Wacky world of college scholarships opens doors

December 11, 2008 • Maddie Dunkelberg, New Editor  
Filed under Features

 

 

Google “college scholarships” and the search engine will provide you with 3,180,000 results.

 

Overwhelmed? Becoming confused is all too easy when diving into the world of scholarships, and most of us hope for some sort of financial aid to get into college.

 

Maybe it’s time to give up…based on what you have heard, only the smartest, fastest, and strongest earn the money, anyway. 

 

“I would say that the bulk of the scholarships are academic-related scholarships,” said guidance counselor Debbie McKeown. But not only valedictorians score the dough, so don’t lose hope yet– “you just need to stick with something and prove yourself worthy of someone giving you money,” explained McKeown.

 

She wasn’t lying—if you have a passion, chances are that you will find a grant to match.

 

Even the oddest of hobbies may merit an award. Perhaps you would be a candidate for the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest. Your quirky craft could earn you up to $1,500 dollars. Or maybe you speak Klingon…if so, you are eligible for a $500 prize. While Klingon may seem like an obscure area to award, the reason behind the scholarship makes sense: colleges are striving to promote interest in their language programs.

 

Colleges like to see dedication to a certain field. If you see plans of potato study in your future, don’t hesitate to apply for the $4,000 Potato Industry. And let’s not overlook the scholarships available for wanna-be welders and those who plan to study parapsychology (the study of paranormal activities…this is for you, X-files fans!).

 

Sometimes, to earn the scholarship you simply need to be born–with a unique quality, that is. A unique quality such as being “too tall”—a man over six feet, two inches or a gal over five foot ten—or “too short”—under four feet, ten inches. Or, you could simply be born into the right family. If you happen to have the last name “Zolp”, “Van Valkenburg”, “Gatling” or “Gatlin”, for example, you can receive large grants and even full tuition to certain universities.

 

In other cases, you need to look further—think about how you could apply your talents. Seamstresses may find the perfect fit in the “Stuck at Prom” contest.  To enter, all that is required is to make your own prom dress–out of Duck brand duct tape.  And don’t forget your date’s tuxedo!  The winner receives 5,000 dollars (although this poses the question: Wouldn’t it cost at least that much to buy the duct tape?).  It took 134 rolls of tape to create the masterpiece of an outfit that received last year’s grand prize (Sharon Dranko and Joshua Humm were the lucky couple).  

 

Don’t worry– the less eccentric students have not been completely forgotten.  Skateboarding…now, here we have a hobby familiar to teens.  All the skaters out there who feel jealous of the football players who snag all the scholarships may be green no more:  their scholarship has arrived.  High school seniors who skateboard and have earned a G.P.A. of at least a 2.5 are eligible.  If one has the initiative to write an essay stating how skateboarding has had a positive influence in their life, and the patience to collect “two letters of recommendation, an official transcript, and information about the applicant’s involvement in promoting skateboarding in his or her community” (as described on scholarships.lifetips.com), they may hope to obtain up to $5,000 (if they triumph in placing first, that is). 

 

Even if these scholarships seem unconventional and might not apply to you, you will find something to be gained from this yet: you can find a scholarship that fits you.  As you can see, there are awards for almost every subject imaginable, just waiting to be found.

 

For more information regarding scholarships, go to your counselor–they will help you find your perfect match.  As for the champion duck callers out there—you’re set.