By tamara
This weekend, the Emmy Awards will recognize the best and the brightest that television has to offer. Actors, actresses, producers and others are all eagerly awaiting their chance to grasp the winged, golden woman who signifies that they have risen amongst their peers. Too bad there isn’t an awards show to recognize the scholarship programs and providers who have also gone above and beyond in their ranks. It’s not very often that you find providers who offer students the chance to cover the majority of their educational expenses, allowing them to focus on their studies and soar to new heights, but there are some scholarship programs that are truly exceptional. If the Emmy Awards organizers ever consider adding scholarships to their ballot, these awards should definitely be at the top of the list.
Siemens Competition for Math, Science, and Technology
College Board sponsors one of the largest, high school research competitions in the country. Students can complete individually or on a team. Regional finalists each receive prizes valued at $1,000, with the top six candidates receiving a $3,000 scholarship each. National runners-up each receive scholarships valued between $10,000 and $50,000. The first-place national winners (individual and team) each receive a $100,000 scholarship. Deadline: September 30.
Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
Dr. Pepper is giving away over $1 million in college tuition to students between the ages of 18 and 24. Unlike traditional scholarship programs, students will submit a video telling their ‘one of a kind story’ and ask people to vote for their entry. If selected, they have a chance to compete for one of five $100,000 scholarships at a college football championship game later this year. For those over the age of 24, but currently in college, there’s still a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship through the leaderboard prize. Deadline: October 20.
Boettcher Scholarship
Students in Colorado have an extraordinary opportunity to earn up to $160,000 for college through the Boettcher Scholarship program. Applicants must be current high school seniors and plan to attend an approved 4-year college or university in Colorado. Selection is based on academic ability, leadership skills, character and evidence of volunteer work within the school and community. A total of 40 scholarships are awarded each year. Deadline: November 1.
RMHC/HACER National Scholarship Program
Ronald McDonald House Charities sponsors this generous scholarship program each year, providing four $100,000 scholarships (paid over four years) to high school seniors who are under the age of 21. Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage (at least one parent), have a grade point average of 2.7 or higher, and plan to attend college full time. Those who do not win a national-level scholarship may be eligible for awards at their local chapters, which typically average $1,000 or more. Deadline: January 21.
Proton Energy Scholarship
High school seniors, who are planning to pursue careers in science or technology, have the opportunity to win up to $100,000 (paid over four years) for college from Proton Onsite. Students who are older, or those not currently enrolled in college, may also complete for a one-time $50,000 award to help turn their ideas into a business venture. Applicants must submit an original idea for producing renewable energy that will solve a real-world problem. Deadline: February 15.
Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
The General Motors (GM) Foundation provides 1,100 scholarships each year to high school seniors and current undergraduate students. Applicants must plan to study, or be currently enrolled, in an eligible program that focuses on engineering, technology or business. One hundred students will each receive a $100,000 (paid over four years) scholarship and another 1,000 students will each receive a one-time award of $2,000. Deadline: February 2014 (TBD).
Although they are not as prestigious or generous as the program mentioned above, these scholarships do deserve an honorable mention. Barbizon just recently began offering a $100,000 scholarship to assist students achieve their academic goals while pursuing their acting or modeling dreams. Other noteworthy scholarships include the $50,000 Davidson Fellows Award (deadline February 12), the $10,000 Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest (deadline January 15), and the $10,000 Pearson Student Coding Contest. For those who don’t have high academic marks, a creative talent, or the desire to create a major project, I suggest checking out the $5,000 Education Matters Scholarship. Students simply need to submit a short essay (250 words or less) explaining why they think an education matters. It’s safe to say that these scholarship providers do believe that an education matters and they are willing to pony up some pretty large scholarships to prove it.