Money for college you can win before you graduate.

Can I enter?

• Be female in gender identity
• Be in 11th grade or below as of March 1 of the contest year (March 1, 2026 for Math Prize 2026), and not be due to graduate high school or start full-time college before the contest
• Live in the United States or Canada (U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents living elsewhere may apply)
• Have taken an official AMC 10 or AMC 12 exam the previous November (November 2025 for Math Prize 2026)
• No student may win more than $100,000 over multiple years

What do I make or send in?

• The online application, giving your official scores on the AMC 10/12 exam(s) you took (and your AIME score if you took it); scores are verified with the MAA
• No essay, transcript or recommendation is listed

How it works, step by step

1. Take an official AMC 10 or AMC 12 exam in November
2. Submit the online application with your AMC scores by the deadline (May 31 for the 2026 contest)
3. By July 1 applicants are told whether they are invited; the top 300 applicants by score are invited
4. Sit the Math Prize exam in the fall at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Sunday, October 11, 2026 for the 2026 contest)

What to do now

• Take the AMC 10 or AMC 12 in November of the school year before the contest - it is required to apply (arranged through an AMC contest manager, usually a math teacher at your school)
• Keep your official AMC score(s) for the application
• The sponsor posts its tests from previous years

Can I enter?

• Be a high school student in grades 9-12
• Attend school in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories, or be a U.S. citizen/lawful permanent resident attending high school overseas
• Public, private, parochial and home-schooled students may enter
• Students whose parents are in the Foreign Service are not eligible
• Previous first-place winners and immediate family of AFSA, Semester at Sea and National Student Leadership Conference directors or staff are not eligible (past honorable mentions and runners-up may enter)

What do I make or send in?

• An essay of 1,000 to 1,500 words on the year's topic (2025-2026 topic: 'The Fragile Front Line: U.S. Diplomacy and the Future of Soft Power'); word count excludes the source list
• Format: typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins, MLA style, uploaded as a Microsoft Word file with a title; no last name or school name on the essay pages
• A bibliography/list of sources, including at least three primary sources; general encyclopedias such as Wikipedia are not acceptable
• The online registration form, including the name of a teacher or sponsor and the essay's word count
• An on-camera video of 30 seconds to 1 minute answering set questions about the essay, shared by link

How it works, step by step

1. Write the essay to the rules and record the short video
2. Fill out the online registration form and upload the essay and source list
3. Qualifying essays go through several rounds of blind judging
4. Winner, runner-up and honorable mentions are notified in June

What to do now

• Read AFSA's Essay Contest Study Guide for background on the U.S. Foreign Service
• Ask a teacher or sponsor to be named on the registration form and to review the essay
• Use a variety of sources with at least three primary sources; websites should not be the only sources

Can I enter?

• Citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Under age 20 on the date of the national contest
• Currently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or home school) whose curriculum is high school level, grades 9 through 12
• Must live in, or attend school in, the department (state) where you enter, and can enter through only one department
• Students who graduate early during the school year can compete if they are not enrolled in college or another institution of higher learning at the time of the department finals
• The three finalists of a national contest cannot compete again

What do I make or send in?

• A prepared oration of 8 to 10 minutes on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen's duties and obligations to our government, delivered without notes, lectern, amplification, prompting or props
• An assigned-topic speech of 3 to 5 minutes on a constitutional topic drawn at the contest about five minutes before you speak
• Appropriate business attire; uniforms are not permitted

How it works, step by step

1. Competition begins at the American Legion post level
2. It advances to a state (department) competition; each department arranges the contests leading up to its finals
3. Each department certifies one winner to the national contest
4. At nationals, department winners compete in two speaking rounds, then a final round decides the top three
5. The 2027 National Finals are May 14-16 at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan; the Legion pays travel and lodging for department winners and their chaperones

What to do now

• The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest
• The 2027 assigned topics are the Preamble; Article VI Paragraph 2; Amendment XIV Section 3; and Amendment XXII Section 1 - you must be ready to speak on any of them
• Quotations of more than 10 words need the author's name in the manuscript and cited orally
• A chaperone over 21 years of age must accompany each contestant at nationals

Can I enter?

• Anthem contest: all middle and high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older
• The Fountainhead contest: all middle and high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older
• Atlas Shrugged contest: all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide
• All participants must be enrolled in school during the contest period

What do I make or send in?

• An original essay responding to each of the chosen contest's prompts, about the Ayn Rand novel for that contest

How it works, step by step

1. Select the contest that matches your grade level and the novel you want to write about
2. Read the novel
3. Create an account and submit your application
4. Write and submit an essay for each of the contest's prompts before the contest deadline

What to do now

• You must read the novel for your contest (Anthem, The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged) before writing

Can I enter?

• Age-based, not grade-based: 13 or older by May 11, 2026 and not older than 18 (not yet 19) as of October 1, 2026
• Open worldwide, including homeschooled students; entries must be in English
• Students who meet the age limits can enter even if already enrolled in college
• Individuals only - you must be the sole creator of your submission
• One entry per person
• Minors need a parent's or legal guardian's permission to enter

What do I make or send in?

