Scholarships
Scholarship Information
We understand that paying for college is not easy. There are many scholarships available to students for some extra financial aid. Your best resource is to meet with your College & Career Information Coordinator. They will help guide you in your search for scholarships and answer any questions you may have. I have included a list of scholarship links and applications below for your convenience.
**REMEMBER - When searching, it is very important to read all scholarship requirements carefully to determine if you are eligible. You do not want to put time and effort into completing an application for a scholarship that you are not eligible to win.
Monitor and visit this page periodically as Ms. Mejia updates and adds scholarships regularly!
Also, keep in mind that some scholarship applications may require a letter of recommendation from a teacher or responsible adult. Pay attention to deadlines and give these people at least three weeks to complete this part of the application for you.
After the 'Quarterly Scholarships' below, you will see scholarships organized by month. When you click on a month, the number in bold is the scholarships' deadline date. Again, please read scholarship requirements carefully so you know what needs to be turned in and when all application materials are due. Plan ahead and be organized! We do not want you to miss any deadlines!!
February 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
01 - Mental Health Scholarship for Women - $500 award; senior; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; write a short essay answering prompts about mental health; see website for prompts.
01 - Naomi Rabb Winston Scholarship and Frank Wright Awards in Two-Dimensional Art - (due by 5pm on 2/1/24) $16,000 in Scholarships and Awards; citizen of the United States; copy of birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers must be submitted with application; be at least 16 years old, but not older than 22 years by March 1, 2024; submit images of 5 examples of the applicant's two-dimensional artwork; see instructions on types of acceptable artwork and how to submit application materials; informational brochure.
01 - VeryVery’s Empowering Motherhood Annual Scholarship - $1,000 award; applicant must be a mother; high school senior, undergraduate student, or graduate student; write a short essay about motherhood and education; see link for specific prompt; applicant must be a current U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
08 - Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship - multiple awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 per year (renewable); senior; U.S. Citizen or perm. res.; min 3.0 GPA; exhibit academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement; activities, awards & honors; financial need; demonstrate desire and ability to overcome barriers and to achieve their goals; must certify to not participate as a student-athlete in college.
10 - The League of Educators for Asian American Progress (LEAAP) of MCPS Scholarship - $3,000 awards; seniors; identify as Asian; plan to major in the field of Education; eligible applicants must be interested in pursuing a career in the field of education and show experience supporting the community and/or an organization; personal statement; two letters of recommendation from an administrator, teacher, or counselor.
13 - McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship - different tiers of awards ranging from $5,000 - $100,000; senior; legal U.S. resident or a DREAMer/DACA recipient; have at least one parent of Hispanic heritage; younger than 21 years old; minimum 2.8 GPA; attend a two- or four-year college or university with a full-time course of study in the fall; transcript; personal statement; letter of recommendation to be submitted online; list of community service projects; FAFSA report and/or 1040s.
15 - Hispanic Scholarship Fund - many awards ranging from $500-$5,000; senior; must be of Hispanic heritage; U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA; minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year; submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable).
18 - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Issie Jenkins Scholarship - $2,000 award; senior; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); three letters of recommendation from teachers,counselors, employers, and community or church leaders that address academic achievement, leadership, and community service; 200-word essay explaining how he/she has demonstrated effective leadership abilities in and outside the school setting; resume; transcript.
20 - The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship - one award of $10,000 and four awards of $5,000; senior; open to vegetarian and vegan students; write an essay addressing different points on vegetarianism, including how you promoted vegetarianism in your high school and/or community and why it is important to you; copy of transcript; three or more recommendations (at least one teacher); any documentation related to your promotion of vegetarianism in high school and/or community including photographs, newspaper stories, etc.
20 - Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation - (deadline extended to 2/20!) Student Scholarships & Awards Opportunities from $250 - $40,000; all MCPS graduating seniors who plan to pursue higher education are eligible to apply; primary goal is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, and face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals; personal essay (can use essay from another application); list of top 3 – 5 activities; demonstrated financial need via FARMS, FAFSA, or MSFAA; flyer.
