Scholarship Tigers–Students Helping Each Other Find Money for College

In celebration of the TSU Writing Center Open House, located in room 229 at the TSU library, 2^nd floor, here are $10,000 worth of scholarships that don’t require a GPA.

You can ask about the following scholarships from Mr. Mike Turner, or just click on the links below to discover their details.

1. Ask about the $5,000 Never Satisfied Scholarship?

https://poet.com/neversatisfied/

Deadline: Feb 14, 2025

2. Ask about the $1,000 Pursue Your Passion Scholarship?

https://bold.org/scholarships/john-young-pursue-your-passion-scholarship/

Deadline: Feb 20, 2025

3. Ask about the $2,000 Frame My Future Scholarship?

https://www.diplomaframe.com/contests/scholarship

Deadline: March 15, 2025

4. Ask about the $1,000 Three Sentence Scholarship?

https://www.return2college.com/awardprogram.cfm

Deadline: Apr 30, 2025

5. Ask about the $1,000 Work (Story, Poem, or Drawing) that Displays Your “Wit and Humor” Scholarship?

https://bold.org/scholarships/freddie-l-brown-sr-scholarship/

Deadline: May 5, 2025

Writing Help at the TSU Writing Center for Scholarships

or Any Writing Concern

As a Tennessee State University student or faculty/staff member, if you need help with scholarship applications, essays, or any other writing concern, know that the Writing Center at Tennessee State University is here for you!

Spring 2025 hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00pm and Sunday, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, 615.963.5102.

Writing assistance is available in person in the Writing Center, relocated to room 229, TSU library, or available online.

For online scheduling: http://mywco.com/tnstate

If you already have an account, log in and make an appointment.

If you don’t have an account, register for an account by clicking on “Register an Account” next to FIRST VISIT? and schedule your appointment!

For help with any writing concern including resumes, applications, or essays for scholarships or internships, you can sign up for any available writing tutor. This includes brainstorming ideas or creating scripts for videos. For assistance with finding scholarships, sign up for Mr. Turner or Ms. Danley.

Scholars & Dollars available for 99 cents as a Kindle book

Ben Kaplan, who won a little over $90,000 to go to Harvard virtually debt free, has released his new book, Scholars & Dollars: How to Get Admitted, Win Scholarships, and Jump-Start Your Future.

It is available for 99 cents in the Kindle store today, and I have already bought a copy. I don’t own a Kindle; I read it on my phone or my computer using the Kindle app that I downloaded for free.

Exclusive Scholarships Found at Bold.org

Scholarships offered by Bold.org are established by people who wish to commemorate individuals and/or address problems they see in the world. Here are three varied scholarships I discovered administered by Bold.org.

It is good to click on the link to read all the information about each scholarship.

A. https://bold.org/scholarships/a-security-insurance-scholarship/

$2,000 Security Insurance Corp. Scholarship, D: Feb 28, 2025

High school seniors or undergraduate students, Latin American background – Hispanic, Latino, or Brazilian; Field of study: Business, finance, or economics degree

From web page:

“This scholarship aims to support the next generation of students so they can be equipped with the knowledge and problem-solving skills they need to tackle the pressing insurance crises affecting our nation.

Any Hispanic, Latino, and/or Brazilian high school senior or four-year undergraduate student who is pursuing a degree in business, finance, or economics may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

To apply, write a short essay in response to one of the prompts below.

1. What importance does insurance and insurance agency have in our everyday life? How does it impact our lives in a positive way? What are the downsides?

2. For the past few years, some states, like Florida, California, and Texas, have been experiencing an exodus of insurance companies from their States due to disasters like hurricanes, floods, and fires. As a result, premiums have increased for the homeowners’ insurance, to the point it becomes unaffordable for some folks, especially retirees, and single parents. What solution do you suggest that would solve the insurance crises in these (and other) states in a way that would be good for the insured, the insurance companies and what can an Insurance agency do in the process? (400–600 words)”

B. https://bold.org/scholarships/lyndsey-scott-coding-plus-scholarship/

$5,000, $2,500, $1,000 and $500 Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship, D: April 15, 2025

Major: Computer Science; Education Level: High school senior and undergraduate; Identification: LGBTQIA+, Women, and/or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)

From web page:

“The Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship will support the next generation of multi-faceted computer scientists, with a special focus on coders, by providing financial assistance for their degree. The goal is to uplift a diverse group of students who want to combine computer science with their other passions to pave a unique path towards enriching our world and its technology.