• An original video of 2:00 minutes or less explaining a theory, concept or principle in physics, life sciences or mathematics, submitted as a YouTube link
• An online application with a short questionnaire about yourself, your school and your chosen topic
• The name of a teacher (current or past teacher or tutor; not a parent, sibling or grandparent)
• A government-issued document verifying age and nationality (birth certificate, state ID, country ID or passport)
• Scores for at least five other contestants' videos during the Peer-to-Peer Review

How it works, step by step

1. Sign up on the Challenge website and complete the application (opened May 11, 2026)
2. Submit the application and video by September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT
3. Score at least five other submissions in the Peer-to-Peer Review by September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT
4. Administrative review, then the Evaluation Panel scores and judges the top 75 submissions
5. Challenge staff verify up to 30 submissions selected by the Evaluation Panel
6. Popular Vote names a Popular Vote Top Scorer and 7 Regional Champions; finalists are posted
7. The Selection Committee decides which finalists advance to the final phase; the winner is announced on a date set by the sponsor

What to do now

• Videos are judged on engagement, illumination, creativity and difficulty
• The topic must fit physics, life sciences or mathematics, or the entry may be disqualified
• You must name a teacher in the application, so choose one before applying
• Have a government-issued proof of age ready

Can I enter?

• Be a US citizen or US-based young person between the ages of 13 and 19
• Be enrolled in middle or high school on January 1, 2027
• Open to students in all U.S. states, territories and Armed Forces Schools Abroad
• Past winners of the Grand, First, Second or Third Prize are not eligible
• One student per entry by design, but groups of up to five may submit a single group entry

What do I make or send in?

• A service, volunteer or entrepreneurial project that addresses a challenge in your community
• A pitch video
• An impact summary
• Project visuals

How it works, step by step

1. Identify a challenge in your community and carry out a project to address it
2. Submit the project through the online portal (only portal submissions are accepted)
3. Winners receive a cash prize and recognition in the Community Impact showcase

What to do now

• Run the community project itself before the April deadline - the entry reports on a project you have led
• Keep visuals and results from the project for the impact summary, video and project visuals

Can I enter?

• Be in the high school graduating Class of 2028 (students on a gap year who will start university with the Class of 2028 may also apply)
• Minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
• Be a full citizen of the United States
• Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university for the academic year after high school graduation
• Show excellence in extracurricular activities, leadership, and community service or civic involvement
• Not be related to, or have a pre-existing relationship with, Foundation staff, board or Selection Committee members
• Merit-based: financial need is not considered

What do I make or send in?

• Two letters of recommendation - one from school-affiliated personnel (teacher, administrator, counselor, coach), one from someone who has made a significant impact on your life; not from a parent or legal guardian; no more than two
• Transcript (unofficial copy accepted)

How it works, step by step

1. Apply online once the application opens; the application cannot be saved and resumed, so draft answers elsewhere first
2. Make sure both recommendations and the transcript arrive by the deadline (uploaded in the application or emailed to the Foundation); incomplete applications are not reviewed
3. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the application closes at 3,000 completed, eligible applications or on the deadline, whichever comes first
4. All applicants are notified of their status by September 15
5. About 100 Finalists get face-to-face interviews in the Fall of 2027, typically at the applicant's high school
6. Recipients are announced in December 2027

What to do now

• Apply early: the application closes as soon as 3,000 complete, eligible applications are received
• Draft responses in a separate document - the system cannot save an application in progress
• Give two recommenders plenty of time; no extensions are offered and late transcripts or recommendations are not accepted
• If your school does not use a 4.0 scale, convert your GPA with the scale in the Foundation's FAQ

Can I enter?

• Currently enrolled high school or home-schooled student attending school in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or select DoD schools, graduating during the 2026-2027 school year
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, refugee, asylee, Cuban-Haitian entrant or humanitarian parolee (the status must be held by the application deadline; pending applications do not count)
• Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution
• Able to verify a minimum overall B/3.0 GPA in high school coursework
• Not a child or grandchild of current employees, officers or owners of Coca-Cola bottling companies, The Coca-Cola Company, its divisions or subsidiaries
• Not already a high school graduate; students at American or expat schools abroad are not eligible
• Not need-based: applicants are evaluated on leadership, academics and service

What do I make or send in?

• Phase 1 online application: no essays, no transcript and no recommendations; the application includes sections for academic information (courses and grades) and school and community activities
• Phase 2 (Semifinalists only): essays, a transcript and a recommendation (topics, lengths and who writes the recommendation are not stated on the public pages)
• Phase 3 (Regional Finalists only): an interview with Coke Scholar alumni and staff

How it works, step by step

1. Phase 1: complete the online application on the Foundation's portal between August 3 and September 30 (online only; no mailed or emailed applications)
2. By the end of October all applicants are notified; about 1% (about 1,200) are named Semifinalists
3. Phase 2: Semifinalists complete a second application due in November
4. Phase 3: 250 Regional Finalists interview in late January or early February
5. Phase 4: 150 Regional Finalists are invited in April to the required Coke Scholars Weekend in Atlanta to confirm selection

What to do now

• Apply at the very start of senior year: the application is open only August 3 to September 30
• Have your high school courses and grades and your school and community activities ready to enter (the Phase 1 application asks for them)
• Do not send extra transcripts, essays or recommendation letters; the Foundation says it does not accept supplemental material

Can I enter?