29 - TheDream.US National Scholarship - up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at one of our Partner Colleges (see list); senior; min 2.5 GPA; have DACA, TPS, or came to the country before November 1, 2018, and otherwise meet the DACA criteria, or came to the U.S. before age 16; significant financial need; family's financial info; essays; responsibilities.
March 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
01 - Montgomery College Board Of Trustees Scholarship - (3/1 is priority deadline, will take applications up until 5/1) one-year scholarship that covers the full-time cost of tuition and fees at Montgomery College at the county resident tuition rate, up to a maximum of 15 credits per semester; senior; must attend Montgomery College; 3.0 or higher weighted grade point average; letter of recommendation (must be emailed by staff to: botscholarships@montgomerycollege.edu); essay questions; please note: students must have already applied and received their MC M Number before they can begin the application.
01 - Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation - senior; min. 2.0 GPA; maximum family adjusted gross income of $117,000 for the 2022 tax year; plan to attend a college or career training school listed on College Navigator website in the fall; see link for full details and requirements; must be a child of one of the following: an Active duty, reserve, or veteran U.S. Marine; a Marine killed while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; an active duty, reserve, or veteran U.S. Navy Corpsman who is/was attached to a U.S. Marine Corps unit or who was killed while serving with a U.S. Marine Corps unit; a U.S. Navy Chaplain or Religious Programs Specialist who is/was attached to a U.S. Marine Corps unit or who was killed while serving with a U.S. Marine Corps unit.
02 - Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarships - awards of up to $2,000; senior with demonstrated academic success; self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer; participate actively in interscholastic athletics or a competitive sport (club sport, recreational league, etc.); enroll in a full-time, undergraduate program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university; official transcript; personal essay, maximum of 1,500 words (see link for prompt); two (2) letters of support from individuals qualified to address the candidate’s suitability for this award; copy of the acceptance letter for their chosen college or university.
02 - Ivy Vine Charities, Inc. Collegiate Scholarships - awards totaling more than $35,000 are available to qualifying applicants; senior; resident of Montgomery County, Maryland; min 2.7 GPA (unweighted); plan to attend a four-year college or university, or community college; written essay (see application for prompt); evidence of participation in school activities and community involvement; evidence of Student Service Learning (SSL) hours; provide at least three pieces of evidence (certificates, letters of achievement) highlighting involvement in: academics, sports, clubs, student government, etc; signed copy of the parent waiver and release form.
13 - HOLA at Microsoft Scholarships* - (*deadline is 4pm on 3/13!) three (3) $20,000 scholarships distributed over 4 years ($5,000 per year, renewable) and ten (10) $5,000 one-time awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); be of Hispanic and Latinx descent (for example, Mexican American, Cuban American, Brazilian, etc); U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or be an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA); enroll in full-time undergraduate study in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or one of the following Business programs- Business Administration, Finance or Marketing at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational school, in the U.S., for the entire upcoming academic year; flyer.
13 - Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships - 5- $20,000 scholarships distributed over 4 years ($5,000 per year, renewable) & 45- $2,500 one-time only scholarships; senior; min 3.0 GPA; must be of African descent (African American or African); attend four-year school in the fall; major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (see link); passion for technology; leadership; financial need; 2 letters of rec.; resume; transcript; two essays; photo.
15 - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority MCAC County-Wide Scholarship - senior; apply to a two or four year university or college as a full-time student; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); completed application; two letters of recommendation; official transcript; two separate, 300-500 word essays; wallet size color photograph picture; scholarship link.
15 - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority MCAC Career/Vocational/Technical Scholarship - senior; apply to an accredited career/vocational/technical school as a full-time student; min 2.0 GPA (unweighted); completed application; two letters of recommendation; official transcript; two separate, 300-500 word essays; wallet size color photograph picture; scholarship link.
