7 Noteworthy Scholarships for High School Seniors in 2021
High school seniors are in the throes of college applications, which means, if you are a high school senior or parent of one, you are also thinking about how you’re going to pay for college.
Scholarships are available for high school seniors on various different websites through plenty of organizations, and the award amounts range from as low as hundreds of dollars to as high as tens of thousands of dollars or more.
The key to getting all the scholarships you can is to apply for as many as you are eligible for! So, here are just seven of the notable scholarships for high school seniors looking for financial help with their education in the year 2021.
1.Foot Locker Scholar Athletes
Close Date
1/8/2021
Eligibility
Incoming college freshmen athletes.
Scholarship Award
20 $20,000 scholarships for 20 different student athletes who demonstrate how sports have helped them to grow into strong leaders.
Description
For the tenth consecutive year, Foot Locker will be awarding incoming college freshman with $20,000 in scholarship funding to pursue a 4-year college degree - not because they scored the most touchdowns or goals, but because sports have helped them grow into strong leaders at school and in their communities. As a bonus, one of the 20 winners will be selected for the Ken C. Hicks scholarship for demonstrating superior educational achievement, outstanding leadership, and a true love of the game. This winner will receive an additional $5000 award (for a total of $25,000).
This year's 20 winners will join the program's ninth previous classes of Foot Locker Scholar Athletes, which will result in 200 total scholarship recipients since the program's inception in 2011. Applicants are evaluated based on whether they are Foot Locker Scholar Athlete material. The ideal candidates would be proactive, highly motivated, inspiring, charismatic, honest, trustworthy, genuine, strong and courageous. Additionally, promising applicants embody good sportsmanship, strong moral character, are passionate/committed to empowering his or her community, are confident and enthusiastic leaders, come from diverse backgrounds and display academic excellence.
2. BMW/SAE Engineering Scholarship
Open Date
January 4, 2021
Eligibility
- U.S. resident.
- Must be an Incoming Freshman
- 3.75 or better grade point average on a 4.0 scale (required).
- Pursue an engineering or related science degree through an ABET accredited program.
Scholarship Award
One (1) $1500 scholarship. Scholarship may be renewed at $1500 a year for three additional years (total award $6000).
Description
This annual scholarship is provided by BMW AG in recognition of its commitment to excellence in engineering. BMW is world famous for designing and building luxury, high-performance passenger cars and motorcycles. The company is also a leader in developing and manufacturing high technology, high performance internal combustion engines.
This scholarship is in support of the SAE Foundation to ensure an adequate supply of well-trained engineers for the future.
The recipient will be selected by the SAE Scholarship Committee and notified by the end of June. This scholarship will be paid into your account at your selected university in July/August. It can be used for tuition or any other incidental school expenses.
3. NSHSS-DECA ICDC Conference Scholarship
Open Date
October 15, 2020
Close Date
January 15, 2021
Eligibility
High school juniors and seniors who are NSHSS and DECA members and who intend to pursue a college major in marketing, finance, hospitality, or business. Applicants may be U.S. or international students.
Scholarship Award
Three (3) $1000 scholarships for high school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 to attend the DECA ICDC Conference in Spring 2021. Applicants may be U.S. or international students.
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Transcript
- W9
- Educator Recommendation
- DECA chapter advisor's name and email address
- Color headshot suitable for website posting
- Personal statement of 500 words answering the prompt question: Describe your career plans and how your membership in DECA and experiences with NSHSS are preparing you to succeed.
*Scholarship funds will be utilized for conference attendance and costs.
4. Dell Scholars
Open Date
October 1, 2020
Close Date
December 1, 2020
Semifinalists Announced
December 10, 2020
Semifinalists Materials Due
December 10, 2020
Dell Scholars Announced
March 9, 2021
Eligibility
- Participate in a program-approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12
- Be on track to graduate from an accredited high school in the current academic year
- Demonstrate a need for financial assistance
- Be eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant in first year of college
- Plan to enroll full time at an accredited higher education institution in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in the fall directly following high school graduation
- Earn a minimum of a 2.4 GPA
Scholarship Award (for 500 students chosen)
- A $20,000 scholarship
- Personalized, multifaceted support for the academic, financial, and emotional life challenges that may prevent students from completing college
- A laptop with 4-year warranty
- Chegg credits ($500 annually for four years) to be used for textbook purchases and rentals and/or textbook solutions (via Chegg Study)
- A Scholars Resource Network that connects students and their families with resources to deal with stress, debt, managing child care, and life circumstance
- A teletherapy service that connects students to professional counseling
Description
The Dell Scholars program was designed to provide a support system for the challenges many students face while pursuing a degree. Even so, we recognize that college costs can be a significant burden for many students and their families. Nationally, 500 Dell Scholars are selected each year to receive a scholarship plus lots of non-monetary support.
5. Claes Nobel Future Female Leader Scholarship 2021
Open/Close Date
The 2020 application for this scholarship is now open and is a great opportunity for female high school seniors who have shown and are interested in leadership! The close date is March 15, 2021.
Eligibility
Female high school seniors with a 3.5 minimum GPA who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in their schools and communities.
Scholarship Award: Ten (10) $1,000 scholarships established to encourage and empower young women to assume future leadership roles in their colleges and universities, their careers and communities and to become mentors for the young women following in their footsteps.
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Transcript
- Educator Recommendation
- Principal's and counselor's name and email address
- Color headshot suitable for website posting.
- Personal statement of 500 words in response to the passage below:
- Leadership doesn’t have to mean being the head of a club. Actions, not titles, make leaders. Discuss how, through your leadership and participation in school and community events, activities and organizations, you possess the mindset and skills to succeed one day as a leader in the field of your own dreams.
- Some points you may wish to address, but are not limited to, include: using creativity to solve problems, using humor to diffuse tense situations and build relationships, and inspiring confidence in others to collaborate with you or follow your lead. Please be specific in your examples.
6. GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program
Close Date
January 5, 2021
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
- demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;
- demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);
- be citizens of the United States of America;
- be current high school seniors attending high school in the United States (students living on U.S. Armed Forces base and homeschooled students are also eligible); and
- plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year.
Semifinalists will be required to provide a recommendation from a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee.
Scholarship Award
Numerous recipients receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years, up to $40,000 total per recipient to use for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. Scholars are also invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support.
Description
Honoring the legacy and character of the 40th President of the United States, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.
7. NSHSS STEAM Scholarship
Open/Close Date
The 2020 application for this scholarship is closed, but it will be reopening early in 2021 and is an opportunity for high school seniors who are interested in studying science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics in college to gain funding for their education.
Eligibility
High school seniors planning to major in a STEAM field (science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics), including any area related to the medical field.
Scholarship Award: Five (5) USD $1,000 scholarships
Application Requirements
- Personal statement of 500 words discussing why you have selected your intended STEAM major and your future career plans related to this major.
- Resume
- Transcript
- Educator Recommendation
- Color headshot