Financial Aid Finder

Be sure to set aside some time in the coming weeks to work on your scholarship applications. The winter is really peak season for scholarship committees, as there are an abundance of opportunities with upcoming deadlines.

To help make your search for scholarships a little easier, I preview three upcoming scholarships every Friday here at the Financial Aid Finder. This week, I’ve got three great leads on fun ways to win some funds for college, including a $2,500 essay competition sponsored by the Olive Garden, a $10,000 design-a-greeting card competition, and a $20,000 four-year scholarship for state-school students from Colonel Sanders.

1. Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales Essay Contest: $2,500

This year’s theme for the annual Olive Garden Pasta Tales essay contest is all about honoring our teachers. In no more than 250 words (and no fewer than 50), write an essay about the following topic:

Describe a teacher who has inspired you in school and how they have impacted your life.

Eligible applicants must be in 1st through 12th-grade and be legal residents of the United States or Canada. Entry forms are available at the link above or at your local Olive Garden restaurant. Essays will be judged on creativity, theme, organizations, grammar and spelling. The grand-prize winner will win a $2,5000 savings bond and a three-day trip to New York. Winners from each grade will win a $500 savings bond and dinner at their local Olive Garden. See website for deadline.

2. Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest: $10,000

The Gallery Collection is awarding a $10,000 scholarship to the creator of the best personal or business greeting card. Your submission must include original artwork for the front cover. Eligible applications must be high school or college students, or active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Applicants must be at least 14 years of age, and no older than 35 years of age.

3. KFC Colonel’s Scholarship Program: $20,000 (over 4 years)

If you are graduating from high school this year and planning to enroll in one of your state’s public colleges or universities, then you are eligible for the $20,000 renewable KFC Scholars Program. Winners will receive $5,000 per year for each of four years, for a total award of $20,000. In order to maintain eligibility, winners must carry at least 12 credit hours per semester, maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and work at least 10 hours per week beginning the 2nd year of funding. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and be able to demonstrate financial need (via your FAFSA — so be sure to complete it early!). See website for deadline.

If you would like to learn more about college scholarships, please visit Financial Aid Finder’s section on college student 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.