Tag: Scholarships

  • Scholarships for High School Sophomores

    Scholarships for High School Sophomores

    What is a scholarship?

    A scholarship is free money that you can apply for and earn to help you pay for your higher education.

    Unlike other types of financial aid (aka, loans), money that you earn from scholarships doesn’t ever need to be repaid!

    Can high school sophomores even apply for scholarships?

    While the pool of scholarship opportunities opens up significantly once you enter your junior year, there are still scholarships out there for high school sophomores to apply for!

    A big benefit of starting the scholarship process as a sophomore is that, since you’re starting earlier than most, you can take your time in getting familiar with the world of scholarships (what you need to apply, where to find opportunities, how to write strong essays, etc!). This, in turn, will put you in a prime position to be a successful applicant for many of the bigger scholarships that are available for high school juniors and seniors. 

    As a sophomore, where can I find scholarships to apply for?

    In addition to this post, and the entire Access Scholarships platform (search engine, blog posts, scholarship directory), there are tons of other places and resources you can check out to help you search and apply for scholarships.

    You’ll want to start by heading over to the website(s) run by your state that outline state-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

    To learn about local opportunities, the best place to start is with your school counselor or your high school’s website. You can also find potential scholarship opportunities that are specific to you through social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, even Pinterest!). You can follow hashtags on Instagram such as #TexasScholarships (if you live in Texas) so that anytime an organization posts a relevant scholarship with that hashtag, you can see it and apply if you’re interested!

    How can I make my scholarship applications stand out?

    One of the best ways that you can stand out through your application is through the extra requirements that you submit.

    Whether it’s an essay, a video, letters of recommendation, or other additional submissions, these are all places where you will want to dedicate extra time and effort to make sure that what you’re sending in is authentically YOU, unique, eye-catching, and memorable. 

    If writing scholarship essays is not something you feel confident with yet, don’t worry! Our blog post How To Write A Winning Scholarship Essay will give you everything you need to get things started on the right foot.  If you still need help, look into hiring a top rated scholarship essay writing services to review your entry.

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  • 30+ Scholarships to Apply for in January 2026

    30+ Scholarships to Apply for in January 2026

    Ah January, the start of a new year AND a great time to take advantage of all of the January scholarships that are out there 😉

    Around the time of the holidays and as New Years approaches, forming New Years resolutions has become pretty common.

    As a student, it might be helpful to separate your resolutions into a few different categories. For example, maybe you have academic resolutions in one bucket, and personal resolutions (like to drink more water, eat a little healthier, etc) in another.

    Why am I talking to you about resolutions?

    Well, unless you’ve been a super scholarship searcher and applier, the new year is a great time to set a new goal for yourself to apply for more scholarships!

    Remember, scholarships are free money (!!) that you can win and put towards paying for your education. They’re great because they ultimately help to leave you in less debt once you’re finished with your degree.

    So, in the mindset of using the new year as an opportunity to apply for more scholarships…

    Here are over 30 amazing January scholarships to help get you started!

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  • How a Rhode Island Teen’s $1M Changed the State’s 6th Largest City – The 74

    How a Rhode Island Teen’s $1M Changed the State’s 6th Largest City – The 74


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    When then-16-year old Mariam Kaba won $1 million through the Transform Rhode Island scholarship three years ago, she saw it as her opportunity to create the change she wanted to see in her nearly 45,000-person community of Woonsocket. 

    “I don’t see much positive representation from our community all the time,” Kaba said. “I was thinking ‘my scholarship won’t get picked.’ But it did … and I was able to bring something so big to my community, a community that already doesn’t have the most funding in the world.” 

    The scholarship, funded by the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation, asks students to answer, “if you had $1 million how would you target the lives of those in Rhode Island and how would you create change?”

    Kaba’s investments resulted in a number of youth-centered spaces and opportunities popping up across the city, including 120 calm corners in elementary classrooms to support students’ sensory functions, new physical education equipment for all Woonsocket elementary schools, job fairs, hundreds of donated books, and field trips to local colleges & universities, among others.

    Kaba, who is now a rising sophomore at Northeastern University, describes the experience of winning the scholarship as surreal.

    “It didn’t occur to me that I was the last person standing and I won $1 million,” Kaba said. “But when I won, the first thing I thought was, ‘OK, let’s get to work. I’m given this opportunity to help improve my community. What steps can I take? And when does the groundwork start happening?’”

    When a teen leads, adults follow

    Bringing Kaba’s vision to life meant working alongside adults with experience in project management and community engagement while keeping up with her student life at Woonsocket High School.

    “In high school, I managed both classwork and extracurriculars like student council, being a peer mentor and participating in Future Business Leaders of America,” Kaba said. “Balancing those things with my work with the scholarship came easy to me.”

    Kaba partnered with community organizations across the state like nonprofit Leadership Rhode Island. This collaboration helped lay out a roadmap for Kaba’s proposal, manage the scholarship funds and coordinate meetings with community leaders. 

    The winning student also sits on the board of the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation for a year. This provides an opportunity for them to build their network and connect with leaders in Rhode Island. 

