an abstract, description, bibliography, and five sample web pages.
For more STEM scholarships, check out A Guide to STEM Scholarships.
In this audio-essay program, students respond to a theme regarding their democratic and patriotic values in a recorded essay. This year’s theme is “Why My Vote Matters.”
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