Hello scholarship seekers!
As you know, every week I aim to make your scholarship search a little easier by spotlighting three great scholarships with upcoming deadlines. This week, I’ve got the Compassion and the Imprisoned Child essay contest, the Expat Youth Scholarship, and the Home Depot Trade Scholarship.
One of the great things about this week’s scholarships is that two out of the three of them are open to both Americans and non-Americans. So if you live abroad and carry a non-American passport, you definitely don’t want to miss out!
1. Compassion and the Imprisoned Child Essay Contest: $1,000 (Note 12/17/12: This award may no longer be offered)
Did you know that, according to the United Nations, over one million children around the world are living in prison without legal assistance or even the possibility of a fair trial? For the sixth consecutive year, Oakseed Ministries International is inviting students to explore the issues facing children in prison and to offer innovative ideas to help them in a personal perspectives essay.
There are two age categories: 17 & under and 18-22. For those in the older category, you must submit an essay addressing the issues and solutions for imprisoned children of no more than 7,500 characters (approximately 1,500 words). The younger age category may submit essays of 5,000 characters or less (equivalent to approximately 1,000 words). Cite your sources in the text and present your own individual perspective on this topic. Essays will be judged based on awareness of the problem, analysis of the issue and the writer’s personal response to it, and proper spelling and grammar. All essays must be the original work of the writer. Essay submissions are welcome in Spanish, Portuguese, French and Chinese. The first place essay in each age category will win $1,000. Second place essays will receive $500 and ‘honorable mention’ will receive $250 each. Winners will be notified by June. The application deadline is May 1!
2. Expat Youth Scholarship: $3,000
Are you a student between the ages 12-18 of any nationality who has resided in a foreign country for at least two consecutive years? If so, then you qualify for the expat youth scholarship, which is awarded every year by Clements International. The theme of this year’s competition is: “Where would you go in your flying house?” inspired by the idea that expat students develop rich life experiences while ‘flying’ between countries and cultures. Applicants must submit an original 500-750-word essay addressing the question: Where would you go in your flying house? Additionally, applicants have to download a copy of the scholarship flyer from expatyouthscholarship.com and then color and decorate it however you want. Finally, using some imagination, applicants must do something ‘creative’ with their personalized flying houses — and take a picture of it. Entries will be judged in two age categories: 12-15 years and 16-18 years. Each category will have a first place ($3,000), second place ($1,500) and third place ($500) winner. The application deadline is mid-May.
3. The Home Depot Trade Scholarship Program: $1,000
Home Depot rolled out a scholarship program to support students enrolled in building and construction trade programs. They have increased the fund to $1 million to provide $1,000 scholarships to 500 trade school students. Applicants must be enrolled in their last year of a building and construction trade school program, studying to become a home builder, general contractor, carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC specialist, or other building and construction trade professional. The scholarship can be used to offset the cost of tuition, books or tools for their chosen trade. The schools of the scholarship recipients will also receive a matching gift of $1,000. The application deadline is usually in April.
If you would like to learn more about college scholarships, please visit the Financial Aid Finder’s section on scholarship information. Let us show you how to navigate the scholarship application process, write killer scholarship essays, take advantage of scholarship search engines, and win weird & unusual scholarships.
Good luck with your scholarship applications this week!