Scholarships

Dunbar PRIDE Scholarship

Application Deadline:  March 2, 2026 by 11:59 PM

The Student Support Office at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is proud to offer two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who exemplify the values that make Dunbar a strong, supportive, and unified community. These scholarships recognize students who consistently demonstrate what it means to show Dunbar PRIDE. Scholarship applications are due March 2, 2026. The Dunbar PRIDE Scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis and is not renewable. Funds will be distributed to the higher education institution of your choice, based upon proof of enrollment.

Applicants must:

• Be a graduate of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Class of 2026

• Have a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA

• Demonstrate one or more components of Dunbar PRIDE:

  • P – Positive: Maintains an optimistic attitude; contributes positively to school culture

  • R – Respectful: Treats others with dignity; demonstrates kindness and cultural awareness

  • I – Involved: Actively participates in school life; supports the Dunbar community

  • D – Dependable: Is reliable, responsible, and accountable

  • E – Excellent: Strives for high standards in academics, behavior, and personal growth

Contact Callie Donovan with any questions at - callie.donovan@fayette.kyschools.us 

Don Jacobs Organization Scholarship

Application Deadline:  April 14, 2026

The Don Jacobs Organization Scholarship awards $1,000 to one graduating senior from each eligible high school. This scholarship is open to students planning to attend a college, university, or vocational institution during the 2026–27 school year, and students of all intended majors are encouraged to apply.

Key Details:

• Scholarship Amount: $1,000

• One recipient selected per school

Selected students will be contacted directly to arrange to pick up their photo and scholarship check.  All scholarship checks must be picked up by July 1, 2026

Emmanuel "Manny" Caulk Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Application Deadline:  April 1, 2026 at midnight

This scholarship is open to future teachers or anyone who will major in education. In response to the teacher shortage and the district’s strategic priority of a Highly Effective and Culturally Responsive Workforce, this transition is aimed at increasing the number and diversity of educators.

Scholarship Criteria:  

• Be a Graduating Senior from a Fayette County Public high school or program

•  Have a minimum 2.5 GPA or higher

•  Be accepted and enrolled in a two or four-year institution or program within 12 months of graduation

•  Plan to study education with the goal of becoming a teacher

•  No later than April 1 at midnight, write and submit answers (each 250 words or less) to each of the following questions:

  • • What book, teacher, or class has changed the way you think? How? (250 words or less)

    • What have you learned from someone who is very different from you? (250 words or less)

    • How has your public-school education prepared you for college? (250 words or less)

    • Why do you want to teach? (250 words or less)

•  Scholarship payment will be made directly to the recipient’s school upon enrollment.

Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC) Scholarship

Application Deadline:  April 30, 2026

The KEDC Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to college (2 or 4 year), technical or vocational bound students graduating from a high school in a KEDC member district. The KEDC Scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis and is not renewable. Funds will be distributed to the higher education institution of your choice, based upon proof of enrollment. A scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $2,500, to be divided into two equal installments (once per semester).

Applicants Must: 

• Maintain a grade point average (GPA) no lower than 3.0

• Meet current benchmarks for the ACT and/or SAT as set by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE).

  • ACT (English = 18, Reading = 20, Mathematics = 19)

  • SAT (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing = 490)

  • SAT (Math - Quantitative Reasoning = 510)

• Write an essay that focuses on your goals, your story and growth and why we should invest in you 

• Must demonstrate financial need; disclose other scholarship awards (types and amounts)

• Recipient is not required to declare any particular major to be an eligible applicant

Veterans Park Elementary's PTA Scholarship

Application Deadline: March 27th, 2026

Applicants must:

•  Be in their senior year in a high school within Fayette County

• Must have been promoted from the fifth grade at Veterans Park Elementary

• Once the scholarship is awarded, it must be used the following fall term. The check will be written directly to the college or university.

• Submit:

  • This application form (required)

  • A 300 – 500-word essay describing a staff member or an event from your time at Veterans Park Elementary that contributed to your success in middle or high school (required)

  • Copy of high school transcript: through 7th semester (required)

  • Any other information pertaining to extracurricular achievements, demonstration of leadership abilities, etc. (optional but recommended, see criteria)

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association Scholarship

Application Deadline:  May 1st, 2026

The Fayette County Homemakers Scholarship of $1000 will be awarded by the Fayette County Homemakers Association to a high school senior planning full-time enrollment in an accredited technical or vocational school for the 2026-27 school year.

