Over 20 totally available ‘last minute’ scholarships for fall 2016

Even if it is a little late in the game and many scholarship deadlines are long past, there are still a few generous organizations interested in giving money away to college-bound students this fall.

It may require persistence to find opportunities and some patience to sort out the requirements.

And be aware that late-deadline competitions can sometimes be little more than lotteries requiring applicants to sign-up for websites and mailing lists managed by sponsoring organizations. 

Nevertheless, we all agree extra cash comes in handy and once you practice preparing these kinds of applications, the work involved to enter is usually fairly trivial. In fact, you may find that you can dust-off a few of those college essays and re-purpose them for scholarship competitions.

So for those of you recently-graduated seniors who haven’t totally checked out for the summer, here are  over 20 ‘last minute’ scholarship opportunities:

1. Abbott and Fenner  offer $1,000 scholarships based on responses to an essay question that may sound very familiar if you’ve just completed the college application process.  The contest is open to all high school juniors and seniors as well as students currently registered in any accredited post-secondary institution.  Deadline:  June 10, 2016.
   
   
2. Four AmericanMuscle Automotive Scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing automotive-themed majors. Deadline:  June 15, 2016
   
   
3. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is offering a second “second chance” to win $1,000.  High school seniors must be willing to read an essay about fire sprinklers and take a quiz on what they’ve read.  For each question answered correctly, applicants will receive one entry into a drawing for one of five scholarships.  And if you miss a question, you can try again!  Deadline:  August 26, 2016.
   
   
4. AT&T Savings is offering the Internet and Education Scholarship. Simply create an original infographic showing how apps are helping students learn in unique ways outside of traditional classroom settings.  Deadline: June 14, 2016
   
   
5. Students who are enrolled or accepted for an undergraduate or graduate degree in a life science-related field are invited to apply by writing an essay on the topic, “The Future Application of Stem Cell Technologies in Neuroscience Research,” to compete in the Axol Science Scholarship. Deadline:  July 1, 2016.
   
   
6. The Big Sun Organization helps young athletes by offering one or more scholarships to deserving students based on a short essay answering a 3-part question.  All athletes are eligible to apply regardless of sport.  Deadline:  June 17, 2016.
   
   
7. The Bruce Lee Foundation Scholarship is open to students who 16 or older and planning to enroll at a 2- or 4-year college or trade/vocational school in the US. Applications are available online.  Deadline:  June 10, 2016.
   
   
8. College Jump Start is a scholarship offered to high school, college or non-traditional students.  The application requires an online application and a 250-word essay. Financial need is not considered.  Deadline:  October 17, 2016.
   
   
9. High school, undergrad and graduate students may enter the Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Contest by writing a 500-word essay.  Deadline:  June 30, 2016.
   
   
10. The Digital Privacy Scholarship is open to high school, college, and graduate students who complete a short form and finish the following statement in 140 characters or less:  “I’m taking responsibility for my digital profile by….”  Deadline:  June 30, 2016.
    
    
11. The Discountrue Scholarship is open to incoming and current college students. Applicants must submit an essay on a topic related to taking care of the planet.  Deadline: June 30, 2016.
    
    
12. The Educational Research Center of America (ERCA) Community Contribution Scholarship competition is open to high school students who recognized a need or problem in their community, determined a way to address this need or solve this problem, and worked to put an action plan in place.  For the 2016-17 academic school year, ERCA will be awarding $25,000 to 18 students throughout the country. The top prize will receive a $5,000 scholarship, two runners up will receive a $2,500 scholarship and 15 students will be awarded with a $1,000 scholarship for higher education expenses.  Deadline:  July 15, 2016.
    
    
13. The Society of Broadcast Engineers is offering several Ennes Scholarships to high school and college students aspiring to a career in the technical aspects of broadcasting.  Deadline: July 1, 2016
    
    
14. The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship is targeted to high school, undergrad, and graduate students and is based on a 250-word personal statement.  Applicants are encouraged to reuse an essay that was written in class, for college admission, or for another scholarship completion.  Deadline:  July 31, 2016.
    
    
15. High school seniors with a 3.5 GPA or higher are invited to apply for the LendingTree Scholarship by submitting an application together with a 200-word essay responding to a specific prompt.  Deadline:  July 15, 2016.
    
    
16. The IP Video Contest, sponsored by the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation, is open to students between the ages of 13 and 18, enrolled in an accredited secondary, college level or trade school. The competition requires contestants to creat a video answering one of several questions related to the patent system.  Deadline: July 1, 2016.
    
    
17. The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Scholarship is open to students who are homeless or who have been homeless during their school years, and who have demonstrated average or higher than average achievement.  Deadline:  June 17, 2016.
    
    
18. The National Foundation for Women Legislators together with the National Rifle Association will award six high school juniors or seniors $3000 college scholarships and all-expense-paid trips to NFWL’s 2015 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.  Deadline:  July 8, 2016.
    
    
19. The Navigate Your Future Scholarship sponsored by the National Air Transportation Association is open to graduating seniors planning careers in general aviation. Deadline: June 24, 2016.
    
    
20. The New York Ramblers Scholarship for Student Athletes is designed to support student athletes who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or intersex. Applicants are required to complete and submit an application including brief essays and two letters of recommendation.  Deadline: Noon on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
    
    
21. For the Shower Songs competition sponsored by DoSomething.org, applicants must make a five-minute playlist to remind friends to take shorter showers.  Deadline: June 30, 2015.
    
    
22. The Solar Action Alliance is offering a $1000 scholarship based on a 500-1000 word essay addressing the “future of solar.” Applicants must be or planning to be a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher education.  Deadline: July 1, 2016.