Scholarship Tigers–Students Helping Each Other Find Money for College

As a continuation of Scholarship Summer, here are some scholarship giveaways that may fuel your dreams!

Scholarship Giveaways: An Experiment

Scholarship Contests

Here is one experiment. Some people say avoid scholarship giveaways or contests. And some people say apply because somebody has to win.

As long as scholarship contests or giveaways do not detract you from applying for scholarships such as the

TSU Foundation Scholarships (ongoing),

$3,000 There’s Space for Everybody Scholarship, D: May 31, 2026,

the $10,000 Aspire Higher Scholarships, D: June 10, 2026, or the

$8,000 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship, D: June 30, 2026,

then consider them.

All the scholarships with links above have been discussed in detail in previous blog posts; look at criteria to make sure you can apply for each scholarship before applying.

If you are going to enter scholarship giveaways or sweepstakes, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Avoid Scams

Contests should never charge anything, ask for your social security number, and never guarantee you awards.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-avoid-scholarship-scams

A good article to give you some steps to distinguish between legitimate scholarships and scams is found above, “How to Avoid Scholarship Scams” by Cole Claybourn, March 15, 2024.

Another good article to read is “How to Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams” found on the  Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s website: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scholarship-and-financial-aid-scams

2. Use One Email Designated Strictly for Scholarship Contests or Sweepstakes to Avoid Spam if You Decide to Do So

I would suggest setting up one email for scholarships such as the $8,000 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship or those offered through websites like Bold.org https://bold.org/scholarships/  or Scholarships360.org.

Then, set up another separate email strictly for scholarship contests or giveaways.

This email strictly for scholarship contests may be spammed. Just expect it.

Make note on a Word document or Google doc of what giveaways you enter, cut and paste the link, the notification date (often found in the official rules), and any usernames and passwords you create for that website.

Be sure to check back close to the notification date. Also, check spam folders that may catch a notice if you win.

3. Scholarship Sweepstakes and Giveaways: A Few

Here are three:

A. https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/25k-no-essay-scholarship-202605/

$25,000 Niche No Essay Scholarship, D: May 31, 2026

Selected criteria from website:

“All high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Please note: Not everyone is eligible for this scholarship. Niche sponsored scholarships and sweepstakes are for people with US citizenship or a valid Visa/US passport only.

The $25,000 No Essay Scholarship is an easy scholarship with no essay required! Only one entry allowed per person. The winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly . . . “

B. https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/10000-no-essay-scholarship/

$10,000 Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship

Selected criteria from website:

“Eligibility Requirements: Open to all grade levels.

Application Requirements: No essay, no transcript. Applicants must create a free account on Scholarships360.”

C. https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/student-credit-card/scholarship/

$5,000 Discover Scholarship Sweepstakes, each month, final deadline: Aug 31, 2026

Selected criteria: “NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes open to residents of the 50 United States (DC) and the US Territories 18 years or older. See Official Rules at discover.com/scholarship for eligibility and entry requirements, entry deadlines and drawing dates, details including odds, list of eligible colleges and universities, prize descriptions and an alternate method of entry.”

And a fourth:

D. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/bigfuture-scholarships

$40,000 BigFuture Scholarships, first deadline: May 31, 2026

To explore if you are a high school junior or sophomore.

4. Scholarship Giveaways and Scholarships: An Experiment

I would like to run a controlled experiment. After reading the idea below, contact Mike Turner at mjturner@tnstate.edu if you are interested.

First, set up a separate email strictly for scholarship contests and sweepstakes. Write down the username and password (do not rely on memory).

Contact me, so we can run the experiment for 60 days or so. A small number of students will be involved.

Create a Google doc, which will include what giveaways you enter, scholarship links you cut and paste, and the notification date (often found in the official rules). You can provide a link to this document if you wish.

I will send you a curated list of scholarship giveaways and contests.

You can ask me about certain scholarship giveaways or contests to see if they are legitimate.

With a small group, we will share these finds.

Enter them, and pay attention to notification dates. Check your email and also the spam folder.

Keep track of your results and share them with me.

Another Find: SchoolHouse Connection Program, D: June 2, 2026

I often find interesting opportunities when I search for scholarships.

If you qualify, consider this opportunity.

https://schoolhouseconnection.org/program/scholarship

$2,500 and more SchoolHouse Connection Scholarship Program, D: June 2, 2026

“The SchoolHouse Connection scholarship is one of the nation’s only scholarship programs specifically for youth who have experienced homelessness.”

“You are eligible to apply for the SchoolHouse Connection Youth Leadership & Scholarship Program if you meet all of the following:

• You currently reside in the United States. (Undocumented applicants are eligible.)
• You were born on or after June 2, 2007.
• You will be starting college for the first time in the 2027–2028 academic year at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade school. This includes:
  • High school juniors
  • High school seniors planning to take a gap year
  • Students earning a GED who plan to start college in 2027–2028
  • Note: this does not include dual-enrollment courses.
• You have experienced homelessness within the last six years.

Our program begins working with students one year before they start college to provide intensive college readiness support.”

Plan for a Summer of Applying for Scholarship Money

The AARC Writing Center at Tennessee State University does not close for the summer.

You can plan to search for scholarships and apply for them all summer, helping you reach for a more money, less college debt future!

Online and In-Person Writing Center Appointments Available

The AARC Writing Center at TSU assists students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Tennessee State University.

Appointments can be in person or online.

We can help you with scholarship essays, resumes, applications, or any other writing project.

Our contact information (EAB links, email addresses, and phone numbers) can be found here: https://www.tnstate.edu/asc/writing.aspx

Ms. Rhonda Kavan, Writing Center coordinator; Dr. Shiloh Carroll, Writing Consultant; Ms. Lori Danley, Writing Consultant; and Mr. Mike Turner, Writing Consultant

You can also set up a scholarship coaching session (either online or in person) with Mike Turner, mjturner@tnstate.edu, where we look for scholarships and other money tailored to your major and your situation.