Top 162 Scholarships for High School Sophomores in December 2023

Open to US-Based high school students in the classes of 2024 and 2025 — no essay, minimum GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Niche is giving one student $50,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses — no essay required!

Are you a U.S. high school student with a love for U.S. history? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards up to $10,000 to winning applicants who submit 700 - 1,000 word essays following the year’s prompt. Each year's prompt relates to U.S. history, with this year’s being: “Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born.” The scholarship is offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. If you love U.S. history and want to put your writing skills and history knowledge to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a K-12 student who has created a significant piece of work in the field of STEM, literature, music, or philosophy? The Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship may be a good fit for you! The Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship is a life-changing $50,000 scholarship opportunity for any student in the United States who is under 18. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of significant work. This means any work or accomplishment that experts in the field recognize as meaningful and has the potential to make a positive contribution to society. This typically comes in the form of a project completed by the student(s). That’s right, student(s)! You can apply to the Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship in a group of two! There are also multiple scholarship categories you can choose to apply within, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Outside of the Box. 

Are you over 14 years of age, enrolled in high school or college, and enjoy making original artwork? If so, the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest may be the perfect opportunity for you! Each year, the contest awards $10,000 to the applicant who submits the best holiday, greeting, or all-around holiday card. While the top ten finalists will be decided by a public vote, the final winner will be decided by a panel of judges. The contest is offered by The Gallery Collection, the “leading business-to-business online and mail order publisher of premium quality personalized Christmas, Holiday, and Everyday greeting cards in the United States.” If you’re a student aged 14 or older who wants to put their card-making skills to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school senior with critical financial need and perseverance in overcoming adversity? Further, will you be enrolled in a U.S. college or university the fall after graduation? If so, consider applying for some of the many Horatio Alger Undergraduate Scholarships! These scholarships aim to help U.S. citizens with financial need attend college at a lower cost, awarding between $10,000 and $52,000 each. The scholarships are offered by the Horatio Alger Association, an organization with a mission to “fund need-based college scholarships for low-income youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.” As each scholarship has differing criteria, there are bound to be some you meet the criteria for. We recommend giving them a look-through and applying if you meet the criteria! Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from December 1st to March 15th annually.

Are you a high school student interested in making art? If so, consider applying for the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest! The contest is open to students grades 9-12 who submit a two-dimensional art piece depicting patriotism. This scholarship is offered by VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) Auxiliary, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services for veterans and honoring them and their families. They started the contest in 1979 to encourage patriotism in youths and recognize their artistry. Every year, the scholarship offers multiple awards totaling $34,000 to the first-place winners from each state. If you want to make art about patriotism and are looking for a scholarship opportunity, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an 8 - 18 year-old who is currently leading or working on an inspiring service project? Alternatively, have you worked on one sometime in the past 12 months? If so, consider applying for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes! Each year, the prize awards $10,000 to multiple elementary, middle, and high schoolers who have made great contributions to communities, either local or far. In order to apply, you must submit a completed application, project summary and essay, three letters of recommendation, and a color photo of yourself. The Gloria Barron Prize, a program of the nonprofit organization Young Heroes Project, celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. If you’re passionate about community service and/or service projects, we encourage you to apply! Your work has surely helped many others, and now it’s time to let the Prize help you. The deadline is on April 15th of each year.

Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make a statement about the impact of climate change through writing, artwork, or even dance? You might consider applying for the Ocean Awareness Art Contest! Dedicated to encouraging the next generation to get involved in ocean conservation (and environmentalism as a whole), the contest asks its applicants to create a piece of artwork that reflects an impact/aspect of the current environmental crisis and its effect on the ocean. Each year has a specific theme to focus on, with this year being climate change. If you would like to make a statement about climate change’s impact on the ocean through art, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Minecraft Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship offers $2,000 to one applicant who best writes about how Minecraft can positively influence one’s education and career development. The scholarship is offered by Apex Hosting, a Minecraft server provider dedicated to supporting both new and experienced server administrators. If you’re a high schooler or college student with a love for Minecraft, it’s time to put your passion to good use and apply to the Minecraft Scholarship!

Are you a student between the ages of 5 and 25 who is passionate about stopping hunger? If so, consider applying for the Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships! The scholarships are open to students who have completed ongoing, unpaid volunteer service to help eliminate hunger in the United States within the last 12 months. To reward the steps young students have taken to fight hunger in their communities, this scholarship annually awards a $10,000 scholarship to up to five recipients for their efforts. In addition, winners will receive a $5,000 grant to go toward their chosen hunger-related charity, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to the Foundation’s annual fundraising event in Colorado Springs, Colorado. If you are passionate about stopping hunger and looking for funds to go towards your postsecondary education, we encourage you to apply!

