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. Each scholarship listed begins with a grade designation to denote which grade level(s) are eligible to apply or participate. Occasionally other descriptions in the grade designation will be given to determine a student’s interest and clarify his or her eligibility to the scholarship or contest. 


  • 12th graders: GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
    • Award: up to $10,000 renewable (totaling worth $40,000 over 4 years)
    • Deadline to apply: January 4, 2024
    • To learn more and apply, please click here.

  • 9th-12th graders: The Reagan Foundation’s Great Communicator Debates
    • Award: $50,000 Scholarship Money Awarded
    • Deadline: Wait for update regarding 2023-2024 year’s competition.
    • To learn more, please click here.

  • 9th-12th graders: Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest from Fastweb
    • Award: $10,000
    • Deadline to apply: March 01, 2024
    • To learn more and apply, 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 16, 2024
    • To learn about the Louisville Artisan Guild Art Scholarship, please click  here

  • 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

  • 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: January 31, 2024
    • 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.

  • 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: January 15, 2024
    • To learn more about Youth Activities at the state level please click here.
    • To learn about the national level of the essay contest please click here.
    • To learn about the national level of the oration contest please click here.
    • Please email all questions to Scott Giltner, President of KY SAR at stgilt@earthlink.net

  • 11th graders (graduating Spring 2025) 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: January 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM Pacific time
    • To learn about the Coolidge Scholarship, 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

  • 12th graders (student athletes): BigSun Scholarship through FastWeb
    • Award: $500
    • Deadline: June 19, 2024
    • To learn more and apply please, click here.

  • 11th & 12th graders: B. Davis Scholarship
    • Award: $1,000
    • Deadline: May 21, 2024
    • 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 meetings take place in the fall each year, apply anytime before January; orientation occurs in January.
    • 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 in March.
    • Learn more and apply here.

  • 9th-12th graders:The Rotary Club of Louisville Annual Speech Contest “Create Hope in the World”
    • Award:  $300, $200, and $100 awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. First place winners may advance to sectionals, regionals, and finals; prize money increases at each level up to $1,000. 
    • Deadline to register:  Enroll in December 2024.
    • Contest:  Speech contests in Spring. Finalists compete in May 2024.
    • To learn about the Rotary Club of Louisville, please click here.  
    • To learn about the Annual Speech Contest, 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
    • Deadline: April 1, 2024
    • To learn more and monitor this year’s scholarship posting, please click here.

  • 12th graders:Independence Bank Scholarship 
    • Award:  Awards range from $500 to $15,000. 
    • Deadline:  Wait for update regarding 2023-2024 year’s competition.
    • To learn about Independence Bank Scholarship and access the application, please click  here

  • 12th graders: Commonwealth Credit Union Scholarship
    • Award: $2,000
    • Deadline: Wait for update regarding 2023-2024 year’s competition.
    • To learn about the CCU Scholarship please click here.

  • 12th grade athletes with a 3.0 weighted GPA or higher: Heisman High School Scholarship
    • Award: ranges from $1,000 to $10,000
    • Deadline to apply: This scholarship app is now closed until Fall 2024.
    • To learn more and apply, please click 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.