Scholarship Opportunities for Middle School Students
I have gone through various search engines to try and make a comprehensive list
of what is available to our middle school students. Provided is some information,
deadlines, and web links to get more information or apply. I will update this page
as I’m made aware of new opportunities. Please take this chance to apply NOW
and get the scholarships that are waiting for you!
Scholarship
Deadline
Information
Link to
Website
January
Young
Naturalist
Awards
Scholastic Art
and Writing
Awards
January 1, 2014
January 6, 2014
The Young Naturalist Awards is a
research-based science essay
contest open to US and Canadian
students in grades 7-12. It is
sponsored by the American Museum
of Natural History and the Chase
Manhattan Foundation. Two
scholarships are awarded to the
winning essays at each grade level.
The 7th grade winners receive $500.
The 8th grade winners receive $750.
Rules and
Guidelines
There are two different awards: 1 for
Art and 1 for Writing. You are
welcome to apply for one or both.
Rules and
Guidelines
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
are open to US and Canadian
students in grades 7-12. It is
sponsored by Scholastic Inc. and
administered by the Alliance for
Young Artists and Writers, Inc. More
than 250,000 students enter the
competition each year. Gold
Portfolio Award recipients receive
$10,000 scholarships (5 for art, 5 for
writing, 2 for photography). For
more information, call 1-212-3436493, write to The Scholastic Art &
Writing Awards, 557 Broadway, New
York, NY 10012, or send email
to A&WGeneralinfo@scholastic.com.
Letters About
Literature
January 10, 2014
Letters About Literature is a reading
and writing contest for students in
grades 4-12. Students are asked to
read a book, poem or speech and
write to that author (living or dead)
about how the book affected them
personally. Letters are judged on
state and national levels.
Rules and
Guidelines.
Create-AGreeting Card
Scholarship
Contest
January 15, 2014
Here's How:
• Submit original photo, artwork or
computer
graphics for the front of a greeting
card
• Contest submissions accepted
from
March 18, 2013 - January 15, 2014
Winner will be announced March 14,
2014
• Age Eligibility: Must be 14 years or
older at time of entry and be
enrolled
in High School, College, University
or Homeschool
Contest Rules
DuPont
Challenge
Science Essay
Competition
January 31, 2014
All students must be 13 years of age
prior to January 31, 2014, to submit
their essay using the Official Entry
Form.
Official Rules
Write an original 700 to 1,000-word
essay created exclusively for The
DuPont Challenge.
Your essay must address a topic that
falls under ONE of the four
categories of Challenges. The chosen
Challenge must be specified on the
Official Entry Form when submitting
your essay.
Write only about a science-related
topic. No matter how well-written
Create-A-Greeting
Card
DuPont Challenge
Science Essay
Competition
and researched, essays submitted on
non-science topics are disqualified.
Your essay must be written in
English.
Action for
Nature EcoHero Award
Education
Matters
Scholarship
January 31, 2014
January 31, 2014
Action for Nature sponsors the
International Young Eco-Hero
Awards to recognize youth aged 8 to
16 who have completed
environmental projects focused on
environmental advocacy,
environmental health, research or
protection of the natural world. Cash
prizes of up to $500 will be awarded.
For more information, call 1-415421-2640, fax 1-415-922-5717, write
to Action For Nature, 2269 Chestnut
Street, #263, San Francisco, CA
94123, or send email
to awards@actionfornature.org.
Action for Nature
Eco-Hero Award
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“What would you say to someone
who thinks education doesn’t
matter, or that college is a waste of
time and money? ”
Rules and
Guidelines
If you're a maker between the ages
of 13 and 18, this contest is for
you. Share any project and answer
four questions about what you
learned over the course of the build.
That's it. Whether you're making a
pinewood derby car, a short movie, a
videogame, a painting, a garden, a
sweater, a science fair project, a
school assignment, or practically
anything else that required you to
make something, you're encouraged
to enter it into the contest!
Rules and
Guidelines
February
Make-ToLearn Youth
Contest
February
Make-To-Learn
Christopher
Columbus
Community
Service
Awards
February 3, 2014
The Christopher Columbus
Community Service Awards are open
to teams of students in grades 6-8.
The competition focuses on using
science and technology to solve realworld community problems. Each
member of the winning teams
receives a $2,000 US Savings Bond.
Winners also receive a trip to the
National Championship Week at
Walt Disney World. The competition
is sponsored by the Christopher
Columbus Fellowship
Foundation in cooperation with the
National Science Foundation. The
deadline is the second Monday in
February. For more information, call
1-800-291-6020, write to
Christopher Columbus Awards, 105
Terry Drive, Suite 120, Newtown, PA
18940-3425, or send email
to success@edumedia.com.