• Senior standing: complete four years of high school in the U.S., a U.S. territory or on a U.S. military base and plan to graduate in spring 2027
• Intend to enroll in an accredited four-year college beginning in fall 2027
• Minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75
• Must have taken and must submit a score from at least one of SAT, ACT, AP or IB (no minimum score)
• Unmet financial need: family income up to $95,000 is considered (last year's new scholars averaged about $42,000)
• U.S. citizenship is not required, but you must reside in the U.S. or a U.S. territory and attend all four years of high school in the U.S.
• Gap-year students and GED holders are not eligible

What do I make or send in?

• Common App general sections (contact information, school, grades, activities and honors) with Jack Kent Cooke Foundation added like a college
• Cooke-specific questions: eligibility, test score(s), several short essays, extracurricular activities and honors, intended major, financial information
• Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from federal tax returns for the past three years (or estimates with an explanation if no return was filed)
• Two academic recommendations: one from an 11th grade teacher in a core academic subject, one from another core subject teacher or professor who has worked with you since ninth grade
• One counselor recommendation from your high school counselor (or principal/other school official if there is no counselor)
• School Report submitted by your counselor through Common App
• Transcript (see notes: one page says unofficial, the FAQ says official via the counselor)
• Self-reported standardized test score(s): SAT, ACT, AP or IB
• A statement of any generative AI use in the application

How it works, step by step

1. Create a Common App account and add 'Jack Kent Cooke Foundation' as one of your colleges
2. Invite your counselor and two teachers as recommenders in Common App
3. Submit by November 11, 2026
4. January 2027: semifinalists announced (an official transcript may be requested); the Foundation conducts a full financial review during selection
5. March 2027: scholarship recipients announced

What to do now

• Take at least one of the SAT, ACT, an AP exam or an IB exam before applying; a score is required
• Ask an 11th grade core-subject teacher for a recommendation (one of the two must come from an 11th grade teacher)
• Gather your family's federal tax returns for the past three years (AGI for each year is required)
• Write the essays yourself: the Foundation expects responses to be wholly your own and asks you to report any AI use

Can I enter?

• Current high school juniors only (or the equivalent if home schooled), intending to enroll full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university for the first time in fall 2028
• Citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States by the 2026-27 scholarship deadline (those attending high school abroad may apply)
• Juniors taking some courses at a local college are eligible
• Not eligible: seniors, juniors graduating early in spring 2027, and juniors planning a gap year
• Cannot be the immediate family member of a current employee, trustee, or significant donor of the Coolidge Foundation or Fund

What do I make or send in?

• The online application, including essays; the second and third essay questions require reading The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge
• Two letters of reference, each from one individual who is not a family member or a peer; each letter at most 1,200 words, uploaded by the writer
• A high school transcript (an unofficial copy is accepted), with GPA and class rank information
• An Honesty Statement

How it works, step by step

1. Complete the online application; it is live for the 2026-27 cycle
2. Submit all materials, including the letters of reference, by December 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time
3. Late January 2027: all applicants learn whether they advance to the Second Assessment Round
4. Late January/early February 2027: the virtual Second Assessment - an additional extended-response essay and a multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank test on President Coolidge
5. Spring 2027: finalists are invited to Finalist Interview Weekend in Vermont, with travel and lodging covered for the finalist and one parent
6. All applicants are informed of the outcome by June 1, 2027

What to do now

• Read The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge before writing; older editions are acceptable and can be found at most libraries
• Ask your two letter writers for permission before listing them; you may submit your application before their letters arrive
• Academic excellence is the primary selection criterion; the secondary criteria are interest in public policy, appreciation of Coolidge values, humility and service
• Use parenthetical citations in essays rather than a bibliography

Can I enter?

• Age-based, not grade-based: 18 or younger as of the application deadline, with no minimum age; students at any grade level may apply
• U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or Permanent Resident of the United States residing in the United States, or stationed overseas due to active U.S. military duty
• Must have completed a significant piece of work in one of the categories (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Outside the Box) and be able to show it is your own
• Projects are expected to be at, or close to, the college graduate level; not geared toward students at the novice level
• Teams of no more than two people are allowed; both must meet the requirements and the scholarship is split evenly
• Not eligible: community service projects, literature reviews, projects with no data, projects involving live vertebrates, and arts such as photography, sculpture, film and visual arts
• Must be available to attend, with one parent or guardian, the awards reception in Washington, DC in September (travel and lodging provided)
• Named Davidson Fellows cannot reapply; other applicants may reapply with a different or expanded work

What do I make or send in?

