The essay contests, creative competitions, and other opportunities on this page have no minimum GPA requirements.
For All Students
AFSA Scholarship- For U.S citizens and legal residents. Sponsored by the American Fire Sprinkler Association. Must take online multiple choice quiz after reading essay on fire sprinklers. Not based on financial need.
- Award: 10 $2,000 scholarships for high school seniors; 5 $1,000 "Second Chance" scholarships for those who have already graduated high school.
- Deadline: April 5, 2012 for High School Seniors' award; August 22, 2012 for Second Chance scholarship.
Avar Press Literary Essay Scholarship- Open to all students. Applicants must write a 1250- to 1500-word essay analyzing a single aspect of D.J. Solomon's Xen: Ancient English Edition.
- Award: First prize of $1,000; second prize of $750; third prize of $500.
- Deadline: Last deadline was January 31, 2012.
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For all students, including international students. Essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged.
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Award: First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25 finalists: $100; 50 semifinalists: $50
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Deadline:September 17, 2012
Beans for Brains Scholarship- For undergraduate, graduate, or professional students who like to knit or crochet and who will be attending college for the 2012-3 school year. Applicants must provide a photo of themselves holding their original knitting/crochet design or finished project.
- Award: Five awards of $2,250.
- Deadline: Last deadline was April 15, 2012.
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For any U.S. resident currently enrolled in college or about to begin college. Applicant must explain how they reduce, reuse, and recycle.
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Award: $1,000
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Deadline: Last deadline was March 31, 2012.
Christianson Grant- For U.S. citizens and permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 28 who have already arranged to participate in a minimum 6-month work, internship, or volunteer abroad program. The grant program does not support independent research projects, academic study abroad programs, missionary work, or religious programs.
- Award: Ranges between $2,500 and $10,000.
- Deadline: Rolling deadlines of March 15, July 15, and October 15 each year.
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Open to all U.S. citizens or legal residents. Only a short essay is required for entry.
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Award: $1,500 first place, $750 second place, $250 honorable mentions.
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Deadline: October 17, 2012
Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation- Open to all undergraduate and graduate students, including international students. Instead of being judged by academic achievement, essays, or financial need, scholarships are rewarded on the basis of applicants' scores on multiple choice quizzes available on the website.
- Award: Scholarships range from $250 to $2,500.
- Deadline: A number of scholarships cycle every month.
Copyright Awareness Scholarship- For all students, including international students, who are 25 years of age or younger. Applicants must submit an original creative video that will be used to educate their peers on the importance of intellectual property and copyright law.
- Award: 1st prize - $5,000; 2nd prize - $3,000; 3rd prize - $2,000
- Deadline: Last deadline was May 1, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest- Submit your original artwork, photo, or computer graphic to be placed on the front of a greeting card. For graduate or undergraduate students. For citizens and legal residents of the U.S., including international students with a valid student visa.
- Award: $10,000
- Deadline: January 16, 2013
Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship- For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, undergraduate and graduate. Requires an essay of 250 words or less.
- Award: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31, 2012
Hit the Books Scholarship- For all students between the ages of 18 and 25. Requires a maximum 500 word essay on the topic of importance of education in the applicant's life and how the scholarship money will assist in accomplishing the applicant's goals. Bonus points will be awarded to those students who find a creative way to include their passion for coffee within their essay without losing sight of the primary topic
- Award: Up to $500. Winners are required to submit receipts for the educational materials acquired as a result of the scholarship award..
- Deadline: September 30, 2012
iOme Challenge Essay and Video Contest- For all students. Combination essay and video entries must be made by a team of students assisted by a faculty adviser. This year's entries must address the following topic: widespread agreement among economists and public policy experts indicates that individuals and especially Americans have not engaged in long term financial savings at the rate they should to secure their financial futures. This poses significant long-term problems, in particular: 1) citizens may not be adequately prepared financially for their future; and 2) it may put a substantial burden on governmental budgets, especially social benefit programs in the future. International students are welcome to participate, but the team leader must be a U.S. citizen.
- Award: The winning student team will receive $10,000, and their faculty adviser $2,000. Honorable mention teams will receive $2,000, and their faculty advisers $500.
- Deadline: Last deadlines were October 31, 2011 for the essay portion and November 21, 2011 for the video portion.
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For undergraduate and graduate students. Must write an essay about the use of alternative medical approaches in the treatment of cancer.