LGBTQIA+, Women, and/or BIPOC students who are majoring in computer science and are also pursuing other interests may apply. To apply, write about your computer science goals, your non-computer science goals, and how you might combine these goals in the future.

Essay Topic: Tell us about your computer science goals, non-computer science goals, and how you might combine these goals in the future. (400–600 words)”

C. https://bold.org/scholarships/jean-ramirez-scholarship/

$1,000 Jean Ramirez Scholarship, D: Apr 30, 2025, five winners

High school, undergraduate, and graduate students

From web page:

“To commemorate the legacy of Jean Ramirez, this scholarship seeks to provide financial support to students who are immediate family members that have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Undergraduate and graduate students who are immediate family members of a suicide victim are eligible to apply. In your application, please answer the following essay question.

Essay Topic: Reflect on your journey as a suicide loss survivor, discussing the challenges you’ve faced, the lessons you’ve learned, and how you’ve found resilience and hope in the face of tragedy. (400–600 words)”

Search Thousands of Scholarships at Bold.org

https://bold.org/scholarships/

You can browse thousands of exclusive scholarships at Bold.org by state, major, or academic year.

Writing Help at the TSU Writing Center for Scholarships

or Any Writing Concern

As a Tennessee State University student or faculty/staff member, if you need help with scholarship applications, essays, or any other writing concern, know that the Writing Center at Tennessee State University is here for you!

Spring 2025 hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00pm and Sunday, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, 615.963.5102.

Writing assistance is available in person in the Writing Center, relocated to room 229, TSU library, or available online.

For online scheduling: http://mywco.com/tnstate

If you already have an account, log in and make an appointment.

If you don’t have an account, register for an account by clicking on “Register an Account” next to FIRST VISIT? and schedule your appointment!

For help with any writing concern including resumes, applications, or essays for scholarships or internships, you can sign up for any available writing tutor. For assistance with finding scholarships, sign up for Mr. Turner or Ms. Danley.

I am listing a few relevant details for the following scholarships, the list organized by deadline dates.

Check each link to find out more information.

1. https://bold.org/scholarships/global-girls-in-stem-scholarship/

$500 Global Girls in STEM Scholarship, D: Feb 8, 2025, three winners

You are involved with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math); have non-profit and volunteering experience, high school senior or first-year undergraduate student, underrepresented minority student, and female-identifying

2. https://stories.whataburger.com/whataburger-feeding-student-success-scholarship-application-2025-2026/

$5,000 Whataburger Feeding Student Success Scholarship, 120 students, D: Feb 14, 2025, or “when 1,000 applications are received—whichever comes first.”

From webpage: “Whataburger is proud to offer $600,000 in scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year through our Whataburger Feeding Student Success program. This opportunity is available to eligible students across our 16-state footprint, including both our Guests and our Family Members (employees).

120 students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, which can be used for tuition, books, housing, or other educational expenses. The scholarships are open to students attending any college, university, or not-for-profit vocational school.”

3. https://www.ets.org/pdfs/caap/presidential-scholarships-hbcu.pdf

ETS Full-Tuition Presidential Scholarship for HBCUs, D: Mar 17, 2025

From webpage:

“The ETS Presidential Scholarship for HBCU Students offers financial assistance to outstanding students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Eight scholars (four from a private HBCU and four from a public HBCU) will be selected to receive a full tuition-only need/merit scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic school year.

Here are the key details for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Who is eligible to apply?

Any HBCU student who:

• is enrolled full time as a junior or senior during the 2024–2025 academic school year

• has a current grade point average of 3.5 or higher

• demonstrates leadership abilities

• demonstrates a financial need

• is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551

Timeline:

• Application Portal Opens: January 13, 2025.
• Application Deadline: March 17, 2025.
• Notification: Scholarship recipients will be notified in June 2025”

ETS offers more scholarships. Check them out: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/epi/student-opportunities/student-scholarships-available-ets

4. https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/pb/ugsp/

$20,000 a year Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) at the National Institutes of Health, D: Mar 26, 2025

Selected criteria from website:

Up to $20,000 per year for “tuition, educational, and reasonable living expenses. Scholarships are awarded for one year and can be renewed for up to four years.”