15 - Horatio Alger Association Scholarship* - *(deadline is 12pm on 3/15) 600+ college scholarships up to $25,000; junior; United States citizen; maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor's degree in the U.S. (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer); demonstrate critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required); involved in co-curricular and community service activities; display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity; essay; Counselor Certification Form; transcript; income verification.
15 - PAVE Essay Contest & Scholarship Program - First place – $2500, Second place – $1500, and Third place – $1000; open to high school juniors and seniors who live in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia; write a well-crafted essay (of up to 1,000 words) in which you imagine a future with autonomous vehicles, choosing one of three prompts.
15 - Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. - Eta Pi Zeta Chapter 2023-2024 Scholarship - awards of up to $1,000; senior; min 2.5 GPA (unweighted); open to all Montgomery County students regardless of race, color, or creed; accepted at a (2) or (4) year Not for Profit College or University; proof of community service hours; essay; 2 letters of recommendation; official transcript; acceptance letter from the recipient's College or University; participation in an interview by the Eta Pi Zeta Scholarship Committee; signed photo release by parent or guardian; click here for the flyer.
17 - AFCEA DC 2024 STEM Scholarship Program - senior; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; acceptance to a U.S. accredited college or university in a four-year, full-time STEM curriculum (see link for list of majors); winners of full tuition scholarships are not eligible; copy of student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from FAFSA; summary and statement from Guidance Counselor; 2 letters of recommendation; list of activities.
20 - QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program - full scholarship to a college summer program hosted by top colleges, $1,000 for a new laptop or other resources to help the student enhance their college application; for high school juniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges; selected students will have their application will automatically carry over for the National College Match when you’re a senior, giving you a head start on applying for a full four-year scholarship to our college partners; see link for more information including average income levels and GPAs of applicants.
22 - 2024 NAACP Scholarship Award - $1,000 awards; senior; resident of Montgomery County; min 3.0 GPA; extracurricular activities; must participate in faith-based, religious-based, or volunteer activities (or employment); 2 references; include name of your current state Congress member and/or delegate; 300-word essay; 3-4 paragraph narrative; an unofficial copy of your transcript; wallet-sized photograph; awards presented at the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Sunday, May 19; see information sheet for more details.
22 - WISER Scholarship for Higher Education - two awards of $1,000; senior pursuing post-secondary education; must have documented need for accommodation (see application for details); must demonstrate engagement in their community (including, but not limited to, volunteering, caring for a sibling or elder, working for a local business, etc.); letter of documentation; application form, including short answer responses and signed certification statements (responses can be typed or recorded); application in word format; flyer.
29 - The Long Nguyen & Kimmy Duong Scholarship Program* - 130 awards of $3,000, $2,000 & $1,000 for Vietnamese American and Non Vietnamese American students; senior; U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident; min 3.0 GPA; must enroll in the University of Maryland, George Mason University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech), University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Northern Virginia Community College, or Montgomery College; outstanding academic achievement; strong leadership potential; demonstrated active community service; pride in culture and heritage; financial need; able to accept scholarship at awards ceremony; resume; transcript; essay; letters of recommendation; flyer; *only the first 250 applications will be accepted.
29 - Gamma Alpha Eta Zeta's DreamerZ Scholarship - 1-$3,000 and 1-$500 book award; senior; identify as female; min 3.0 GPA (unweighted); accepted at a (2) or (4) year College or University; Currently living in or attending school in one of Gamma Alpha Eta Zeta Chapters service areas: Bethesda, Poolesville, Potomac, Montgomery Village, or Germantown; essay; two letters of recommendation; official transcript.
29 - Becca's Closet Spirit of Generosity - award amounts vary; senior; min 2.0 GPA (unweigthed); U.S. citizen or legal resident; attend a regionally-accredited 2- or 4-year college/university or technical/vocational institution in fall of 2024; demonstrated financial need – all pages of 2024-2025 FAFSA Submission Summary with SAI; outstanding, documented contribution to his/her local community through volunteer service of any kind; two (2) letters of recommendation; sealed official high school transcript; essay; PLEASE NOTE: 3/29 is postmarked-by date, ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE MAILED, no email submissions will be accepted.
