Bizarre Scholarships

Story by Taylor Schmidt ≫

According to debt.org, an estimated $46 billion in grant and scholarship money is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education and the nation’s colleges and universities. There are a lot more scholarships out there than you might think, and not all of them require the dreaded essay.

Senior Emily Hull was awarded a scholarship for her work in an entrepreneurship competition. She submitted her video business plan and was chosen to present her idea to the judges of the competition. Although there are many ways to find scholarships, Hull thinks that websites are the best way to find them.

“Find a good website that brings them (the scholarships) all together and find the ones that work for you,” Hull said.

Another slightly more unusual scholarship offered to students here at EHS is an opportunity to join the Kansas State rowing team. The coaching staff actually prefer girls who have never rowed before so they can teach the girls the correct techniques from the get-go and avoid correcting bad habits. The K-State rowing coach has recently contacted seniors Niki Pearson and Catherine Grosdidier about opportunities to row at K-State.

“I have no experience with rowing at all,” Pearson said, “but most of the girls that do rowing in college haven’t done it either.”

Are entrepreneurship or rowing scholarships not for you? Don’t stress! There are many unique scholarships out there, including the “Jif Most Creative Sandwich Contest” or the “Scholarship Red” award for naturally redheaded students. You never know what awards and contests are out there until you search for them. Remember, that even the small, often overlooked scholarship amounts add up. The time spent searching and applying for scholarships can pay off in a big way. EHS guidance counselor Deanna Brown is quick to point out that students might be short-changing themselves by spending all their time working a minimum-wage job.

“Where else can you work for an hour and make $250?” Brown said.