Unique Scholarships for Your Hobbies

Students with a passion for the culinary arts may be eligible for a variety of annually distributed scholarship opportunities offered through the American Culinary Federation. Funding can be applied to either apprenticeships, certificate programs, or post-secondary educational pursuits.

Applicants for this scholarship will be selected based on both academic prowess as well as an interest in the sport of fencing. Do you have high grades and some serious skill in a bout? Apply to this scholarship and you might find yourself on the All-American Fencing Team.

The cultivation of grapes and their subsequent conversion into wine is a highly scientific process, one which requires most individuals interested in this industry to attend college. Do you aspire to be working on a Napa vineyard someday? Applying for this scholarship is an excellent start to creating your first bottle of delicious wine.

Exceptional students who are members of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture may be nominated to receive the ASE President's Award in Enology and Viticulture. Students must provide a written statement detailing their interest in a career in the grape and wine industry. Two letters of recommendation are required for this scholarship.

The American Birding Association seeks to bolster youth interest in bird-related activities, such as birdwatching and ornithological pursuits, with this scholarship program. Recipients may apply funding towards training opportunities, camps, and workshops focusing in relevant subject matter.

28 scholarships are being offered for the 2019 school year to students interested in becoming certified mountain guides. Established by the American Mountain Guides Association, this preparation funding can be used for a number of disciplines, including Alpine navigation, ski guide, or rock climbing.

Formed in 2013, the Bowl4Life Scholarship Foundation has been offering funding for students who are looking to keep both their GPA and their bowling scores high. Applicants must maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0 and demonstrate a genuine interest in the sport of bowling. Apply now to spare yourself a few bucks.

With the goal of honoring the athletic spirit of runner Charlie Reynolds, this scholarship program seeks to reward any graduating high school seniors committed to either track and field or cross country running. Applicants must also be residents of Baltimore county, or be enrolled in school in the Baltimore area.

Careers in the cattle and beef industry can provide young learners with steady income and fulfilling work throughout their lives. Interested in breaking into the field? This scholarship is provided for young learners who are planning on pursuing a career in the beef industry, and provides awards in the form of funding, internships, and field-specific professional development courses.

Applicants to this scholarship program will be required to submit a 15x15 crossword puzzle of their own design, emphasizing a theme of their choosing. Puzzle submissions should not exceed 78 words and should follow standard newspaper puzzle format.

Southern California students who are engaged in a community dance program—whether through a studio, company, or institution of higher education—may be eligible to receive academic funding through this scholarship program. Invitations to apply are sent out annually to institutions affiliated with DDF.

Students from a variety of creative backgrounds may wish to pursue this unique scholarship opportunity. Prior experience in music, theatrical performance, or creative writing and intend to pursue at least 22 credits in one of these areas? Put together a portfolio today and become this year's distinguished artist.

Competitive archers or students who are part of their college or university's archery club may be eligible for this unique funding opportunity. Funding varies between high school applicants and college-level applicants, and students who are founders of their institution's archery club are more likely to receive higher funding amounts.

Elegant Ice Creations has been helping young students interested in ice sculpting pay for necessary sculpting equipment since 2011 with this scholarship program. Students applying for this scholarship must have previous experience with carving, and will be required to submit a photo of their previous work. Apply today and take your unique abilities to the next level.

A willingness to move away from tradition is a key quality of innovative thinking. Have some fresh ideas on how to apply the origami mode to other fields such as fashion, technical sciences, or psychological study? This scholarship is an excellent way for current origami practitioners to expand their abilities into new and unique arenas.

This annually awarded program provides academic funding for the children of trainers, caretakers, or other individuals working in the harness racing industry. Students will be selected based on both academic merit and financial need, and will be required to submit letters of recommendation with their application.

Students with a passion for the martial arts—Tai Chi or Kung Fu, for instance—may be eligible to apply for this memorial scholarship. Founded in honor of Helen Gee Chin, this funding opportunity can be applied to any accredited four-year institution of higher education. Applicants must maintain a B average and exhibit achievement in their martial arts discipline.

Love the great outdoors? Strap on your hiking boots and hit the trail, because this scholarship is specifically designed for students who exhibit a commitment to both physical activity and outdoor adventure. Applicants must submit a short application essay discussing healthy living habits to implement during a college career.