Elegibility:

• A Fayette County High School Senior on track to begin post-high school education at an accredited technical or vocational school in the fall 2026.

• An applicant with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• An applicant must show evidence of involvement in school or community activities.

Independence Bank Scholarship 

Application Deadline:  Monday, February 24th at 5PM

Independence Bank is proud to play a small part in the journey of our community’s next generation of leaders and contributors. With over $1.9 million given to high school seniors, our scholarship recipients can be found advancing agriculture business, devoting their talents to the healthcare industry, starting their own small business and everything in between.  Applicants are judged based on a submitted essay, high school grades, ACT scores, financial need, extracurricular activities, community involvement and personal interviews.  

Applicants must:

• Be a high school senior

• Lives or attends school in one of the following counties: Calloway, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Jefferson, Logan, McCracken, McLean, Shelby, Warren, Webster

• Plan to attend a 2 year or 4 year college or university, vocation school or trade school

Blue Grass Community Foundation Scholarships

Applications Due - March 6th, 2026 by 11:59 PM

Blue Grass Community Foundation offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for Fayette County public high school students. Many scholarships offered to FCPS students are need-based, taking into consideration not only the student’s academic achievement, but also their unmet financial need.

• 16th District PTA Scholarship - Amount Varies

• Be the Change Scholarship - $2,500 renewable

• CLARK Scholars Scholarship - $1,00 4 year renewable

• Emma E. Buckley Scholarship - $2,500 4 year renewable

• Howard Edelstein Scholarship - $1,000 4 year renewable

• Robert Henry Scholarship - $2,500 4 year renewable

• Jane Allen Newman Scholarship - $2,500 4 year renewable

• Dr. Geri Polvino, Russell, Josephine & Mary Family Scholarship - $2,000 4 year renewable

• John and Maggie Price Scholarship - $1,000 4 year renewable

• Jennifer Leigh Soper Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship - Amount Varies

KYTC Civil Engineering Scholarship

Application Deadline:  February 1st, 2026

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet offer scholarship opportunities to students who are interested in in pursuing Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology & Construction Management.Students who are chosen for the Civil Engineering or Construction Management program can receive up to $59,200* (before taxes) and those chosen for Civil Engineering Technology can receive up to $14,800* (before taxes).  We also provide summer employment & full-time employment after graduation.  (*depending on the # of years in school)

**Students must attend UK, UL, or WKU for Civil Engineering  /  NKU, EKU, WKU, Morehead State, & Murray State for Construction Management / BSCTC for Civil Engineering Technology

Morehead State University Kentucky Scholarships

Morehead State awards more than $48.6M in University and MSU Foundation scholarships and grants annually.  MSU offers a variety of scholarships based on several criteria, including academic excellence, area of study, type of student, where you live and your needs. The information linked applies to new students for the 2026-2027 school year.

Spectrum News High School Scholars

The Spectrum News 1 High School Scholars Program recognizes exceptional high school students with academic scholarship awards of $1,000 each for use towards college expenses.

Nominees must adhere to the following criteria to be considered:

• High school seniors

• Attend a high school in Kentucky where Spectrum News 1 is available

• Have an excellent academic record

• Involved in extra-curricular activities and/or be active in their local community either through their school or volunteering on their own time

• Have plans to attend a university in 2026

Nominators must be 18 or older and CANNOT be the parent/guardian of the student. Each nominator may only nominate 1 individual.

Post Secondary/Trade School Scholarship

• Application Deadline is February 15, 2026

Bluegrass REALTORS®’ Community Education & Outreach Committee is proud to award up to 10 scholarships at $2,000 each to high school seniors for the 2026 school year. 

Eligibility/requirements for scholarships:

• High school senior - graduating in the academic school year of 2026 - in the Association's jurisdiction (see above for counties)

• Attendance to a post-secondary institution or trade school program in Kentucky

• Must complete an essay (approx. 300 word) – what is the importance of homeownership/value of owning a home?

• Preference given to students who plan to major in business and/or real estate related field of study or attend a trade school.

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• Application Deadline:  Most applications require registration by December 31st. 

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Student Scholarships Website 

Website that includes a large database of scholarships.  These are a wide range of offerings and submission deadlines, some career specific.