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There are many interesting, esoteric and unusual scholarships out there. For example, you may have heard of the scholarship for left-handed students, which is the one most frequently mentioned by news media. But even if you’re not a southpaw, there might be some offbeat financial aid opportunities for you.
Start by checking these out:
Scholarship for Left-Handed Students
The only scholarship for left-handed students is the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship of up to $1,000. This scholarship is awarded to left-handed students who will be attending Juniata College. This scholarship is only available to students enrolled at Juniata College. For more information, write to Office of Student Financial Planning, Juniata College, 1700 Moore Street, Huntington, Pennsylvania 16652.
Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest
The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest is open to students age 14 or older who are attending a high school prom in the spring. US citizenship is required, and entrants must enter as a couple (two individuals) and attend a high school prom wearing complete attire or accessories made from duct tape. The submission must include a color photograph of the couple together in prom attire. The first place prize consists of a $2,500 scholarship for each member of the winning couple and a $2,500 cash prize to the school that hosted the prom. Other prizes include $1,000 for second place, $500 for third, and Duck Tape sportswear for honorable mentions. The winning couple is selected based on a variety of criteria, including originality, workmanship, quantity of Duck Tape used, use of colors and creative use of accessories. The contest’s Web site includes photographs of the winning costumes.
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award (SAMMY)
The SAMMY Award is open to graduating high school senior scholar athletes. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in academics, athletic performance, leadership and community service, and must be residents of one of the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia. There are 25 regional winners who each get one scholarship of $7,500. You can see photographs of the 2003 winners with their milk mustaches online.
Learn more about these and other unusual scholarships here.
To find other scholarships for students with specific interests or abilities, see FinAid’s profile-based aid section, or search the FastWeb scholarship database.
The purpose of this article is to both provide information and facilitate general dialogue about various employment-related topics. No legal advice is being given and no attorney-client relationship created. Please see the disclaimer for further limitations and conditions.