• An initial application portion with a brief description of the project or portfolio, used to check eligibility
• The required elements for your one chosen category (the Literature category requires three entries; other category checklists are downloads and were not confirmed here)
• Two nominator forms from two different nominators who are not family members
• One parent approval form (one per team member for teams)
• The Attachments listed for the category; all application materials must be typed
• Disclosure, by both applicant and nominators, of any paid research program used

How it works, step by step

1. Check eligibility and review your category's requirements
2. Teams of two must email the Fellows program before starting the application
3. Submit the initial portion of the online application; it is held for review for 1-2 business days
4. Once approved, complete part two: enter your nominators' information and send them their forms, send a parent the approval form, and upload all category requirements
5. Applications are checked for completeness, then evaluated by an independent team of judges with expertise in the field
6. All applicants are notified on or before July 15

What to do now

• Submit the initial portion as early as possible so you and your nominators have more time
• Choose nominators using the sponsor's sample nominating form, and give them time to complete it
• Google products (Google Docs and videos) are not accepted as file types
• All submissions are run through plagiarism detection and AI-generated text detection software

Can I enter?

• Current high school senior, or the equivalent; high school graduates are not eligible
• U.S. citizen on the date the application is submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify
• Does not need to be related to a member of the Elks
• Must enroll in a four-year undergraduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college or university, full-time (a two-year college for the first two years of a four-year program is acceptable)
• No minimum or maximum income, but financial need is scored
• Home-schooled students are eligible

What do I make or send in?

• Counselor Report completed by your counselor (the application is not 'Complete' until it is in)
• ACT/SAT scores are not required
• Quarter Finalists (January): transcript and FAFSA Submission Summary
• National Semi-Finalists (March): updated application information, an additional essay and a teacher's evaluation

How it works, step by step

1. Apply online through the ISTS portal by November 12, 2026 (program code ElksMVS if prompted)
2. Applications advance through local Lodge, district and state levels to reach the national competition
3. Late December 2026: applicants advancing from Lodge selection are notified
4. Mid-January 2027: applicants advancing to Quarter Finalist judging upload transcript and FAFSA Submission Summary
5. March 2027: 500 National Semi-Finalists are notified and submit an additional essay and a teacher's evaluation
6. Top 20 finalists attend a mandatory Leadership Weekend in Chicago, April 29 to May 2, 2027 (expenses covered); 500 national winners announced in April 2027

What to do now

• Use a personal email address when applying; the sponsor warns some high school email domains block outside email
• Ask your counselor early for the Counselor Report and monitor that the application status reaches 'Complete'
• File the FAFSA: Quarter Finalists must upload a FAFSA Submission Summary in January
• Male and female students compete separately
• Applicants are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need

Can I enter?

• Age-based, not grade-based: between the ages of 8 and 18 (not yet age 19) on the annual application deadline of April 15
• Permanent, legal resident of the U.S. or Canada with a social security number or valid tax i.d. number, currently residing in the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, or Canada (residents of U.S. territories are not eligible)
• Has organized and led an extraordinary service activity that is clearly benefitting other people or the planet (research projects that are already helping can qualify)
• The service activity must have been initiated primarily by the applicant and cannot have been done solely for a school or work assignment
• Currently working on the service project, or has done so within the past 12 months
• Applies as an individual, or as one of no more than two co-applicants

What do I make or send in?

• Step 1: an online pre-application form
• Step 2: the full online application, which includes a Project Summary and a Project Essay
• A letter from a Lead Reference - an adult advocate (for example a teacher, librarian, school counselor, youth service official or religious leader) with solid knowledge of your activities
• Two additional letters of recommendation; no family member may write any of the three letters, and the references must submit them through the online system
• Parental consent if you will be under 16 on the April 15 deadline
• Optional: up to five supplemental materials or links

How it works, step by step

1. Complete the pre-application (Step 1) by March 15, 5 PM Mountain Time
2. Within 10 days you are told by email whether you are eligible to proceed
3. If eligible, complete the full online application (Step 2), including all three letters, by April 15, 5 PM Mountain Time
4. All applicants are emailed in early September about whether they were chosen

What to do now

• The prize does not accept nominations - the student applies, and an adult can offer to be the Lead Reference
• Line up three non-family references early, because they must upload their own letters before the April 15 deadline and incomplete applications are not considered

Can I enter?

• Enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
• Strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the U.S. immediately after high school (may start at a two-year institution and transfer)
• Financial need: adjusted gross family income of $100,000 or lower
• Involved in co-curricular and community service activities
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Minimum GPA of 2.0
• United States citizen (permanent residents do not qualify)
• No minimum SAT or ACT score

What do I make or send in?

• Online application (one application covers every Horatio Alger scholarship you are eligible for)
• Essay responses: describe your Horatio Alger story and share your American Dream experience (lengths not stated)
• Adversity section describing the adversities you have experienced
• Counselor Certification Form, completed online by your high school counselor (verifies GPA, class rank, coursework)
• Support Form, completed online by an adult over 21 who is not related to you and knows the adversities you wrote about
• High school transcript that includes your fall grades
• Income verification, most often your parents' tax form (W-2s, pay stubs, free/reduced lunch letters and state tax returns are not accepted)
• Recipients must later upload proof of U.S. citizenship

How it works, step by step

1. Review eligibility and click Apply Now during the application period (December 1 to March 1 for juniors)
2. Write the essay responses and complete the adversity section
3. Enter your counselor's email so they receive the Counselor Certification Form request, and confirm they got it
4. Enter your Support Form provider's email; once they confirm, the adversity section can no longer be edited
5. Upload the transcript and income verification through the online application (mail, email and fax are not accepted)
6. Only recipients are notified, by email and mail, in April/May

What to do now

• Finish and review your adversity section before asking the Support Form provider to confirm it; it locks after they submit
• Follow up with your counselor and provider: the sponsor warns school email systems often block the automatic request
• Get a copy of your parents' federal tax return, or request an IRS tax transcript if you cannot get one
• Wait for fall-semester grades to be on your transcript; the transcript must include them

Can I enter?