“This program is for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research.”

“To apply for UGSP, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In addition, you must:

• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year college or university.
• Have a grade point average of 3.3 or greater on a 4.0-point scale, or rank within the top five percent of your class.
• Demonstrate exceptional financial need certified by your undergraduate institution’s financial aid office.

You must also be able to pass a federal background check.”

5. https://bold.org/scholarships/ronran-glee-literary-scholarship/

$2,000 RonranGlee Literary Scholarship, D: June 17, 2025; 5 winners

Close reading scholarship, high school seniors, undergraduate students

Essay topic: “Please select a paragraph of your choosing (provide a copy of the paragraph in your response), preferably from an ancient literature or philosophy book, and write a short essay expounding your understanding of the writer’s underlying meaning of the text.

Avoid summarizations and vague language that wanders from your central thesis that should be stated at the beginning of your essay. (600-2000 words)”

Several scholarships have upcoming deadlines. Also, several scholarships have February, March, or April deadlines. 

Community Foundation of Middle TN Scholarships, D: Feb 1, 2025

https://www.cof.org/community-foundation-locator

Community Foundation Locator—Here you can put your zip code in and find out if any community foundations near your permanent residence offers scholarships; I found one foundation with a scholarship deadline of March 15, 2025, so I would check.

https://www.return2college.com/awardprogram.cfm

$1,000 Return 2 College (R2C) Scholarship [3-Sentence Scholarship], D: Jan 31, 2025

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships

$1,500-$10,000 Unigo Scholarships, Monthly

https://bold.org/scholarships/

$500-$20,000 Bold Scholarships

https://www.tmcf.org/students-alumni/scholarship/tmcf-mcdonalds-black-and-positively-golden-scholarships/

TMCF/McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship ($15,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year)—Opens November 11, 2024-Deadline: April 25, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)

All applicants attending an HBCU with a GPA of 2.7 or higher must upload a professional image in your school logo and/or school colors and answer the following video question (2 mins max): “What unique perspective, passion, or curiosity drives your academic interests? How do you envision it shaping your future as a scholar and leader in your field?”

https://www.regions.com/about-regions/inclusion-belonging-impact/supporting-communities/essay-contest-scholarship

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship ($8,000) Deadline for Quarter 1 contest: March 31, 2025; there are three more opportunities throughout 2025

More criteria can be found at the link above, including the requirement of a GPA of 2.0 or above (and if no GPA is provided by the school, be in “good standing”) and being a legal US resident of one of the eligible states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

More Scholarships and How to Find More Money to Pay for School Handout in the

Blog post from January 10, 2025

If you wish to find more information about more scholarships and how to find more money to pay for school, go to the January 10, 2025 blog post and download the 18 page handout, “Scholarship and Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate School.”

Writing Help at the TSU Writing Center for Scholarships or Any Writing Concern

As a Tennessee State University student or faculty/staff member, if you need help with scholarship applications, essays, or any other writing concern, know that the Writing Center at Tennessee State University is here for you!

Spring 2025 hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00pm and Sunday, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, 615.963.5102.

Writing assistance is available in person in the Writing Center, relocated to room 229, TSU library, or available online.

For online scheduling: http://mywco.com/tnstate

If you already have an account, log in and make an appointment.

If you don’t have an account, register for an account by clicking on “Register an Account” next to FIRST VISIT? and schedule your appointment!

For help with any writing concern including resumes, applications, or essays for scholarships or internships, you can sign up for any available writing tutor. For assistance with finding scholarships, sign up for Mr. Turner or Ms. Danley.

