- Scholarship award: $1,000 (first place)
- Open to: students in grades 9-12
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.
- Scholarship award: $10,000 (first place)
- Open to: high school students in grades 9-12 under the age of 20
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.”
- Scholarship award: $2,500
- Open to: high school juniors
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.
- Scholarship award: $500 (10 recipients)
- Open to: all high school students
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.
- Scholarship award: $5,000 plus $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of the recipient’s choice (national recipients)
- Open to: students in grades 5-12
This award recognizes students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national level. (Find more community service scholarships here.)
- Scholarship award: $10,000 each (National Scholars, two from each region)
- Open to: High school juniors
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.
- Scholarship award: $1,000 plus a Signet Classics library for the student’s school or public library
- Open to: high school juniors and seniors
Choose one from five essay topics concerning the classic selected by the publisher. This year’s book is Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
- Scholarship award: $10,000
- Open to: rising high school juniors and seniors
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.
- Scholarship award: $10,000
- Open to: students in grades K-12 (separated by age groups)
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.
- Scholarship award: $30,000 (first place)
- Open to: grades 9-12
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.”