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Award: $5,000 First Prize; $2,000 Second Prize; $1,000 Third Prize; $500 Fourth Prize; $100 Fifth Prize; $75 Honorable Mention (there are thirty Honorable Mention awards)
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For all undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. Requires a maximum 250 word essay.
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Award: $500
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Deadline: Scholarship cycles every month. Winners are contacted during the first half of the following month.
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Open to all students between the ages of 17 and 24 who have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian, and who are a legal resident of the United States (including Puerto Rico). Applicant must submit an essay or video about how the death of their parent or legal guardian effected their life.
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Award: Grand prize of $10,000 to the best video or essay; 6 awards of $5,000 to the first runners-up; 6 awards of $2,500 to the second runners-up; 45 awards of $1,000 to the third runners-up. See website for more details.
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Deadline: Last deadline was March 12, 2012. Next application cycle begins in February 2013.
Mensa U.S. Scholarship Program- For all students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A local Mensa group in the applicant's area must be participating in the scholarship program; applicants can check this on the website. Requires a maximum 550 word essay explaining the applicant's career, academic and/or vocational goals.
- Award: Range from $300 to $1,000.
- Deadline: Applications accepted every year between September 15 and January 15.
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For freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and first-year graduate students. Applicants must become a student member of CSCMP to be considered for the scholarship; membership application is available on the website. Two essays and a letter of recommendation required.
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Award: Awards range from $250 - $1,000.
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Deadline: Last deadline was April 13, 2012.
Northwest Perspectives Essay ContestAll students are eligible. Requires a maximum 1,500-word essay addressing ideas that affect the Northwest. Award: 1st prize: $500; 2nd prize: $200; 3rd prize: $75. - Deadline: Last deadline was January 12, 2012.
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For students age 22 and under. Applicants must write an essay on a particular topic; 2012 topic is "Compassion and the Illiterate Child."
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Award: $1,000 for 1st place; $500 for 2nd place; $250 for honorable mention.
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Deadline: Last deadline was May 1, 2012.
Project Firefly Contemporary Affairs Essay Competition- For all students, as well as recent graduates. The essay competition includes three essay questions; applicants may submit an essay for each question. All essays should be between 800 and 1500 words. See more detailed rules on website
- Award: 1,000 Swiss francs (approximately $1,000)
- Deadline: June 3, 2012
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For all students, age 18 and older, including international students. Requires a maximum 1,000 word essay.
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Award: $5,000
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Deadline: Last deadline was June 15, 2011; no new information yet available.
Swackhamer Disarmament Video Contest - For all students, including international students. Requires a video of three minutes or less that addresses "what school didn't teach us: the truth about nuclear weapons." Winning videos will highlight some of the many dangerous truths about nuclear weapons for the world to see.
- Award: 1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $100
- Deadline: Last deadline was April 1, 2012.
For All Undergraduates
Americanism Educational League Essay Contest
- Open to all undergraduate students. Applicants must write a maximum 2,000 word essay on a specific topic (see website).
- Award: First prize of $3,000, second prize $1,250, third prize $1,000
- Deadline: Last deadline was April 30, 2012.
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Any undergraduate student eligible for study at Campion College, just outside of Sydney, Australia. Scholarship requires a 300 word essay, geared toward the interest of the parties granting the scholarship.
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Award: up to $2,000 Australian, or approximately $3,000 US.
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Platt Family Scholarship Essay ContestFor full-time undergraduate students attending a U.S. college or university; U.S. citizenship not required. Requires a 1,500 to 5,000 word essay answering the question, "Did Lincoln free the slaves?" See website for more details. Award: 1st prize of $1,500; 2nd prize of $750; 3rd prize of $500 Deadline: July 31, 2012
Womenetics Advancing Aspirations Global Scholarship- For all undergraduate students, both women and men, who are legal U.S. residents. Requires a 2,500 word essay. See website for more details.
- Award: Two first place winners receive $5,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the 11th Annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center; eight essay finalists will each win $1,500.
- Deadline: July 27, 2012, 5 p.m. EST
For Juniors and Seniors
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Full time juniors or seniors interested in analyzing complex ethical issues in an essay. The website provides a list of suggested topics.
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Award: $5,000 for first prize; $2,500 for second prize; $1,500 for third prize; $500 for two honorable mentions.
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Deadline: Last deadline was December 5, 2011, 5 p.m. PST.
Updated 5/9/2012
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Ruth Sharkey Academic Resource Center
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arc@shu.edu
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