• Open to students of all races who identify as being of Hispanic heritage
• U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students
• Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university in the U.S. for the coming academic year (2026-2027 on the current page)
• Complete and submit the FAFSA for that academic year

What do I make or send in?

• FAFSA for the coming academic year (a stated eligibility requirement)

How it works, step by step

1. Create a profile and apply online at hsf.net (2026 cycle: profile available January 5, 2026)
2. Submit by the deadline (2026 cycle: February 15, 2026)
3. Finalist phase: March
4. Selection: June
5. Documents: June to November; awards in the fall

What to do now

• File the FAFSA for the year you will start college (required for eligibility)
• Keep your GPA at 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale (the minimum for high school students)

Can I enter?

• To receive the scholarships and cash awards: be a citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States
• Compete first in your regional symposium; national presenters are selected there

What do I make or send in?

• Original STEM research, presented as a research paper with an oral or poster presentation, with an abstract naming the major discipline

How it works, step by step

1. Find your Regional JSHS Symposium and register with it (no cost to the student)
2. Present your research at the regional symposium
3. The top five regional finalists are invited to the National Symposium, expenses paid: 1st and 2nd place present in the oral competition for scholarships, 3rd-5th in the poster competition for cash awards

What to do now

• Carry out an original research project in science, technology, engineering or mathematics before your region's deadline
• Read the Rules of Competition (the sponsor's stated next step after finding your region)

Can I enter?

• Be a United States high school student
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT (scores from the PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 are not considered)

What do I make or send in?

• PSAT/NMSQT scores - College Board sends them to NMSC automatically; a student cannot opt out of that

How it works, step by step

1. Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT at your high school (not through College Board); ask the school counselor in September
2. Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October; it is the initial screen of more than 1.3 million entrants each year

What to do now

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT itself - the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 do not count for National Merit
• College Board says 11th graders (and some 10th graders) take the PSAT/NMSQT in October; ask NMSC about eligibility if testing in another grade
• Talk to the school counselor in September about the school's PSAT/NMSQT registration

Can I enter?

• Be a student in grades 9 through 12 involved in technology
• Be 13 or older when creating an aspirations.org account
• Have parent/guardian approval by the approval deadline, unless 18 or older
• Be a member of the (free) AiC Community
• Attend a school in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or on a U.S. overseas military base
• Not be an NCWIT employee or an immediate family member of NCWIT staff, contractors or board members
• For a National Award only: be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or meet the substantial presence test, and have a U.S. Tax Identification or Social Security Number
• Past National Award Winners cannot win the national award again; others may reapply each year

What do I make or send in?

• Optional educator endorsement (a few multiple choice questions and a one-paragraph response, completed by one educator after you submit) - not required, but strongly recommended for national consideration

How it works, step by step

1. Join the AiC Community at aspirations.org (get parent/guardian approval if under 18)
2. Complete and submit the online application from your dashboard; it cannot be edited after submission
3. From the dashboard, request an endorsement from one educator
4. Applications are reviewed anonymously; every applicant is considered for both National and Regional Affiliate awards

What to do now

• Join the AiC Community first - it is required before you can apply
• If under 18, get parent/guardian approval by the approval deadline
• Tell an educator in advance that they will be asked for an endorsement; the sponsor suggests giving a non-school email address for them because school spam filters often block the request

Can I enter?

• Be under the age of 19 on October 1 of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 - September 30); there is no minimum age
• Not have completed high school or its equivalent

What do I make or send in?

• A speech on the assigned topic, entered through a local Optimist Club. 2026-2027 topic: 'How My Actions Strengthen Those Around Me'

How it works, step by step

1. Find your local Optimist Club (email programs@optimist.org; clubs cannot be matched until October 1) and enter its contest
2. Compete at the Club level - most Club-level contests are completed by late March
3. Advance to the District contest, where scholarships are awarded
4. District winners advance to the Oratorical Regional Championships and may qualify for the Oratorical World Championship

What to do now

• Contact the nearest Optimist Club for its entry deadline - deadlines vary by area
• Prepare a speech on the year's assigned topic

Can I enter?

• Be a currently enrolled student in grades 9-12 (8th graders in a 9th-12th grade class are an exception)
• Compete through a school or organization registered with the state Poetry Out Loud coordinator
• Homeschooled students may compete at a local school (at the school's discretion) or with other local homeschooled students
• Past National Champions may not compete again
• To receive prize money, state champions and runners-up must submit an IRS Form W-9 or W-8BEN

What do I make or send in?