For more scholarships, visit Scholarship Tigers at https://scholarshiptigers.com/

You can contact Rhonda Kavan, Writing Center Coordinator at Tennessee State University, at rkavan@tnstate.edu; Michael Turner, Writing Instructor/ Tutor at mjturner@tnstate.edu; Lori Danley, Writing Instructor/Tutor at ldanley@tnstate.edu; and Shiloh Carroll, Writing Instructor/Tutor at scarroll@tnstate.edu.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, I gave the following Zoom workshop for the 2025 Writing Hub Bootcamp, “Scholarship and Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate School Through Scholarships.”

You will find more than $80,000 worth of scholarships and programs to tap into to fund a more money, less debt college degree.

In this 18-page handout, you can find some of the following opportunities:

How to Prepare for the TSU Foundation scholarships

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee scholarships, Deadline: Feb 1, 2025

How to Find Other Community Foundations to See If There Are Opportunities Tied to Your Permanent Address

$20,000 Sean Carroll’s Mindscape Big Picture Scholarship, D: Jan 20, 2025, two winners; winners announced Feb 20, 2025; this involves writing an essay.

TMCF/McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden Scholarship ($15,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year)—Opens November 11, 2024-Deadline: April 25, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships

$10,000 2025 Splunk’s 2025 HBCU Academic Scholarship, D: Feb 7, 2025

$8,000 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship, Deadline for Quarter 1 contest: March 31, 2025; there are three more opportunities throughout 2025.

$10,000 Create A Greeting Card Scholarship, D: March 3, 2025

$10,000 Dr. Pepper Tuition Sweepstakes, Available from 10/1/2024-1/20/2025

$1,000 Return to College (R2C) Scholarship, D: Jan 31, 2025

$1,000-$5,000 DoSomething.Org Scholarships

$10,000 Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship (five scholarships), D: most likely June 30, 2025

TMCF/Bridging the Dream Scholarships for high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduates.

Tuition-Savings Programs like the Academic Common Market

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)-State Doctoral Scholars Program

Plus Much More

First, a reminder of some easier scholarships that only require less than 500 words (some only a few sentences). These are often not tied to any GPA. Second, another reminder about the Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship and the Ted and Holly Robbins Scholarship.

500 Word or Less Scholarships and No GPA requirement

Check the links below to discover them. Some I have posted earlier in 2024.

1. https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/unigo-10k-scholarship

$10,000 Unigo 10K Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024

Prompt: “Would you rather be smart, funny or rich? Why?” (250 words or less)

Essay or Video submission.

2. https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/top-ten-list-scholarship

$1,500 Top Ten List Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024

Prompt: “Create a Top Ten List of the top ten reasons you should get this scholarship.” (250 words or less)

Essay or Video submission.

3. https://www.genkellyscholarship.com/apply

$1,000 Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024

4. https://www.collegeispower.com/scholarship.cfm

$1,000 College is Power (CIP) Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024

5. https://www.moolahspot.com/scholarship/

$1,000 The MoolahSPOT Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024

6. https://www.return2college.com/awardprogram.cfm

$1,000 Return to College (R2C) Scholarship, D: Jan 31, 2025

Up to $25,000 Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship, no GPA requirement

https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship/

$25,000, $10,000, and $5,000 Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship, D: Jan. 8, 2025

Create a 2 minute or less [more than 30 seconds] no larger than 500 MB video about your passion and you might earn this scholarship.

Selected criteria from website:

Ages 16-26, legal resident of the U.S. or the dependent child of an active duty member of the U.S. miliary, no third-party infringement (no company logos on clothing or music heard on the video that is not your own creation, for example)

“Submit a video that addresses these questions:

• What is your passion and how are you currently pursuing it or planning to pursue it?
• How do you plan to use your passion to make your community, country, and/or world, etc. a better place?
• What is your education plan (education program, college, or certificate/degree program) and how will it help you pursue your passion and create positive impact?

Please visit the website above to get more information about what to include (and not include) in your video.

$5,000 Ted and Holly Robbins Scholarship, no GPA requirement

https://www.rollinsscholarship.org/scholarship-application

$5,000 Ted and Holly Robbins Scholarship, D: Dec 31, 2024 (deadline extended)

“Scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors based on the most compelling stories — regarding their life story, their intended field of study, career and how they will make an impact on the world. Apply for a $5,000 Scholarship awarded Winter 2025!”

Essays of at least 500 words.