Scholarship Opportunities to help fund the journey after HLS

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Below is a list of local, state, and national third-party scholarships and contests available to high school students. Occasionally college specific scholarships will be listed. Each scholarship listed begins with a grade designation to denote which grade level(s) are eligible to apply or participate. Other descriptions in the grade designation may be given to determine a student’s interest and clarify his or her eligibility to the scholarship or contest. Scholarships are listed in order of due-date / deadline (scholarship resources / search engines are listed at the top of the page).


  • Scholarship Resource:  Community Foundation of Louisville offers a variety of scholarships through competitive application processes. 
    • Award:  varies 
    • Deadline: varies
    • To learn about scholarship opportunities through the Community Foundation of Louisville, please click  here

  • Scholarship Resource:The Center for Scholarship Administration (CSA) offers a variety of scholarships on behalf of corporations, foundations, and individual philanthropists. Students should look for corporations or foundations that they may have a parent or grandparent employed by or participating in (respectively) on this list. 
    • Award:  varies 
    • Deadline: varies
    • To learn about CSA please visit the website of the Center for Scholarship Administration here

  • Scholarship Resource: Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority KHEAA offers a range of scholarships and grants and resources to search for them here.

  • Scholarship Resource: Fastweb’s Top Scholarships for High School Seniors Class of 2024: to view click here.

  • Students who are dependents of the United States Coast Guard enlisted or commissioned officer who are active duty, reserve, or retired: Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship
    • Awards vary
    • Deadline: varies, scholarships are now being posted for the 2025 year.
    • To learn more, please click here.

  • 12th graders pursuing a non-performing, visual-art-related major within 1st year of college: Louisville Artisan Guild Art Scholarship 
    • Award: one-time award of $2,000 
    • Deadline: February 14, 2025
    • To learn about the Louisville Artisan Guild Art Scholarship, please click  here

  • 4th-12th grade: Sons of the American Revolution Youth Contests 
    • Award: $200-$8,000 (non-finalist national contestants to runner ups and National First Place)
    • Deadline: February 15, 2025
    • To learn about the national level of the essay contest please click here; deadline February 15, 2025.
    • To learn about the national level of the oration contest please click here: new dates not yet available.
    • To learn more about Youth Activities at the state level please click here: new dates not yet available.
    • Please email all questions to Scott Giltner, President of KY SAR at stgilt@earthlink.net

  • 12th graders:Independence Bank Scholarship 
    • Award:  Awards range from $500 to $15,000. 
    • Deadline:  February 24, 2025 at 5pm CST.
    • To learn about Independence Bank Scholarship and access the application, please click: http://www.1776bank.com/scholarships

  • 9th-12th graders:The Rotary Club of Louisville Annual Speech Contest “The Magic of Rotary”
    • Details: Speech theme: The Magic of Rotary; length: 5-8 minutes; delivery: notes may be used at the first level, but memorization preferred w/ no notes
    • allowed at subsequent levels (use will result in significant deductions).
    • Award:  $300, $200, and $100 awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at club level. First place winners at club level may advance to sectionals, regionals, and finals (district); prize money increases at each level up to the district-wide level where first place wins $1,000 ($500 to 2nd & 3rd place). Total award possible: $2200
    • Deadline to register:  Students must submit the entry form found here to their College Counselor by March 1, 2025
    • When: Contest is March 12 at 4:15pm
    • To learn about the Rotary Club of Louisville, please click here.  
    • To learn about the Annual Speech Contest, please click here

  • 9th-12th graders: Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest from Fastweb
    • Award: $10,000
    • Deadline to apply: March 3, 2025
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • Those graduating from high school in 2025 or have already graduated from high school, seeking higher education, who have been diagnosed with epilepsy or has an immediate family member living with epilepsy: UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program
    • Award: A one-time award of $5,000 (30 winners) or $10,000 (3 winners)
    • Deadline: March 15, 2025.
    • To learn more and register to apply, please click here.