Rules and
Guidelines
Christopher
Columbus
Community
Service Award
Math Moves
U Middle
School
Scholarship
February 7, 2014
Eagle Scout
Competition
February 10, 2014
MathMovesU invites 6th, 7th and
8th grade students nationwide to
answer, “Math is in the world all
around us. Morning,
noon, and night – how does math
move you or the world around you?”
Based on a PowerPoint submission,
students will be
awarded camperships of up to
$1,000 or scholarships of $1,000 and
their schools will receive matching
grants of $1,000 to
be used for math-related programs.
Students must demonstrate an
enthusiasm for math and the ability
to illustrate how math
moves you or the world around you.
Note: Applications are limited to fifty
(50) per school.
Rules and
Guidelines
Life and Eagle Scouts can write two
essays to receive up to $1000. The
topics and information can be found
online.
Eagle Scout
Competition
Math Moves U
Information
How to Apply
Davidson
Fellows
Top 10 List
Scholarship
February 12, 2014
February 28, 2014
Davidson Fellowships are awarded
by the Davidson Institute for Talent
Development to US students under
age 18 who have completed a
significant piece of work in the fields
of Mathematics, Science,
Technology, Music, Literature,
Philosophy or Outside the Box. The
significant piece of work should have
the potential to benefit society. The
focus of the program is on gifted and
talented students. There is no
minimum age for eligibility. Four
$50,000 scholarships, seven $25,000
scholarships, and five $10,000
scholarships are awarded each year.
For more information send email
to davidsonfellows@ditd.org.
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“Create a Top Ten List of the top ten
reasons you should get this
scholarship.”
Rules and
Guidelines
Davidson Fellows
Rules and
Guidelines
Optimist
International
Essay Contest
February 28, 2014
MARCH
Kohl’s Kids
Who Care
Program
Anthem
Essay Contest
March 14, 2014
March 20, 2014
Interested students must contact
their local Optimist Club. They need
to submit an essay on the preassigned topic. To find out a contact,
please e-mail the Programs
Department
at programs@optimist.org.
The Essay Contest planning pages
are intended for use by Optimist
Clubs in organizing and conducting a
contest in their Club. They contain
no information on entering the
contest and are of no use to
students wishing to enter the
contest. Students must contact their
local Optimist Club.
The Kohl's Kids Who Care Program
(www.kohlskids.com) honors
students age 6-18 who are involved
in community service. Candidates
enter by being NOMINATED
(nominations begin January 31,
2014) by an adult age 21 years or
older. Nominees are considered in
two age groups, 6-12 and 13-18,
with three prize levels within each
group. More than 2,000 children will
receive a total of more than
$350,000 in scholarships and prizes.
More than 2,000 store winners each
receive a $50 Kohl's gift card, 194
regional winners each receive a
$1,000 scholarship, and 10 national
winners each receive a $5,000
scholarship
Eligibility: 8th, 9th and 10th Grader:
Select ONE of the three topics:
In many real and fictionalized
totalitarian societies, children live
apart from their families. Why would
dictatorial leaders enforce this living
arrangement?
In the final chapter of Anthem,
Rules and
Guidelines
Optimist
International
Essay Contest
Kohl's Kids Who
Care Program
Rules and
Guidelines
Anthem Essay
Contest
Prometheus writes that he now
understands “why the best in me
had been my sins and my
transgressions; and why I had never
felt guilt in my sins.” What has
Prometheus come to understand
about himself? Why does his society
regard the “best in him” as sinful?
Prometheus writes: “The secrets of
this earth are not for all men to see,
but only for those who will seek
them.” (Chapter 3) Why does he
think that the secrets of this earth
are not for all men to see? If he
thinks this, why does he decide to
show his glass box to the World
Council of Scholars? How do these
issues relate to the theme of the
novel?
Nicholas A.
Virgilio
Memorial
Haiku
Competition
March 25, 2014
There are various
awards, so there
are different
deadlines
Note that the rules and deadlines
for Haiku Society of America
Haiku Contests
contests sometimes change from
year to year. We kindly ask that if
you forward the contest
announcements to anyone, please
be sure to give them the entire
announcement for the current year.
We thank you now for your future
cooperation and know that these
changes will help ensure that all of
our contests run smoothly for years
to come. We look forward to your
entries!
The deadlines for upcoming HSAsponsored contests are listed below:
• HSA Haibun Contest: July 31, 2014
• Harold G. Henderson Haiku
Contest: July 31, 2014
• Gerald Brady Senryu Contest: July
31, 2014
• Bernard Lionel Einbond Renku
Contest: February 28, 2014
• The Nicholas Virgilio Haiku Contest,
March 25, 2014
• The Mildred Kanterman Merit
Book Awards: March 31, 2014
Superpower
Scholarship
March 31, 2014
April
Gloria Barron
Prize for
Young Heroes
I Have a
Dream
April 15, 2014
April 30, 2014
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“Which superhero or villain would
you want to change places with for a
day and why?”
