Scholarships For Students With Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities are often key components of a student’s educational journey, showcasing leadership, teamwork, and dedication beyond academics. Recognizing the value of these experiences, many organizations, institutions, and private donors offer scholarships for students actively involved in extracurricular pursuits. These scholarships reward individuals who have excelled in areas such as sports, arts, community service, and student leadership.
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Types of Extracurricular Scholarships
Sports Scholarships
Athletic scholarships are awarded to students excelling in sports. These scholarships often cover tuition, room, and board, and may include additional benefits like training support.
Examples include:
- NCAA Scholarships: Offered to student-athletes in the U.S. competing at collegiate levels in various sports.
- Women’s Sports Foundation Grants: Provides financial assistance to female athletes pursuing higher education.
- Olympic Scholarships: Offered to aspiring Olympians through national or international sports organizations.
Arts and Creative Scholarships
Students passionate about the arts, including music, theater, dance, and visual arts, can find scholarships supporting their creative talents.
Examples include:
- YoungArts Foundation Scholarships: Awards scholarships to students excelling in visual, literary, and performing arts.
- BMI Foundation Music Scholarships: Supports aspiring musicians and composers.
- National Art Honor Society (NAHS) Scholarships: Offers funding to students demonstrating exceptional skills in visual arts.
Community Service Scholarships
Students actively involved in volunteer work or social initiatives may qualify for community service scholarships. These awards recognize the impact of students in their communities.
Examples include:
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- The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards: Honors students with exceptional records of volunteerism.
- DoSomething.org Scholarships: Offers funding to students who lead impactful social change campaigns.
- Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program: Recognizes students with a strong commitment to community service and leadership.
Leadership Scholarships
Students demonstrating leadership skills through roles in student government, clubs, or other organizations can apply for leadership-focused scholarships.
Examples include:
- Coca-Cola Scholars Program: Awards scholarships to students with outstanding leadership and academic achievements.
- Burger King Scholars Program: Supports students exhibiting leadership in their schools and communities.
- Ronald Reagan Student Leader Awards: Honors students for their leadership and civic engagement.
STEM and Tech-Related Extracurricular Scholarships
For students involved in robotics clubs, coding competitions, or STEM outreach programs, scholarships specific to technical and scientific extracurriculars are available.
Examples include:
- FIRST Robotics Scholarships: Provides funding to students participating in FIRST Robotics competitions.
- Google Science Fair Awards: Recognizes innovative projects by young scientists and inventors.
- Society of Women Engineers Scholarships: Supports female students pursuing engineering and technology careers.
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Finding Extracurricular Scholarships
School Counselors
Counselors often have information about local and national scholarships tailored to specific extracurricular activities.
Online Platforms
Websites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Cappex allow students to filter scholarship opportunities based on their interests and activities.
Clubs and Organizations
Many student clubs, national organizations, and hobby groups offer scholarships to members or participants. For example, 4-H, FFA, and Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts frequently award scholarships to active members.
Competitions and Fairs
Participating in competitions like science fairs, art showcases, or debate tournaments can lead to scholarships directly tied to the event.
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Tips for Applying
- Highlight Achievements: Detail your contributions and accomplishments in extracurricular activities on your application.
- Show Impact: Demonstrate how your involvement made a difference in your community, school, or field.
- Secure Strong Recommendations: Request letters from mentors, coaches, or advisors familiar with your extracurricular efforts.
- Tailor Your Essay: Reflect on the significance of your extracurricular activities and how they align with your goals.