31 - Keeping it Safe (KIS) Video Contest - (deadline is 4pm on 3/31!); cash prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000; student teams who submit a quality video entry to the contest and meet all requirements will earn 5 SSL hours; open to student teams in middle and high school in Montgomery County; create a 30-second public service message from one of three topics about the risks and dangers of under 21 alcohol use; consent and release forms; see link for all details and guidelines.
31 - Masonic Charities of Maryland Scholarship Program - 500 $100 awards, 6 $1500 awards, 1 $2500 award, and 1 $5000 award; senior; United States citizen or U.S. permanent resident; letter from a school official detailing student attributes, abilities, talents, interests, scholarship, study habits, and probability of success in college or vocational school, need for financial assistance, and any pertinent or unusual factors which should be considered by the scholarship selection committee (PDF); 300-500 word essay; additional optional documentation; click here for the flyer.
April 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
01 - Damascus American Legion Post 171 General Scholarship Grant - four scholarship grants in the amount of $2,000 and two in the amount of $1,500; senior; citizen of the United States; min 3.0 GPA; plan to attend an accredited post-secondary academic institution, accredited vocational, trade, or business school full time in the fall; 350 word essay; activities; two letters of recommendation; flyer.
01 - Zaching Against Cancer Foundation Spirit Award Scholarship - six $2,500 awards; senior; min 3.0 GPA; plan to attend a two or four-year university or trade school within the following calendar year of receipt of the scholarship; must have overcome some sort of significant hardship, medical challenge, and/or family issue relating to cancer during their life; complete the 5 sections of the nomination form, including 3 individual nomination forms; high school transcript; letter of recommendation (optional but encouraged); family members of a Zaching Against Cancer Foundation Board or Scholarship Selection Committee Member are not eligible.
01 - Taiwanese American Community Scholarship Award - 10-$1,000 awards and a plaque; senior; open to all U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are college-bound; essay of no more than 500 words about community service; photocopy of your highest SAT/ACT score from the College Board; Activity List or Resume including extracurricular and volunteer/community service activities; letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher; official high school transcript; recipients are required to attend the TCC award ceremony held on May 25, 2024, at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College and receive the award in person; flyer.
01 - The Bernie Scholarship - multiple awards; seniors, including undocumented students who qualify as Dreamers; min 2.0 GPA; live in Montgomery County, MD, and receive housing assistance from Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), the Scotland Community or from housing owned/managed by Rockville Housing Enterprises, Edgewood Management or Forest Park Apartments, and other students who can prove they have a Section 8 or Public Housing rental subsidy; transcript; community service; at least 2 references; statement of goals; see link for full details and guidelines; Bernie Flyer (Spanish, Amharic).
05 - Sherry S. Hintz Scholarship Fund - up to $20,000 per year for as many as four years of undergraduate education; junior, senior, or a high school graduate under 22 years old; have lost a parent or primary guardian to breast or ovarian cancer; resident of Montgomery County, Maryland; member of a family with demonstrated financial need; min 3.0 GPA; involved in a school, community, or athletic activity, ideally in a leadership position; wish to attend college; Statement of Goals essay sheet; FAFSA Student Aid Index; transcript; Academic Recommendation Form; Leadership Recommendation Form; application in word format; flyer.
08 - Build A Better Future Scholarship - 5 winners to receive $10,000 tuition scholarships, with the top project receiving an additional $5,000 to continue funding their project and maximize impact; senior; attend a university, college, or trade school to continue your education; design & work on a community improvement project, using our checklist as a guide; fill out a strategy plan/ feedback form for additional guidance and suggestions (due March 1st, 2024); they will be requesting multimedia content throughout the application process; see link for all forms, guidelines, and details.
