When applying to colleges, it’s important to keep scholarships in mind. Those who desire extra financial support for education outside of high school find them incredibly beneficial. However, scholarships don’t need to be a grueling, dreaded task; there are countless scholarships that are entertaining and engaging. Interesting scholarship opportunities are everywhere, and people who take time to search can find some hidden gems.

The Stuck At Prom scholarship was created by the company behind the original duct tape and has annual scholarships given to high schoolers who can design a certain item of prom attire with their brand. A website about information for scholarships said that by June 9, 2022, applicants must, “Create and wear your original and unique prom wear using Duck brand duct tape and/or Duck brand crafting tape” (scholarships.com). The Duckbrand website said that there are two ten thousand dollar grand prizes for the winners of the dress and tux category. In the last competition, there were four runners-up in both of the categories, all receiving 500 dollars each (duckbrand.com). This scholarship is a perfect example of how originality can be infused into earning money for education.

Another fascinating scholarship for people of all backgrounds and education levels is the Across Cultures Scholarship. According to one of the organizations behind the scholarship, “One student whose profile demonstrates an openness to learning about other cultures and sharing their own will receive one thousand, three hundred and fifty dollars to help them continue on their path to travel and learn” (bold.org). Another organization that promotes the scholarship states that applicants have until April 11, 2022, to apply (keepgoingforward.org). Scholarships are all about promoting individuality, and in this case, the scholarship is for students wanting to grow culturally as a person.

Despite ice cream being a universally connecting food, it’s unbelievable that an entire scholarship is based on it. The Flavor of the Month Scholarship is open to applicants 14 years old or older. The contest ends in July 2022 and requires applicants to submit an online response of less than or equal to 250 words about what kind of ice cream they would be, and why. The winner of said competition receives one thousand five hundred dollars (unigo.com). Although silly, this scholarship provides another way for students to try to earn some savings, all while discussing their favorite thing to eat on a summer day.

One last unusual scholarship is exclusively for seniors who will attend a college, university, or trade school in the United States in fall 2022, and it involves fire sprinklers. The American Fire Sprinkler Association holds the annual contest to educate the public about the life-saving aspects of automatic fire sprinklers. According to a website with information about the scholarship, applicants first have to read an essay about automatic sprinklers. Afterward, they take a ten question multiple choice test, at which time they can use the essay. For every correct answer, the student can receive up to ten entries into the two thousand dollar scholarship (scholarships4students.com). The official website says that submissions are allowed up until April 1, 2022 (afsascholarship.org). This scholarship, purely about spreading awareness, is a fun way for seniors to be a little more prepared for college.

Sophomore Camille Barrera was surprised by the variety of scholarships one can apply for. She said, “I had no idea how many abnormal scholarships are offered.” With so little light being shone on alternatives to traditional scholarships, many students are left unaware of the handful of opportunities they can apply for.

Although many think of scholarships as suffering for hours to meet deadlines, these don’t have to be so notoriously difficult to achieve. Now more than ever, organizations are trying to support distinct students wanting to further their education. Obscure scholarships allow for a wider audience to succeed in an outlet traditionally seen exclusively for star athletes and valedictorians. Students shouldn’t worry if writing long essays isn’t their strong suit, as there are now inventive and imaginative ways for them to showcase their skills.