• Nothing written - students recite poems from memory
• Poems must come from the official Poetry Out Loud Online Anthology
• For state and national finals: 3 poems prepared, one of 25 lines or fewer and one published before 1930 (one poem may meet both)

How it works, step by step

1. Take part in a classroom/school contest, or a local organization's contest, registered with your state arts agency
2. Winners advance to a regional and/or state competition; states hold theirs by mid-March
3. State champions go to the National Finals in Washington, DC (planned for April 26-28, 2027)
4. If your school is not participating, contact your state Poetry Out Loud coordinator about other ways into the state's official competition

What to do now

• Ask a teacher whether your school is registered with the state Poetry Out Loud coordinator; if not, contact the state coordinator
• Choose poems only from the current official Online Anthology (posted after September 1, 2026)
• Memorize the poems - props and costumes are not allowed
• For state level and beyond, prepare three poems meeting the length and pre-1930 criteria

Can I enter?

• Be a high school junior currently attending high school in the U.S., or a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living abroad
• International students living outside the U.S. are not eligible
• Typical (not absolute) profile: primarily A's in the most challenging courses available; top 5-10% of class
• Typical (not absolute) profile: household earning less than $65,000 a year for a household of four, with minimal assets
• There are no absolute cut-offs for GPA, test scores or income; applications are reviewed holistically
• Test scores are not required

What do I make or send in?

• Information on your academics, activities, household and financial background
• Writing section
• One teacher reference, from a high school teacher who recently taught you in a core academic class (English, History/Social Studies, Math, Science, Foreign Language) - you give the teacher's contact details; do not send recommendation letters
• Current high school transcript (unofficial accepted)
• Any standardized test score reports to date, if taken (PSAT, PreACT, SAT, ACT or AP; unofficial accepted)
• School Profile (strongly recommended if available)
• Optional Awards form with short essays, needed for summer program scholarships, Quest for Excellence Awards and personalized support

How it works, step by step

1. Create a QuestBridge account and start the free application; gather financial documents, transcript, test scores (if taken) and a School Profile (if available); ask a core subject teacher to be your reference
2. Submit the application by the deadline (a green check mark on your Manage page confirms it)
3. Complete the Awards form to be considered for summer programs, Quest for Excellence Awards and more
4. All applicants are notified of their status by late April; Quest for Excellence Award recipients are notified in late June

What to do now

• Have the previous year's tax returns, W-2s or other financial documents to hand (QuestBridge calls this highly recommended)
• Ask a core academic subject teacher to be your reference
• Get a current transcript and, if available, your school's School Profile

Can I enter?

• High school senior currently attending high school in the U.S., or a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living abroad; international students living outside the U.S. are not eligible
• Planning to attend college in the fall after senior year (entering as a full-time first-year student)
• Typical Finalists earn primarily A's in the most challenging courses offered
• Typical Finalists come from a household earning less than $65,000 a year (for a household of four) with minimal assets
• QuestBridge says there are no absolute cut-offs for GPA, test scores or income; applications are reviewed holistically
• Test scores are not required to apply (some partner colleges may require them)

What do I make or send in?

• Information on your academics, activities, household and financial background
• Writing section (short answers and essays; the prompts are inside the application and not published on the public pages)
• Two teacher recommendations from teachers of core academic subjects (English, History/Social Studies, Math, Science, Foreign Language), preferably from junior year
• School Report (the counselor recommendation) from your current high school counselor
• Most up-to-date high school transcript (unofficial copies accepted)
• School Profile (optional, but recommended)
• Standardized test score reports to date, if taken (SAT, ACT, IB, AP, English proficiency; unofficial reports accepted)
• Later, by October 15: Match Rankings Form and a Match Agreement Form signed by the applicant, a parent/guardian and the school counselor
• Finalists only: official documentation verifying finances and each ranked college's additional Match Requirements, sent to the colleges by November 1

How it works, step by step

1. Start the free National College Match application in late summer before senior year
2. Gather materials: recommenders, counselor, financial documents, transcript, test scores (if taken), School Profile
3. Submit the application by the October 1 deadline
4. October 2 to October 15: rank up to 15 partner colleges on the Match Rankings Form and upload the signed Match Agreement Form (ranking is a binding commitment, except at MIT)
5. October 21: Finalist decisions released
6. November 1: Finalists submit Match Requirements to each college they ranked
7. December 1: Match Day; matched Finalists are admitted early with the full four-year scholarship
8. Finalists who do not match can continue through QuestBridge Regular Decision (form due December 10)

What to do now

• Have the previous year's tax returns, W-2s or other financial documents on hand; QuestBridge says access to them is highly recommended to complete the application accurately
• Ask two core-subject teachers (preferably from junior year) to be recommenders, and add your counselor for the School Report
• Write and save essays and short answers in a document outside the application, as QuestBridge advises
• Know the Early Application Policy before ranking: applicants who rank colleges cannot apply elsewhere through Early Decision or Single-Choice/Restrictive Early Action
• High school juniors cannot apply; QuestBridge points 11th graders to its College Prep Scholars Program (application available in February of junior year)

Can I enter?