Who doesn't like a good ghost story? Students who find themselves chronically hooked on the Halloween spirit may be interested in submitting some of their fiction or poetry to the Horror Writers Association (HWA). Scare them badly enough and they may just give you their money.

Having provide almost $300,000 in scholarship over the last 10 years, the International Surfing Association is continuing their annual tradition of providing funding to surfers who exemplify community-focused leadership qualities. Funding can be applied not only to tuition and books, but to surfing equipment and training as well.

This memorial scholarship was put together in hopes of rewarding students who exhibit qualities the late Lyly Koenig Mendez held dear: a passion for fashion, graphic design, and a love for life. Students who are at least 50% Asian/Pacific Islander and intend to pursue an education in either the graphic design of fashion industries may be eligible for funding.

Avid fans of musical theater may be interested in working on their own compositions after learning of the prizes available through the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge. Six finalists will be selected, all of whom will have the opportunity to meet professionals in the musical industry and have their songs published. The grand prize recipient will also receive a sizable cash prize.

Having a green thumb can now pay off for college. Students in the junior or senior year of an academic program relating to gardening, landscaping, or horticulture may be eligible to receive funding for their lifelong interest in plant-related pursuits. Applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher and must be enrolled full-time.

Students who are interested in genealogical studies may wish to start compiling a manuscript discussing their family history; the Family History Writing Contest seeks to encourage individuals to dig deeper into their family history and learn more about their roots. Applicants will be required to submit a family history manuscript (4,000-10,000 words) dating back as far as four generations.

Students studying in their junior year of high school may be eligible to receive funding based on their skills as a marksman. Applicants must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, as well as being regular participants in marksmanship competitions. This is a one-year scholarship that can be applied to any post-secondary educational pursuits.

This scholarship may be an excellent opportunity for any avid swimmers, divers, or marine biologists. Designed for students who are hoping to secure a career in an underwater-related field, this Rolex scholarship provides awards in a variety of forms, including funding, travel, and professional development experiences. The scholarship is offered in three forms: North America, Europe, and Australia.

The Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Card Contest is an excellent way for aspiring poets to have their work exposed to a wide array of people. Applicants have creative freedom with their submissions, and will not be constrained to any one form or subject. All entries must be original work and be written in English.

Offered through Unigo, this scholarship is perfect for the avid comic book fan. Get as creative as you want with the proposed challenge: given the chance, which superhero or supervillain would you like to become? In a 250-word submission, explain which hero or villain you would want to swap places with for a day, and you may be flying home with some extra money in your tights.

The Tall Pines Quilt Guild has been offering scholarship funding for the 11 years, and is excited to continue the tradition with increasing funding amounts. One of two qualifications must be met to apply for this scholarship: students must either be proficient in the art of sewing and quilting, or they must be majoring in math education.

With this scholarship, TeachYouToSew.com is not just looking to reward students interested in the craft of sewing, but any similar DIY hobby. Interested in woodworking, upholstery, or knitting? Submit a short essay discussing why you are passionate about your hobby, and you may be the next recipient of this unique scholarship.

Amy Lowell, a prominent American poet who lived in the early 20th century, stated in her will that she hoped to give young American poets the opportunity to see the world, and so the Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship was the result. Applicants for this travelling scholarship may submit a maximum of 40 typed pages of original poetry, potentially earning them this prestigious award designed to lighten the burden of travel and living expenses.

As means of celebrating their 100th anniversary, Nikon established this scholarship to prepare the next generation of photographers to pursue their academic goals. Applicants will be required to hold a GPA of at least 2.5, be majoring in an art or media-related field, and must be recommended by a faculty member within their program. 10 applicants are selected each year to receive this award.

Monterey County students interested in pursuing a career in photography may be interested in this unique funding opportunity. The goal for this scholarship fund is to keep the tradition of black and white photography alive, and students will be required to submit both a photography portfolio and an artist statement upon application.

Named in honor of Professor Herman Zapf, this annual scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit a mastery of the art of calligraphy. Funding is designed to support students in their craft-related pursuits, and can be applied to a number of services, including classes, books, and even conferences.