    High schoolers can make a difference through spaces and support like this, Kaba said, and also advises teens interested in engaging with their community to “not be afraid to start off small.”

    This “small” gesture, Kaba added, can be as simple as gathering a group of friends to organize a community cleanup or starting a school club or Instagram to advocate for something they’re passionate about.

    “Starting off small is going to give you those steps to leading these big impactful projects,” Kaba said.

    The feedback Kaba received on her community investments, primarily from peers, community members and teachers in Woonsocket, was overwhelmingly positive.

    “People told me, ‘I was able to go to this job fair and I got connected to this job,’ or, ‘I’m going to the Harbour Youth Center to get items from the food pantry you created and it’s been helping my family a lot,’” Kaba said. “Community organizations reached out to me to let me know they would love to find a way to work together and do their part to take action too.”


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  • Top Hat and the First Nations Caring Society Award 2025 Shannen’s Dream Scholarships

    Top Hat and the First Nations Caring Society Award 2025 Shannen’s Dream Scholarships

    TORONTO – August 1, 2025 – Top Hat, the leader in student engagement solutions for higher education, is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Shannen’s Dream Scholarship, presented in partnership with the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. As lead sponsor, Top Hat is funding two $10,000 and two $5,500 scholarships, awarded to First Nations students pursuing post-secondary education in recognition of their academic excellence and outstanding contributions to their communities.

    Scholarship recipients were selected based on outstanding academic performance and a demonstrated track record of promoting health, wellbeing, and equity within their communities. Whether through mentorship, health advocacy, or cultural revitalization, these individuals are already acting as important agents of change.

    “We are deeply inspired by all that these individuals have accomplished so early in their lives. They are community builders, advocates, and future leaders with enormous potential,” said Maggie Leen, CEO of Top Hat. “It’s an honor to play even a small part in helping them achieve their dreams of higher education and go even further.”

    Named in honor of Shannen Koostachin, a courageous youth from Attawapiskat First Nation who led a national campaign for equitable education, the Shannen’s Dream Scholarship celebrates Indigenous students who exemplify resilience, leadership, and a commitment to social change.

    What makes the scholarship unique is its “pay-it-forward” requirement. Each recipient is expected to make a fair and measurable contribution to the Shannen’s Dream campaign or a related First Nations initiative. Previous pay-it-forward campaigns have included creating a guide to help students navigate the medical school application process, hosting talks and workshops on Shannen’s Dreams, and establishing an online database of scholarships for Indigenous youth.

    “Shannen believed in the power of education to change lives and communities. Each of this year’s recipients carries that vision forward, not only through their academic efforts, but through their leadership and service,” said Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. “We are proud to celebrate these remarkable students and grateful to Top Hat for helping to make the Shannen’s Dream Scholarship a reality for more First Nations youth.”

    Meet the 2025 Shannen’s Dream Scholarship Recipients

    Zoe Quill, a member of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation with ties to Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, holds a BSc in Genetics from the University of Manitoba and will be attending the Max Rady College of Medicine for Fall 2025. She is a published researcher and 2024 Manitoba Indigenous Youth Achievement Award recipient, and is committed to advancing Indigenous health and representation in care.

    Mercedes Stemm, a proud Mi’kmaw woman from Natoaganeg First Nation, is a second-year medical student at the University of Manitoba. With a BSc in Neuroscience and minor in Indigenous Studies, she co-created Indigenous admissions pathways and launched a national mentorship program supporting future Indigenous medical students.

    Syndel Thomas Kozar, from One Arrow First Nation, is completing a Double Honours in Indigenous Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. A community advocate, Kozar holds leadership roles in youth and arts organizations, with work focused on cultural reclamation, and empowering Indigenous youth through storytelling.

    Ruby O’Tennadzahe, a Dene woman from Northlands Denesuline First Nation, will begin the Bachelor of Nursing program at Red River College Polytechnic in Fall 2025. A former Health Care Aide, she brings clinical experience and a strong focus on holistic, culturally grounded care for Indigenous youth.

    About Shannen’s Dream Scholarship

    The Shannen’s Dream Scholarship was established to assist First Nations youth with the financial burdens of post-secondary education. The scholarship honors Shannen Koostachin, whose advocacy for safe and comfortable schools for First Nations students ignited a nationwide movement. This scholarship aims to continue her legacy by empowering First Nations students to achieve their educational aspirations. To learn more, please visit www.fncaringsociety.com.

    About Top Hat

    As the leader in student engagement solutions for higher education, Top Hat enables educators to employ evidence-based teaching practices through interactive content, tools, and activities in in-person, online and hybrid classroom environments. Thousands of faculty at more than 900 North American colleges and universities use Top Hat to create meaningful, engaging and accessible learning experiences for students before, during, and after class. To learn more, please visit tophat.com.

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  • OCR to Investigate Five Colleges for DACA Scholarships

    OCR to Investigate Five Colleges for DACA Scholarships

    The Office for Civil Rights is investigating five universities for offering scholarships to undocumented students, the Education Department announced Thursday.

