The Most Surprising and Unique Scholarships in the US for 2021

Scholarships are financial aid awards to help students pay for their education. Every year, scholarships in the US — up to over US$7.4 billion — are awarded by private bodies. They usually come from a variety of sources, from organizations to charities to government agencies. They can also come from unlikelier sources. Below we take a look at some of the most unusual and unique scholarships in the US:

Michael Jackson Scholarship

The Michael Jackson scholarship provides financial assistance to communication arts and social science students attending a UNCF college/university during the 2021-2022 academic year, unique scholarships in the US.

Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The scholarship will provide an award of up to $4,000 depending on the financial need of the student as verified by the attending University or College.

This is a one-time award to be disbursed in November 2021.

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In order to have a completed application package to gain unique scholarships in the US, candidates must include:

• Completed Application profile
•  Essay (prompt and instructions located within the  appropriate section of the application)
•  Transcript (unofficial accepted)

All application materials must be submitted by the deadline for full consideration. All previous recipients of this award must apply for reconsideration.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be given. Entries may only be sent by students graduating from high school in SPRING 2021.

The deadline is FEBRUARY 20, 2021.

We will accept applications postmarked on or before FEBRUARY 20, 2021. Early submission is encouraged. We had 280 applications in 2019.

Applicants will be judged on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. Payment will be made to the student’s college (U.S.-based only). Winners of the scholarships give permission to release their names to the media. Applications and essays become the property of The Vegetarian Resource Group. We may ask finalists for more information. Scholarship winners are contacted by e-mail or telephone. Please look at your e-mail.

If you would like to donate to additional scholarships, internships, or unique scholarships in the US, go to www.vrg.org/donate

Applications

Please click here to download a PDF of the application. However, applicants are not required to use an application form. A neatly typed document containing the information below will also be accepted as a valid application.

Please send the application and attachments to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. For more information call (410) 366-8343 or email vrg@vrg.org.

I. When applying, please include the following:

(Use additional paper if necessary.)

• Name:
• Street address:
• City, State, Zip:
• Email address:
• Phone number:
• Date of birth:
• Date of expected graduation from high school:
• Grade average in high school:
• College(s) applied/accepted to (if known):
• Anticipated major in college:
• Parents or Guardians’ names:
• Parents or Guardians’ addresses:
• City, State, Zip:
• High school principal:
• Name of one high school teacher:
• Name of high school:
• Address of high school:
• City, State, Zip:
• People in the vegetarian movement, if any, who know you (Please include contact information):
• Extracurricular activities (please describe):
• Favorite subjects in school:
• How did you hear about the scholarship?

II. Please submit an essay addressing the following:

1. How you promoted vegetarianism in your high school and/or community
2. Your successes
3. Your challenges
4. What you learned/what you would do differently
5. How you expect to promote vegetarianism in college and beyond
6. Your future goals
7. Your strengths
8. Your weaknesses
9. Your “perfect” life in five years
10. Why you should receive this scholarship
11. How you became vegetarian and why you are vegetarian
12. How you define vegetarian
13. Why vegetarianism is important to you
14. What else is important to you
15. What vegetarian foods you would recommend to a non-vegetarian
16. What restaurants you would recommend to a non-vegetarian

III. Please also attach:

1. A copy of your transcripts or report cards for the past two years. (An official copy is not necessary. Photocopies of your report cards will suffice.)
2. Three or more recommendations (including at least one teacher).
3. Any documentation related to your promotion of vegetarianism in high school and/or community including photographs, newspaper stories, etc.

Still On the unique scholarships in the US:

Courageous Persuaders Award

The Courageous Persuaders competition is all about creativity for the greater good. This award encourages high school students to create a 30-second television commercial on the dangers of underage drinking and texting while driving. Middle school classrooms review and judge the videos to help determine the winner.

The grand prize? Seeing your commercial on TV, but not before you have hands-on experience with professional video editors and video producers to make your work fit to broadcast. The winner will also walk away with a scholarship worth US$3,000.

Asparagus Scholarship

Founded in 1990, this program has funded over US$850,000 to recipients in pursuit of a career in the independent retail grocery industry. You must score a minimum GPA of 2.5 each semester and apply to relevant programs such as business or food management. The Asparagus Club awards 10 scholarships per year, and each one is valued at US$2,000 per semester.

Doodle for Google Scholarship

Use your imagination to create a Google Doodle based on what inner strength means to you.

How to apply

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