The Gloria Barron Prize for
Young Heroes celebrates inspiring,
public-spirited, highly diverse young
people from all across America. Each
year, the Barron Prize honors
twenty-five outstanding young
leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made
a significant positive difference to
people and our environment. The
top ten winners each receive a
$5,000 cash award to support their
service work or higher education.
The primary goal of the Prize is to
shine the spotlight on these amazing
young people so that their stories
will inspire others.
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“We want to know…what do you
dream about? Whether it’s some
bizarre dream you had last week, or
your hopes for the future, share your
dreams with us for a chance to win
$1,500 for college.”
Rules and
Guidelines
How to Nominate
How to Apply
MAY
East Villagers
Service
Scholar Essay
and Art
Contest
May 2, 2014
This is the fifth year the East
Villagers Non-Profit Community is
offering an opportunity for young
service-minded scholars to express
their passion for community service
through essays and artworks.
Winners from Northern California
will be invited to present their work
Rules and
Guidelines
at the annual Service Scholar Award
Celebration hosted by the Ping &
Amy Chao Family Foundation.
Students must complete 5 hours of
community service and fill out the
Service Requirement Form to
provide proof. All students enrolled
in Middle School through High
School in the United States are
eligible to apply.
Sweet and
Simple
Scholarship
May 31, 2014
JULY
All About
Education
Scholarship
AUGUST
Fifth Month
Scholarship
July 31, 2014
August 31, 2014
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“Not every gift has to be expensive
or extravagant. In fact, sometimes
it’s the sweet and simple things that
make a real difference in our lives.
Think back and tell us about
something you received as a gift and
why it meant so much to you.”
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“How will a $3,000 scholarship for
education make a difference in your
life?”
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:“May is the fifth month of
the year. Write a letter to the
number five explaining why five is
important. Be serious or be funny.
Either way, here’s a high five to you
for being original.”
Rules and
Guidelines
Rules and
Guidelines
Rules and
Guidelines
SEPTEMBER
Do Over
Scholarship
September 30,
2014
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“If you could get one ‘do-over’ in life,
what would it be and why? ”
Rules and
Guidelines
Complete the online application and
upload your video response of 4
minutes or less to YouTube telling
about a time when parents, a
teacher (have to long in to get the
rest of the information)
Youth Free
Expression
Network Film
Contest
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Rules and
Guidelines
October
Youth Free
Expression
Network Film
Contest
Zombie
Apocalypse
Flavor of the
Month
Scholarship
October 31, 2014
October 31, 2014
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“Imagine that your high
school/college has been overrun
with Zombies. Your math professor,
the cafeteria ladies and even your
best friend have all joined the
walking dead. Use your brain to flesh
out a plan to avoid the Zombies,
including where you would hide and
the top 5 things you would bring
with you to stay alive.”
October 31, 2014
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“Summer and ice cream go hand-inhand. In fact, July is National Ice
Cream Month and that’s the
Rules and
Guidelines
inspiration behind this award. We
think people are very similar to ice
cream; some are nutty, others a little
exotic, while some are very
comforting. If you were an ice cream
flavor, which would you be and
why?”
NOVEMBER
Team
America
Rocketry
Challenge
November 30,
2013
Angela Award
November 30,
2013
Maryknoll
Student Essay
Contest
November 15,
2013
Team America Rocketry Challenge is
a national model rocket competition
open to US junior high school and
high school students (grades 7-12). It
is sponsored by AIA and the National
Association of Rocketry. The top 100
teams compete for $60,000 in
scholarships. For more information,
send email torocketcontest@aiaaerospace.org.
Rules and
Guidelines
This award honors one female
student in grades 5–8, who is
involved in or has a strong
connection to science. The award
has been established in honor of
Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director
Emeritus, and his outstanding
dedication to NSTA and lifelong
commitment to science education
Rules and
Guidelines
Students in grades 6–8 (Division I)
and grades 9–12 (Division II) qualify.
Entries must be written in English.
Only one entry per student. Please
specify the division to which the
entry is being submitted. Children of
Maryknoll employees, Associates
and Affiliates are not eligible.
LENGTH: 500–750 words. Pages
should be typed and double-spaced
or neatly handwritten in ink and
stapled. Note: Spelling and grammar
count.
Maryknoll Essay
Contest
Rocket Contest
Angela Award
Samsung
Superhero
Scholarship
Make Me
Laugh
Scholarship
November 30,
2013
November 30,
2014
Samsung
Superhero
Contest
Information
Be thirteen (13) years of age or older
at the time of application:
Rules and
Guidelines
Apply Here
Submit an online short written
response (250 words or less) for the
question:
“OMG… finding and applying for
scholarships is serious business, but
it’s time to lighten things up a little.