    The universities of Louisville, Nebraska Omaha, Miami, Michigan, and Western Michigan University have been accused of violating Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination against or otherwise excluding individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin, in offering the scholarships.

    “Neither the Trump Administration’s America first policies nor the Civil Right Act of 1964’s prohibition on national origin discrimination permit universities to deny our fellow citizens the opportunity to compete for scholarships because they were born in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor in a statement.

    Trainor said the department is expanding its enforcement efforts to “protect American students and lawful residents from invidious national origin discrimination.”

    The scholarships at issue that allegedly provide exclusionary funding based on national origin include the University of Miami’s U Dreamers Program and University of Michigan’s Dreamer Scholarship.

    The investigations are in response to complaints submitted to OCR by the Equal Protection Project (EPP), an initiative from the Legal Insurrection Foundation (LIF), a national free speech advocacy group founded by Cornell law professor William A. Jacobson.

    EPP describes itself as “devoted to the fair treatment of all persons without regard to race or ethnicity” and lists as part of its “Vision:2025” “continued OCR complaints” “strategic lawsuits” and “media-narrative setting.”

    LIF also runs criticalrace.org, a series of databases cataloguing admissions policies, programming, funding models and other instances of alleged critical race training.

    In a statement provided by the department, Jacobson said: “Protecting equal access to education includes protecting the rights of American-born students. At the Equal Protection Project, we are gratified that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is acting on our complaints regarding scholarships that excluded American-born students.”

    The Department of Education also is planning to investigate the colleges for other scholarships detailed in the complaint that provide funding to undergraduate LGBTQ+ students of color, Hispanic students, Native American students, African American students and other underrepresented student groups.

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  • Scholarships for LGBT+ Students

    Scholarships for LGBT+ Students

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    The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBT+) community and its allies have made significant strides toward equality in the past few years. The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 and LGBT+ adoption in 2016 were huge. But discriminatory laws aren’t the only challenge faced by people who identify as LGBT+.

    Members of this community are more likely to experience hate crimes than any other group, for example. Similarly horrifying: LGBT+ high schoolers are more likely to suffer rapes and attacks than their peers. They may experience bullying, depression, name-calling, and feelings of uncertainty or shame before or after coming out.

    On a smaller scale, but still important: These students may struggle to find an LGBT+-identifying role model, like a teacher, mentor, or guidance counselor, and miss out on specific resources and support in school. It’s not uncommon for these students to get behind in their learning.

    Some organizations are not only recognizing these challenges, but encouraging LGBT+ students to continue their education despite the adversity. How? Scholarships! There are hundreds out there, and you might meet the requirements for some open to LGBT+ students.

    For students across the nation who are making the world better for the LGBT+ community:

    • The League Foundation has five scholarships for LGBT+ students. It evaluates applicants based on their leadership roles in LGBT+ activities, among other criteria. Applications open in January and close in April each year. Students will be required to submit their transcripts, two personal essays, two letters of recommendation, and proof of acceptance to an accredited North American institution.
    • The Point Foundation values applicants who demonstrate leadership and service to the LGBT+ community. High-achieving students who demonstrate financial need receive priority. The application will open on November 1 and close in January.
    • The Queer Foundation invites LGBT+ high school seniors to participate in an essay contest; the prize for winning is a $1,000 scholarship to study queer theory or a related field at a U.S. institution. Its theme changes from year to year, but the foundation always evaluates essays on their arguments, grammar, and originality.
    • Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapters around the country award scholarships to LGBT+ students (and their allies) who are making the world a better place. Requirements and awards vary based on location.

    For residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington:

    The Pride Foundation offers more than 60 scholarships for students pursuing postsecondary education, and each values something different. LGBT+ students with well-defined academic interests, leadership experience, and significant financial need may find an opportunity for themselves. Students are considered residents if they have lived in one of the above states for at least three months prior to the application deadline or if they lived in one of the above states for at least one year within the past five years. This year’s application will open on October 11.

    For residents of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York:

    The LIVE OUT LOUD Educational Scholarship recognizes graduating high school seniors with financial need and a proven track record of leadership and community service. Students can earn up to $10,000 by completing an application, submitting two letters of recommendation, writing two essays, and participating in an interview.

    For students who don’t mind doing a little digging:

    The above list of LGBT+ scholarships is nowhere near exhaustive. In fact, there are hundreds of scholarships for students who identify as LGBT+, and some opportunities are very specific. There are some for LGBT+ students studying aviation or law, for example, and others for students attending specific colleges.

    The following websites maintain databases of these hundreds of opportunities. Sure, it may require a little digging to find the right scholarships for you, but just think of the payoff!

    For students who want to expand their funding options outside of LGBT+-related scholarships:

    To increase your chances of getting a scholarship, apply, apply, apply! Once you’ve scouted out LGBT+-specific scholarships, remember that the search doesn’t have to be over. There are scholarships abound for students of specific cultural backgrounds, races, religions, and genders. You may also qualify for scholarships open to students from your local community or the college you have chosen. Do a Google search, talk to your counselor, and don’t stop applying!

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