• Students in grades 9-12 or equivalent
• You cannot enter ISEF directly: you must compete in a Regeneron ISEF affiliated science fair and win the right to attend
• The project may include no more than 12 months of continuous research, and no research performed more than 18 months before the ISEF you compete in
• Projects must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research; the full eligibility rules are in that rulebook (PDF), not confirmed here

What do I make or send in?

• A research project entered in a Society-affiliated fair (22 categories at ISEF)
• The forms required by the International Rules, which document that the project followed the rules
• If you are named a finalist: a Finalist Questionnaire, due 12 calendar days after your fair date

How it works, step by step

1. Find a Society-affiliated fair in your area; students generally start at a local school fair and progress upward
2. Before experimenting, check the rules with your affiliated fair's Scientific Review Committee
3. Compete at the affiliated local, regional, state or national fair; each fair may send a pre-determined number of projects to ISEF
4. Finalists submit the Finalist Questionnaire within 12 calendar days of their fair
5. Compete at Regeneron ISEF 2027 in Los Angeles, California, May 8-14, 2027, where each entry is judged at least four times

What to do now

• Start from the affiliated fair that covers your area, because that is the only route to ISEF
• Ask rules questions before starting experiments - especially on vertebrate animals, human subjects or potentially hazardous biological agents
• Keep the research within the 12-month and 18-month limits

Can I enter?

• Living in and attending the last year of secondary school in the U.S. or its territories, regardless of citizenship (U.S. citizens living abroad may also qualify)
• Students at American schools abroad who are not U.S. citizens are not eligible
• The research must be independent and individual; team research is not eligible and a team project cannot be split
• The project must have data and results; ideas without results and literature reviews are not accepted
• Research from any year of high school is eligible
• Homeschooled students may enter
• Students who worked with a mentor may enter but need the mentor's permission to submit the research

What do I make or send in?

• Research Report: an original scientific paper of at most 20 pages describing an independent research project
• Educator Recommendation
• Project Recommendation
• High School Report (transcript), shared via your counselor
• Application sections about you, your research project, prior research projects, your activities and how you spend your time
• Short essays (questions are in a PDF of the 2027 Application Questions; not quoted here)
• Test scores (optional)
• Disclosures of all support received with the research project and application, including paid programs and any family or personal relationship with a mentor
• Rules paperwork where the research involves humans, vertebrate animals, cell lines or tissue, or hazardous biological agents

How it works, step by step

1. Complete the application in the online system between June 1 and November 5, 2026 (8 pm ET); recommendations are due at the same time
2. January 7, 2027: top 300 scholars announced
3. January 21, 2027: top 40 finalists announced
4. March 11 to 17, 2027: Finals Week in Washington, DC, with project judging and panel judging by PhD scientists
5. March 16, 2027: winners announced at the awards ceremony

What to do now

• Complete an independent research project with data and results before senior-year fall; the Society says this research frequently spans a year or more
• Get any needed pre-approvals before starting research involving humans, vertebrate animals, cell lines or tissue, or hazardous agents (STS rules differ from ISEF rules)
• Get your mentor's permission to submit the research
• Do not use generative AI to write application answers, draft the Research Report or generate citations (prohibited); disclose any AI use in the research
• Aim to submit by the Customer Support Deadline of November 4, 2026, 8 pm ET, which the Society strongly encourages

Can I enter?

• A teen in grades 7-12, age 13 and up
• Residing in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• Work must be original; a work whose final product is AI-generated is ineligible
• Works cannot be entered as a group collaboration
• Portfolio entries (and portfolio scholarships) are only for students in grade 12

What do I make or send in?

• Art or writing uploaded to the online portal in one of more than twenty categories; there are no pre-defined prompts
• An account with your name, date of birth, grade, school, email, phone number, and a parent/guardian name and email
• An entry fee or a fee waiver for each entry
• Seniors' portfolio: six works from one or several categories (art portfolios only art, writing portfolios only writing), plus personal statements
• For sponsored scholarships: tick the scholarship in the entry and add a personal statement of at least 50 words
• A statement of whether and how you used AI technologies

How it works, step by step

1. Create an account at portal.artandwriting.org; you are assigned to a regional program by your school zip code (home zip code if homeschooled or in a virtual school)
2. Pick a category and upload your work; you can credit one educator per work
3. Pay the entry fee or use a fee waiver, before your region's deadline
4. Regional judging: results on Regional Announcement Day, January 27, 2027
5. Gold Key works automatically advance to national judging; results on National Announcement Day, March 31, 2027
6. Gold Medalists are invited to the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City (National Awards Week June 8-11, 2027)

What to do now

• Find your own region's deadline - art and writing deadlines can differ, and late entries are not accepted
• Enter early: the portal is slowest in the last 24 hours before major regional deadlines
• Document your creative process in case the originality of the work is questioned
• If your school is not on the portal's list, request it early; adding a school takes around five business days

Can I enter?

• A high school senior
• Pell-eligible
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Plans to enroll full-time in a four-year degree program at a U.S. accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university
• The sponsor's 'ideal candidate' is in the top 10% of the graduating class and shows leadership through community service, extracurricular or other activities

What do I make or send in?