  • 12th graders: Commonwealth Credit Union Scholarship
    • Award: One-time award of $2,000 (4 winners each year)
    • Deadline: All submissions must be uploaded by 11:59 pm March 31, 2025. Students must be the primary on their Commonwealth Credit Union account by March 31, 2025.
    • To learn about the CCU Scholarship please click here.

  • 12th graders: Build a Better Future Scholarship from Honors Graduation
    • Award: $10,000 to the top 5 winners and an additional $5,000 to the top winner to continue to fund their project
    • Deadlines: Strategy Plan must be submitted on March 3, 2025; Final Application on April 7, 2025
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 12th graders who are Roman Catholic with either Italian Descent or has a parent or grandparent who is a member of the “Italian Catholic Federation with a 3.2 GPA and higher: Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship
    • Award: first-year scholarship award of $400 will be awarded to approximately 150 applicants. First year scholarship winners are eligible for second, third, and fourth year awards of $500, $600, and $1,000 respectively.
    • Deadline: April 1, 2025
    • To learn more and monitor this year’s scholarship posting, please click here.

  • 12th graders and older who plan to attend an accredited college / university in the U.S. (DAR chapter sponsorship not required): Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
    • Award: ranges from $1,500 – $5,000 (renewable)
    • Deadline: Dates vary.
    • Scholarships include: merit scholarships, history/government intended major scholarships, medical and nursing intended major scholarships, music intended majors, horticulture intended major scholarship, math intended major scholarship, English intended major scholarship, and more!
    • To learn more about available scholarships and how to apply, please click here.

  • 12th graders: Abbott & Fenner Scholarship Program Essay Competition
    • Award: $1,000
    • Deadline: June 10, 2025
    • To learn more and apply please, click here.

  • 12th graders (student athletes): BigSun Scholarship through FastWeb
    • Award: $500
    • Deadline: June 19, 2025
    • To learn more and apply please, click here.


  • KY Rising 11th graders whose school participates in KEES: Promote Your School Essay Contest
    • Award: $500 and a photo shoot
    • Deadline: The 2024 scholarship is now closed check back for 2025 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here.

  • Young adults between the ages of 16-22: Essay Contest by The Gospel Coalition
    • Award: First place winners are published on The Gospel Coalition website and receive $500
    • Deadline: The 2024 scholarship is now closed check back for 2025 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here.

  • 9th-12th graders: RONALD REAGAN Debate – Regional Competitions (formerly The Reagan Foundation’s Great Communicator Debates )
    • Award: $50,000 Scholarship Money Awarded
    • Deadline: The 2024 scholarship is now closed check back for 2025 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here (listed halfway down page).

  • 10th-12th graders: Breakthrough Junior Challenge (partners: Khan Academy and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
    • Award: $100,000+ post-secondary scholarships
    • Deadline: The 2024 scholarship is now closed check back for 2025 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here.


  • 5th-12th graders: Ronald Reagan Oratory Competition
    • Award: Free to participate and winner receives free trip to the finals (more info to come)
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here.
    • To apply, please click here.

  • 12th graders who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree: The Dellums SMART (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) Scholarship from the Department of Defense’s Scholarship-for-Service Program
    • Award: Recipients of either scholarship receive full tuition, annual stipends, health and book allowances, mentorship, and conduct internships at a DoD facility.
    • Important Eligibility Details: All applicants should be pursuing a degree in one of SMART’s 24 STEM disciplines, see here.
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more, please click here and here.
    • Register to apply HERE.

  • 11th graders (graduating Spring 2026) interested in public policy:  Coolidge Scholarship through the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation 
    • Award:  The top 100 applicants are invited to the all-expense paid Coolidge Senators Program and awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The top winner receives a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship. 
    • Click here to view the full list of criterion to participate. Click here to view past winners.
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn about the Coolidge Scholarship, please click  here.

