Bestie gang, it’s summer season, which means my brain has officially left the building. But the scholarship grind doesn’t stop!
I’m on the waitlist for grad school, doing research for Red Kite, and figuring out how to budget. Surprise, surprise: the world is expensive these days.
But this is the absolute best time to start applying to scholarships. We all need to go into our next year of school with a little extra cash, so I’ve complied a list of some fun, easy scholarships that made me giggle.
If you’re reading this after June, be sure to check to see if these scholarships are annual/recurring, because there’s always a chance of applying next time. And get this: some of them are open to high school students, too!
1. Ice Cream Scholarship – $1,500
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/flavor-of-the-month-scholarship
Y’all know that this scholarship had to be my #1. Also, July is apparently National Ice Cream Month, as if that isn’t every month… Anyways, say hello to the Flavor of the Month Scholarship!
Now, when I first came across this scholarship, I assumed that they wanted me to create a new type of ice cream, which felt a little daunting. Baskin-Robins has 31… like, how many more can there be? Turns out, it’s even easier than that!
All you have to do is write about your favorite flavor, and why it reflects your personality. $1500 to ramble about my obsession with birthday cake ice cream? Say less. (Is it because my love language is gift giving?)
Deadline: July 31
Age requirement: 14+
2. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship – $2,000
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/zombie-apocalypse-scholarship
Picture me waking up in bed, gasping for air. Immediate call to the boyfriend.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I had a dream,” I said, breathless. “I was in the dorms, and the lights went out, and then zombies came in through the windows, and-”
“Jane, it’s 6 AM.”
True story. And now, here’s an opportunity to yap for cash. All you have to do is imagine what would happen to your school or college if zombies suddenly started running amok. Class is cancelled: the apocalypse is here, and people want to hear your survival plan!
P.S. If there’s a Target near your campus, you’re set. And you’ve got cute succulents.
Deadline: October 31
Age requirement: 14+
3. Taylor Swift Scholarship – $1,989
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/1989-taylors-version
I’ve mentioned Beyonce in almost every blog post on this website, but I’ve gotta look out for my Swifties, too!
This scholarship offers funds to one diehard fan that writes 400-600 words about a song from Taylor Swift’s album “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” I literally wrote a 30-page journal entry after Cowboy Carter dropped, so if y’all are anything like me, I know you’ll knock this one out of the park.
Deadline: July 1
Education level: Any
4. Comedian Scholarship – $1,500
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/make-me-laugh-scholarship
The Make Me Laugh Scholarship is targeted at anyone who’s got a funny story to share. Even if you can’t think of anything that happened to you personally, maybe your friends or family can come in clutch!
I used to work in a suit store, and one time, I was helping a Spanish-speaking customer find a new shirt. I wanted to tell him that he needed a bigger collar size, right? Unfortunately, my Spanish brain chose that exact moment to exit the building, and this is what I told a real person directly to his face: “Your neck is upstairs.”
Now, that horrifying moment no longer has to live just in my mind! (I facepalm at least twice a day over it.) This is your chance to put your standup-worthy moments onto paper.
Deadline: August 31
Age Requirement: 14+
5. Potato Scholarship – $10,000
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/potato-industry-scholarship
If you’re still considering which graduate path to pursue, consider this: potato.
I had to throw this one in for my fellow grad students. First of all, I had no idea The National Potato Council was even a thing. Second of all, based on the amount of Jack-in-the-Box curly fries I eat every week, how do I run for chairwoman?
They’re offering an annual scholarship to a grad student “conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry.” I mean, this is an industry that everybody’s passionate about, people.
Deadline: June 14
Age requirement: Graduate student
6. Rodeo Scholarship – $500
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/rodeo-ticket-student-scholarship
Yeehaw! Whether you grew up in the rodeo life or you’ve only ever been to one rodeo, all you have to do is write a short essay breaking down your experience.
Saddle up, partners, because the Rodeo Ticket Scholarship wants to hear from you. Did you try to ride a bull and realize you should probably stick to mechanical ones at the county fair? Did you fall in love with a cowboy from afar and write 3 follow-up journal entries about him? (Just me? Okay…)
Apart from the obvious $500 to help with college expenses, this scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to share your unique rodeo story with a wider audience. At the Texas Rodeo, I ate a table-sized turkey leg off the bone and got to pet some alpacas. There’s no easier way to this ole Southern gal’s heart than that. Time to dust off your boots and get to work!
Deadline: August 15
Age requirement: College-enrolled
7. Scholarship for Sewers/Knitters/Crocheters/Felters/Designers
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/national-make-it-with-wool
Ever dreamt of weaving your way to the top? (Sorry.) The National Make It With Wool competition is held annually by the American Sheep Industry.
And this is serious business, besties. There are several divisions – including college students – and most US States have their own local competition. So, the deadlines and cash prizes vary, but if you’re a designer that can work with wool, this one’s for you!
Do I run to my mom every time a button falls off my pants? Maybe. But I’m sure we’ve got some crafty Kitelings in need of funds for their wool-based passion.
8. Science Fiction/Fantasy Art Scholarship – $5,000
Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/l-ron-hubbard-s-illustrators-of-the-future-contes
And for my amateur artists that dabble in sketching dragons and spaceships, you could win $500 for the Illustrators of the Future quarterly contest. After that, you’re automatically enrolled in their grand prize contest, with a first-place award of $5,000… rich.
But the best part is that you get to have your art judged by professional artists. This is the ultimate opportunity to make a name for yourself within the highly-competitive art industry! I mean, I’m already making fanart of Legolas from The Lord of the Rings in my spare time anyway, so why not get paid for it? (I’m kidding – your work needs to be original. Not about the Legolas part. That’s very meaningful to me.)
Deadline: June 30, 2024
Age requirement: Any
So there’s a few fun, goofy scholarships to kick off your summer 2024 search. While you’re here, be sure to submit your scholarship-winning essays to our Essay Analysis blog series.
And for more about Red Kite’s $25 BILLION in financial aid opportunities, you can sign up to our site (www.myredkite.com).
Follow our socials for more Jane content! I’m off to write about some zombies, and I hope to see you there!