Crazy $cholarships

Although searching for college grants can be intimidating, if brave enough to dive into the depths of the world of scholarships, one might stumble upon some unusual and even ridiculous gems.

Tall Clubs International Scholarship

Tall Club International is helping students reach new heights with its yearly scholarship. The scholarship is oriented toward what the Tall Club calls “vertically gifted” people; in other words, men who are above 6’2 and women who are above 5’10. To apply for this 1,000 dollar scholarship, all you have to do is write an essay answering the prompt: what does being tall mean to me?http://tall.org/tci-acts/scholarships-2/Duct Brand Tape Stuck on Prom ContestStuck looking for a prom dress? Make one yourself! The brand Duct tape has created the Stuck at Prom Scholarship for creative fashion oriented students who want to move away from the typical prom dress. To apply for this scholarship, all you have to do is submit a picture of you in your prom attire made out of Duct tape. The pictures are judged on workmanship, originality, use of colors and accessories. Last year’s two winners used red and black floral themed formal wear adorned with top hat and fake mustache. The couple won 5,000 dollars for their school,  and 5,000 dollars each--not to mention the money they saved on their prom dress and tux.http://www.duckbrand.com/promotions/stuck-at-promZolp ScholarshipLoyola University Chicago accepts all types of students every year, but if your last name is Zolp, then this may be a school to look into. Roman Catholic students with the last name Zolp automatically receive a scholarship. Applicants must show their birth certificates to ensure that they are truly descendants of the Zolp family. The scholarship differs in amount every year and requires no more effort than the time it takes to dig out your birth certificate and maybe arrange a quick baptism.http://www.luc.edu/finaid/scholarships_others.shtml

Carnegie Mellon Bagpipe Scholarship

When students are picking an instrument to learn, they usually don’t jump to the bagpipe, however for the few that do, this benefits them quite a bit. To entice more students to pursue a career in bagpipe playing, Carnegie Mellon University offers a scholarship of up to 7,000 dollars per year to a student majoring in bagpipe studies. Although only three students have successfully completed the program, Carnegie Mellon is the only university to offer a bagpipe major and continues to promote it. According to Nick Hudson, a bagpipe major who completed the program in 2009, although some of the money is spent paying for kilts and private practice space, the rest of the 7,000 dollars has helped him realize his dream of mastering the nine notes of the unique instrument that is the bagpipe.http://www.cmu.edu/fso/American Nudist Research Library ScholarshipThis scholarship is meant to dispel clothed-mindedness about nudists. High School freshmen now have the chance to qualify for the American Nudist Research Library Scholarship, all they have to do is drop their underwear,  join a nudist organization and stay in it for three years. Students are judged on a brief essay and if they are selected, win 1,000 dollars to help their educational careers take off. This scholarship was created to preserve the unique history of the nudist movement, and strip it of prejudices, by revealing the bare truth. Winners will also be allowed entry into the American Nudist Research Library where groups who treasure on-going nudist activities are free to go. It is a bummer that this scholarship is barely known and it’s about time it was exposed to the public.www.anrl.org

American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship

The American Fire Sprinkler Association has created a scholarship that is easily accessible to all students. If you are particularly knowledgeable about fire sprinklers or are good at reading informational texts, then you should consider this scholarship. To apply for it, you have to take a ten question open note quiz based on a six page text about fire sprinklers. For every correct answer, your name is entered into a raffle to possibly win one of the ten 2,000 dollar scholarships. The association uses this scholarship not only to commemorate those with good reading skills and good luck but also to spread information about fire sprinklers to young adults. This scholarship is hot stuff, refusing to be extinguished.http://www.afsascholarship.org

National Potato Council Scholarship

This takes scholarships back to their roots.The esteemed National Potato Council annually rewards 10,000 dollars to one lucky graduate-level student conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry. The lucky potato-savvy winner is chosen based on a number of criteria, including: leadership abilities, academic achievement, potato-related fields of graduate study, benefit to the potato industry, and their commercial value, extracurricular activity, and grades. This years winner, Rhett Spear, spent three years trying to develop a fresh pack variety for potatoes that is not viable to the potato virus. His undeniable interest in the potato industry is what pushed the judges “out of the ground” and motivated them to award him with the 10,000 dollar scholarship.http://nationalpotatocouncil.org/events-and-programs/scholarship-program/Minnesota Soybean Ambassador ProgramThe Minnesota Soybean Ambassador Program attempts to instill a commitment to the soybean industry in young people and develop future leaders for the soybean industry. If one of the four selected winners, you will be bestowed with 2,000 dollars, soybean clothing, business cards and a name tag and attendance at a county event. The scholarship turns out to be very competitive among soybean enthusiasts, requiring an essay and interview and the determination to commit to a year long term in the soybean ambassador program.http://www.mnsoybean.org/checkoff-programs/education/soybean-ambassador-program/

Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship

This scholarship gives caddies a reason to not be catty. The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for up to four years, and 800 students receive full tuition because of it annually. This scholarship is honored at all colleges with an Evans Scholarship House, namely University of Colorado, University of Illinois, Indiana University, Marquette University, Miami University, University of Michigan, Michigan State, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin. If you have been a reputable golf caddie for two or more years, you’ve just hit a hole in one.http://www.wgaesf.org/site/c.dwJTKiO0JgI8G/b.6021411/k.8F77/Scholarships.htmNational Dairy Shrine ScholarshipsIf you are trying to milk as much money as you can from scholarships, this is the ‘moo’ve to make. The National Dairy shrine has presented would-be dairy industry aficionados with an udderly grade-a prime offer. With 42 opportunities to be granted in 11 categories totaling 48,500 dollars annually, it’s safe to assume these scholarships steer those on the fence with the rest of the herd into the glorious dairy industry. If you are planning on being a dairy connoisseur, make no mi’steak’, this is the scholarship for you.http://www.dairyshrine.org/scholarships.php friosfetchko@thesamohi.combkanjo@thesamohi.com