How it works, step by step

1. Create a profile and apply online (profile available July 15, 2026)
2. Submit the application by the September 15, 2026 deadline
3. Semifinalist phase: December 2026 to January 2027
4. Finalist interviews: March 2027
5. Selection: April 2027; awards July to September 2027

What to do now

• Check Pell eligibility with your family before applying (it is a basic requirement)
• The deadline falls in mid-September of senior year, earlier than most scholarships

Can I enter?

• Be a high school student in grades 9 through 12 (public, private or independent)
• Have reached the age of 15 by August 1 of the competition year
• Have conducted a water-related science project
• Be a resident of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico
• Enter alone or as a team of up to two students
• No science fair entry is needed - students may self-nominate

What do I make or send in?

• The online state competition entry form
• A research paper on a water-related science project, submitted electronically (no specific paper guidelines at state level; file no larger than 2MB)
• State winners: a paper meeting the National Paper Guidelines, a second online entry, and a presentation in the virtual national round

How it works, step by step

1. Do a water-related research project using accepted scientific methods (regional certificates are given at science fairs, but any qualifying student may self-nominate)
2. Enter the State Competition online by the deadline; a panel of water professionals picks one winning project per state
3. State winners are announced online in May and compete in a virtual national judging round; the top 20 go to an in-person final
4. The national winner represents the U.S. at the international competition in Stockholm during World Water Week in August

What to do now

• Check the age rule: 9th and 10th graders must have turned 15 by August 1 of the competition year
• Put the effort into the research paper - the sponsor says the paper is weighted much more heavily than the poster
• The sponsor encourages using the ISEF Rules Wizard to check safe handling processes

Can I enter?

• High school junior or senior who has not previously been a delegate to Washington Week or received a USSYP scholarship
• Must hold a qualifying elected or appointed leadership position for the entire 2026-2027 academic year - for example student body or class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer; Student Council representative; or a National Honor Society officer
• Positions that do not qualify include Boys/Girls State or Nation, membership (not office) in the National Honor Society, Scouts or sports teams, founder of a self-created group, and Mock Trial, Debate or Model UN roles
• Legal permanent resident or citizen of the United States at the time of application
• Living in and enrolled for the entire academic year in a public or independent high school in the state where at least one parent or guardian currently resides
• Home-educated students must be approved by their state department of education to apply
• A student who graduates high school at the close of the Fall 2026 semester / quarter is not eligible
• Must attend the entire Washington Week to receive the scholarship

What do I make or send in?

• Your state's USSYP application (each state has its own; the Senate and The Hearst Foundations do not provide it)
• In many states, a public affairs, government and history exam; states may also ask for additional essays and/or personal interviews
• If selected: a statement of participation including a code of conduct agreement signed by the student and parents/legal guardians

How it works, step by step

1. Get the application through your high school principal, school counselor or social studies teacher, or ask your state selection contact directly
2. Apply by your state's deadline; teachers and principals nominate qualified students starting in early fall
3. State-level education officials run the selection (the process varies by state)
4. The chief state school officer makes the final selection of two delegates and two alternates and submits the names by December 1, 2026
5. Delegates attend Washington Week, March 6-13, 2027

What to do now

• You must already hold a qualifying leadership position for the whole school year - check the list before applying
• For the exam, the sponsor advises studying the Constitution including the history of its drafting and all of the amendments, landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, American political history and foreign policy, and current elected and appointed officials
• Not all states use the exam, so check your state selection contact's page
• Parents/guardians must get the delegate to the nearest commercial airport or train station at their own expense

Can I enter?

• Students in grades 9 through 12

What do I make or send in?

• A recorded audio essay on the year's theme. The 2026-27 theme is "What a Veteran Taught Me About America."
• A completed 2026-2027 entry form

How it works, step by step

1. Download the 2026-2027 entry form from the VFW youth scholarships page
2. Find a local participating VFW Post to sponsor your entry
3. Turn in the audio essay and entry form to that Post by midnight, Oct. 31
4. A first place winner is named for each VFW Department (state); those winners receive a scholarship of at least $1,000 and the Valley Forge trip
5. National scholarships are awarded, with $35,000 for national first place

What to do now

• You must find a local participating VFW Post before the deadline, because entries go to the Post, not to VFW national

Can I enter?

• Be in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, as of December 1 of the application year (December 1, 2026 for the 2027 competition)
• Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (for example have a Social Security number or ITIN) at the time of applying
• If selected as an award winner with distinction, it must be your first time attending National YoungArts Week

What do I make or send in?

• An online application in one of ten disciplines: Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice or Writing
• Portfolio or audition materials as that discipline requires - video recordings, audio recordings, documents or images
• The $35 application fee per application, or a fee waiver letter

How it works, step by step

1. Check eligibility and choose a discipline and category; review its requirements
2. Complete the online application, upload all materials, and pay the fee or upload the fee waiver letter before the deadline
3. Applications go through multiple rounds of review by discipline-specific panels of artists
4. All applicants are notified of the decision by email

What to do now

• Review the discipline and category guidelines before preparing materials
• Do not wait until deadline day - uploads can be slow, and payment or the waiver must be processed before the deadline
• If the fee is a problem, get a short fee waiver letter (PDF) from a parent, guardian, teacher, counselor or principal