15 - Lavinia Engle Scholarship Fund - grants are for one year (renewable) and range in size from $500 to $3,500; senior; female; resident of Montgomery County, MD for at least three years; enrolled in or enrolling for a first undergraduate degree at a Maryland college or university; copy of your high school and/or college transcript; two letters of recommendation; copy of the first two pages of the current income tax return of the person (or persons) who supports you; one page written essay about your goals in life or what you hope to achieve through your education; small photograph of yourself; click here for application instructions, eligibility requirements, and more information.
15 - The Alex Popeck Never Back Down Foundation Scholarship - $2,500 awards; senior; two letters of recommendation (counselors, coaches, clergy, employers, teachers and supervisors are acceptable recommenders), participate in extra-curricular activities; submit a written personal statement/essay (1,500 words or fewer); see application for details.
19 - Damascus American Legion Post 171 Auxiliary General Scholarship Grant - two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each; senior; citizen of the United States; be a female graduating senior in the upper 50% of the class who attends a full-time and accredited postsecondary academic instruction, accredited vocational, trade or business school in the fall; not have accepted an appointment to a service academy or have received any other grants or scholarships (including RTOC awards) exceeding $10,000 total (does not include Guaranteed Student Loans); brief essay; three letters of recommendation; flyer.
19 - Damascus American Legion Post 171 Past Presidents Parley Medical Scholarship - one scholarship in the amount of $1,000; senior; attend or will attend an accredited postsecondary academic instruction who needs financial assistance in order to attend an accredited school for medical training; brief essay; three letters of recommendation; flyer.
20 - Kappa Youth & Community Foundation Scholarship - senior; African American male student of color living in Montgomery County; min 2.5 GPA; active in extra-curricular activities or work-related activity; copy of college acceptance letter(s); the transcript; essay; two letters of recommendation; current photo.
May 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
03 - Arts In Motion: Fine Arts Scholarship - $5,000 will awarded in two tranches (installments), awardees must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher to receive the second installment; senior; min 3.5 GPA; must enroll in a program, starting in the 2024/2025 school year, leading to a Fine Arts degree in one of the following fields: voice, performance, music, dance, drama, and or visual arts; official high school transcript; acceptance letter from the prospective institution; portfolio or video showing abilities in their field; list of experiences; narrative of 500 words or less; awardees must be available to give a presentation in person on Sunday, June 23 to the Leisure World community in Silver Spring, Maryland in order to receive their scholarship.
21 - B.Davis Scholarship - $1,000 award; available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution; write an essay of less than 1000 words on leadership; see link for specific prompt.
24 - Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. Scholarship - eight $1,008.11 single-year scholarship awards; senior; intend to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or technical school beginning in fall; submit an essay (500 words max) describing the importance of Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. and how it could relate to a future career path; copy of transcript.
June 2024 Scholarships - Click Here
07 - Build A Better Future Scholarship - $1,000 award; available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post secondary institution; submit an essay of between 500 and 1000 words your career and life goals; see link for specific prompt.
Scholarship Search Sites - Click Here
Fastweb - I recommend all students register and create an account on this site!
goingmerry - I recommend all students register and create an account on this site!
Stand Out College Prep - Washington, D.C. and Maryland Scholarships
Open Education Database is a great, extensive resource featuring information about MD schools, scholarships, loans, and more! Check it out: oedb.org/maryland/.
Resources for Undocumented Students - Click Here
Immigrants Rising - list of undergraduate Scholarships that don't require proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal Permanent Residency
ADDITIONAL DATABASES
Check out these additional databases of scholarships and fellowships available for undocumented young people:
My Undocumented Life: mydocumentedlife.org
Scholarships A-Z: www.scholarshipsaz.org
Sillicon Valley Community Foundation: www.siliconvalleycf.org/scholarships
The College Expo: www.thecollegeexpo.org/resources/scholarships
Scholarship List (2023 - 2024)