We don’t want to know why you
deserve $1,500 or how great your
grades are, we simply want to LOL.
Describe an incident in your life,
funny or embarrassing (fact or
fiction), and make us laugh!”
DECEMBER
Fleet Reserve
Association
Essay Contest
When it comes to active learning,
nothing beats presenting live in front
of fellow classmates. Encourage your
students to discover themselves
while learning about historical
characters. This competition is fun
and engaging. Students are to
portray their favorite historical
character on video. All entries will be
posted on YouTube. Find more
information online.
December 1, 2013
The essay contest's grand national
prize is $5,000 with additional prizes
of $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for
second place, and $1,000 for third
place in grades seven through
twelve. All winners will receive an
attractive plaque citing their
achievement. Every entrant judged
at the national level receives a
"Certificate of Recognition."
Additional prizes may be awarded to
students winning at local branch and
regional levels of competition.
FRA's Essay Contest is open to all
students grades 7 through 12
(including those who are home
schooled).
Essay Contest
Rules and
Guidelines
Sponsoring
Branch
Information
AFA Teens
Video
Competition
December 1, 2013
In a further effort to provide an
outlet for teenagers to think
creatively about Alzheimer’s disease
and to engage the younger
generation in this cause, AFA is
pleased to offer the AFA Teens Video
Competition for teens ages 13-19.
AFA will award $500 to the grandprize winner and $250 to the first
runner-up.
The deadline for applications is
December 1 of each year. Students
are required to submit an
autobiography and create an artistic
or documentary (non-fiction) video
of two minutes or less that conveys
the following:
- A moment in relation to
Alzheimer’s disease when you
learned something about your
understanding of the disease,
learned something about caregiving,
or decided to become a community
volunteer/activist.
. On February 1, AFA will notify the
grand-prize winner and runner-up.
Rules and
Guidelines
NRA Civil
Rights
Defense Fund
Youth Essay
Contest
December 1, 2013
Description: The NRA Civil Rights
Entry Form
Stephen J.
Brady STOP
Hunger
Scholarship
Defense Fund(NRACRDF) is once
again sponsoring an essay contest
celebrating the Second Amendment
as an integral part of the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The theme for the essay is "The
Second Amendment to the
Constitution: Why it is important to
our nation."
December 5, 2013
The Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger
Scholarships recognize and reward
students who have made a
significant impact in the fight against
hunger. The scholarship recipients
each receive $5,000 for their
education as well as a matching
grant in their name for the hungerrelated charity of their choice. The
NRA Contest
Information
Rules and
Guidelines
National High
School
Oratorical
Contest
The Do
Something
Awards
December 31,
2013
Various Deadlines
Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger
Scholarship is named for the Sodexo
Foundation's founder and former
president, who was an unstoppable
champion in the fight to end hunger.
Thanks to Steve's efforts, which
made these scholarships possible, an
emerging generation of leaders will
be cultivated in the fight against
hunger. Find more information on
their website.
The National High School Oratorical
Contest is sponsored by the
American Legion. It is open to US
students in junior high school or high
school (grades 7-12) who are under
age 20 as of the date of the national
contest. The American Legion pays
for the travel and lodging expenses
of the state winners and their
chaperones. The first place winner
receives an $18,000 scholarship. The
second place winner receives a
$16,000 scholarship. The third place
winner receives a $14,000
scholarship. Each state winner who
participates in the first round of the
national contest receives a $1,500
scholarship. For more information,
call 1-317-630-1249, write to
National Americanism and Children
& Youth Division, The American
Legion National Headquarters, PO
Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206, or
send email to acy@legion.org.
This organization offers a number of
Campaigns throughout the year. The
deadlines and Rules all vary. There
are no ESSY’s required. I Will do my
best to inform of these, but check
online for more information.
The BRICK Awards by Do Something
provide community grants and
scholarships to "change-makers" age
25 and under who work with Do
Something to improve their
Utah Deadlines
Oratorical Contest
Do Something
Award Campaigns
communities. The competition is
open to US and Canadian citizens
and permanent residents. Five Do
Something Award nominees will
receive at least $10,000 in
community grants and scholarships.
Of the five winners, one grand prize
winner will receive a total of
$100,000 in community grants. The
nominees also participate in a live
VH1 TV show and will receive
continued support from
DoSomething.org. (The community
grants are paid to the nominee's
organization or a not-for-profit
organization of the nominee's
choice. All winners have the option
of receiving $5,000 of the total
award in the form of a college
scholarship.) For more information,
send email
to dsawards@dosomething.org.