30 Unusual Scholarships

Scholarships and academic awards aren't just for the super intelligent and athletic anymore; now you just have to be left-handed. If you have the right characteristic, last name, or niche interest, you could cash in with one of these unusual scholarships.

1. $1000 from Tall Clubs International for an essay about what being tall means.

2. Tuition at Loyola University Chicago for any Catholic with the last name Zolp. 

3. $1500 from Juniata College for being left-handed.

4. $1000 from the International Star Trek Fan Association for active members. 

5. $3000 from Duck Brand Duct Tape for wearing a prom dress or suit made from duct tape. 

6. $2500 from Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation for good quiz takers. 

7. Full tuition for 200 golf caddies from the Evans Scholars Foundation.

8. $10,000 from the Ayn Rand Institute for the best essay about Atlas Shrugged.

9. $200 to $1500 for winners of the Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest.

10. 45 percent of tuition from Wilson College for twins and triplets enrolled together. 

11. $750 from the National Beef Ambassador Program for speaking on behalf of the beef industry.

12. $5000 from the Vegetarian Resource Group for actively promoting vegetarianism.

13. Tuition, books, and supplies from American Welding Society for future welders.

14. $4000 from Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry for students looking to work with paper.

15. $10,000 for spreading the word about the dangers of texting behind the wheel.

16. $10,000 from Random House for Dr. Seuss fans.

17. Hiram College Hal Reichle Memorial Scholarship rewards students for random acts of kindness. 

18. $10,000 for winners of the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest.

19. $5000 from American Association of Candy Technologists for future bakers.

20. $2000 for fire safety experts from the American Fire Sprinkler Association. 

21. Tuition for "mibsters," or marble shooters who win the National Marbles Tournament.

22. $1000 from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance for the corpulent activists.

23. $10,000 from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for pursuing a career in television. 

24. $500 from the Northern Tier Hardwood Association for students majoring in something forest related.

25. Tuition and books from Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation for students studying something related to vacuum coating technology.

26. $2000 for winners of the National Make It Yourself with Wool Competition. 

27. $30,000 and the honor of living in J.D. Salinger's old dorm room from Ursinus College.

28. $1000 to study puppetry from UNIMA.

29. $1000 from the U.S. Bowling Congress Scholarship for high school bowlers. 

30. San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Scholarship is for participants in the San Angelo Stock Show.