The KHREF Essay Contest is an amazing opportunity for high school students, from any country in the world, who have a passion for writing and international studies/relations. Each year, the contest awards impressive prizes of $4000, $2000, and $1000 to the high school applicants who submit the best essays answering the international studies/conflict-related prompt. Bear in mind that essays must be written in English, be a maximum of 2,500 words, and students' arguments must be supported by scholarly research. If you're a high school student with an interest in international studies and conflict, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.

The Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship is funded by Jazz at the Ballroom, an organization that is committed to keeping swinging, classic jazz thriving, and creating an environment where every guest feels at home and each artist can share their stories, passion, and talent. Every year, their Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship awards $1,000 to three high school jazz instrumentalists attending a California high school. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

Are you interested in your personal family history and genealogy? If so, consider applying for the Rubincam Youth Award! The Rubincam Youth Award is open to middle and high school students who submit an appropriately prepared genealogy. The scholarship is offered by the National Genealogical Society, a genealogical interest group founded in 1903 in Washington, D.C. They were the first national genealogical organization and have long paved the way in the field of genealogy. The Rubincam Youth Award honors Milton Rubincam, a passionate genealogist with many years of service contributing to the National Genealogical Society and the field of genealogy. To honor his legacy, this award aims to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. Each year, the scholarship awards a $500 cash prize to one (1) high school student and a $250 cash prize to one (1) middle school student. It also includes a plaque and a one-year NGS membership. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply!

Introducing the Christopher T. Muschalek Memorial Scholarship, a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable individual and cherished father, husband, son, brother, grandfather, and above all, true friend. In May 2023, he passed after valiantly battling pancreatic cancer for two years. Christopher's legacy encompasses his roles as an educator, architect, history enthusiast, and unwavering champion of education. His architectural creations grace the Texas coast and the entirety of south Texas. This scholarship, generously supported by Chris's family and friends, seeks to commemorate his life by empowering Texas students who share his passions. If you are a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student in Texas pursuing history or architecture, seize this opportunity. Share your profound connection to these fields and the moment you realized that this path was destined for you. Apply and let Christopher's spirit inspire your educational journey.

Are you enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and pursuing a career in social work, behavioral health, or therapy? If so, the Terry A. Greendeer Behavioral Health Wing Dedication Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you. This scholarship pays tribute to the legacy of Terry A. Greendeer, a revered Ho-Chunk tribal member who dedicated over 27 years of her life to serving her Nation in various roles. Ms. Greendeer played a pivotal role in the growth and advancement of the Behavioral Health Division, tirelessly bringing vital services and resources to tribal communities, and implementing enduring procedures and practices that continue to shape the Health Department today. In honor of her contributions, this scholarship aims to empower Native American high school and undergraduate students who share her fervor and are pursuing a career in social work, behavioral health, or a therapy program. To apply, share how your education will empower you to uplift and support your community.

Are you an artistically driven individual who uses art to creatively benefit your community? If so, consider applying for the Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship! The Trevor Coopersmith Urban Art Scholarship is open to all artistically driven individuals who utilize their art to creatively benefit their communities. The scholarship is funded by Trevor Coopersmith, a young artist and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) graduate dedicated to helping out his community however he can. During college, Trevor worked four jobs in order to graduate debt-free without any financial support. Thus, he realized his dream was to help others by donating all his works and creating art for his community. Every year, his Urban Art Scholarship awards $350 to help one (1) lucky artist pursue their dreams. If you’re passionate about having a career in arts and are looking for some help to pay off your degree, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate school student who is passionate about higher education? You might consider applying for the Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship! To apply, applicants simply must submit an essay of 250 words or less. The essay may describe why you deserve to win this scholarship, your academic or career goals, or it could be on any topic of your choice. It can even be an essay that you have previously submitted for a class, another scholarship, or any other purpose. The scholarship is biannual, with deadlines on July 31st and December 31st of every year. If this sounds good to you and you want to be awarded for your academic passion and writing savvy, we encourage you to apply!

Introducing the David Hinsdale Memorial Scholarship, a tribute to a remarkable individual and devoted husband for 47 years who embodied the values of hard work, generosity, and selflessness. Renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship as a pool plasterer, David's dedication knew no bounds, even under the scorching sun. Moreover, he selflessly assisted his children with their home projects, showcasing his unwavering commitment to family. David's work ethic was inseparable from his compassion, as he readily employed those eager to learn his trade when he ran his own business. This scholarship aims to honor David Hinsdale's memory by empowering students who share his fervor for craftsmanship. Whether you are currently enrolled in a trade school or a high school student with plans to pursue a trade school education, this scholarship is open to you. To apply, share your unique story and illuminate how you aspire to make a positive impact in your community.