  • 12th graders who are MATHCOUNTS alumni and will be enrolled in an accredited college/university:  2025 MATHCOUNTS Alumni Scholarship
    • Award: $3,000 award will be paid directly to the scholarship recipient’s (community) college or university.
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 12th graders who apply and are accepted to Colorado Christian University by December 16, 2024 (who are also eligible to receive CCU’s Distinguished Achievement or Trustees’ Scholarship): World Changers Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition
    • Details: Apply for free to Colorado Christian University ccu.edu/apply CCU will review your
      eligibility and send you a formal invitation with additional details.
    • Award: Full tuition to CCU
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more please click here.

  • 12th graders: GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
    • Award: up to $10,000 renewable (totaling worth $40,000 over 4 years)
    • Deadline to apply: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 9th-12th graders: The 5th District of the American Legion and 5th District Oratorical Chairperson Steven Martin invites high school students of Jefferson, Oldham, and Trimble Counties to compete in the 2025 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
    • Details: The subject in the prepared oration portion of the contest must be about some phase of the Constitution of the United States, emphasizing the duties and obligations of a citizen to the U. S. government. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must be 8-10 minutes in length. Each contestant will also speak 3-5 minutes on one of four assigned topics. For more information email Mrs. Breland.
    • Award: $500 scholarship money and earn a trip to the Area competition in Lawrenceburg, KY in February (date TBD) for additional scholarship opportunities. Elimination rounds can lead to college scholarships of $25,000, $22,500, and $20,000 awarded to the first through third places in the national finals. National Contest is held at Hillsdale College. Each state winner who competes in the first round of the national contest will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Participants in the second round who do not advance to the national final round will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship.
    • Location & date of contest: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.

  • 12th grade athletes who are KY residents, their school is a member of the All “A” Classic, & are planning to attend one of the below post-secondary institutions in KY full-time: The All “A” Classic Scholarship
    • KY Institutions: EKU, Murray, Morehead, Lindsey Wilson, Union, Campbellsville, Cumberlands, Thomas More, Somerset KCTCS
    • Award: $1,000 toward public / private colleges / universities or vocational / technical schools. Funds will be disbursed directly to students upon proof of enrollment.
    • Deadline: The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • Interview Date if selected: Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Eastern Kentucky University’s Carl Perkins Building
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 9th-12th graders: Statewide Essay Contest for Kentucky Students from the office of Secretary of State, Michael Adams
    • Prompt & instructions: “What can Kentuckians do to ensure that voters are well informed on policies and candidates?” Students should limit their essays to 1,000 words.
    • Award: winners will receive prizes and be honored in a public ceremony.
    • Deadline: 5 p.m. (EST) Friday, January 31, 2025 The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • Submit by mail or online.
    • For more information please click here.

  • 6th-8th graders: Statewide Slogan Contests for Kentucky Students from the office of Secretary of State, Michael Adams
    • Contest Instructions: suggest a slogan that encourages voters to be well informed about policies and candidates.  
    • Award: winners will receive prizes and be honored in a public ceremony.
    • Deadline: 5 p.m. (EST) Friday, January 31, 2025 The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • Submit by mail or online.
    • For more information please click here.

  • 12th graders + pursuing continuing education and living with Myasthenia Gravis or who have an immediate family member living with the condition: The UCB Myasthenia Gravis Scholarship
    • Award: $10,000 toward your continuing education / learning new skills educational expenses
    • Deadline: February 5, 2025 The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 11th grade girls interested in combining the opportunity to earn college scholarships with professional development and Life Skills training to prepare for life after high school: Distinguished Young Women DYW Scholarship Program
    • What: DYW mission-to empower young women to reach their full potential by providing scholarship opportunities for college & personal development to become confident leaders.
    • When: Information meeting from this past fall can be viewed here with passcode: d?Pt6#nK. Orientation occurs January 26, 2025. The 2025 application is now closed, please monitor for 2026 updates.
    • How: Junior girls, watch for invites emailed from your College Counselor; the program involves attending meetings / workshops for 6-7 weeks through the winter and early spring and attending a dress rehearsal and final showcase on March 14-15, 2025.
    • Learn more and apply here.