When you think of Halloween, you likely think of creative group costume parties, trick or treat, pumpkin carving, scary movies, or haunted places. But, what about free scholarships to help you pay for college? When applying for college and finding the niche scholarships to pay for school includes special talents, and obscure hobbies, paying for school gets really get weird—AND FUN!
From the wacky to downright weird, these weird scholarships leave you hanging on every word and wondering: how many people actually apply for these? October is the perfect time to celebrate the offbeat Halloween season, the oddball and the obscure - after all, that's exactly what the spirit of Halloween embraces, isn't it?
Escoffier Crown Scholarship Competition: The Spooktacular Halloween Dish-Off
Deadline: 10/31/24Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 11/1/24Pest Management Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 11/30/24Rove Pest Control Scholarship
Deadline: 12/31/24Illustrators of the Future Contest
Deadline: 12/31/24American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship
Deadline: 3/1/25Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund
Deadline: 4/1/25Clowns of America International Scholarship
Deadline: VariesLaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award
Award Amount: VariesChick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
Deadline: VariesSpencer's and Spirit Halloween Summer Internship
Deadline: VariesCT Veterans Funeral Care Mortuary Science Internship
Deadline: VariesHolography Internship
Deadline: VariesCostume and Textiles Internship
Deadline: VariesExotic Feline Rescue Center Internship
Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: $1,500 - $3,000 The Escoffier Crown Scholarship Competition: The Spooktacular Halloween Dish-Off is open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in attending Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. To enter, you must create a Halloween - inspired sweet or savory dish and submit three photos that illustrate your dish in the following stages: Mise en place, in process, and the finished plated dish.
Award Amount: $2,000 - $5,000 The Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship is available to students pursuing a degree in mortuary science. You must be enrolled in an ABFSE - or Canadian - accredited institution / program to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $2,000 The Pest Management Foundation Scholarship is available to junior, senior, and graduate students. You must be majoring in biological sciences, with a focus on urban pest management, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
The Rove Pest Control Scholarship is available to high school and full - time college students. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. Special consideration will be given to students pursuing a degree in entomology or a related field.
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
The Illustrators of the Future Contest is open to new science fiction and fantasy artists. To be considered, you must submit three illustrations in a color or black - and - white medium created from your imagination. Each illustration must represent a subject different from the other two.
Award Amount: $1,500 - $2,500
The American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing study in a program in funeral service or mortuary science education in an ABFSE - accredited program. You must have completed at least one semester / quarter of study and have at least one remaining before graduation to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: Varies
The Virginia Gordon and Atha Kahler Scholarship Fund is available to students with an interest in the costuming of dolls. You must submit a research topic and plan in order to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: Varies
The COAI Scholarship is available to students enrolled in family entertainment educational programs that run for a minimum of ten hours. You must be a COAI member in good standing for at least one year in order to be considered for this award. The deadline for applications is 60 days prior to the event for which the scholarship is requested.
Deadline: Varies
The LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award is available to graduate students doing a research project in aquatic entomology. You must submit your resume, a short synopsis of your project, and a letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor to be considered for this award.
Award Amount: 4 Awards from $500 - $2,000
The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is available to high school seniors who demonstrate talent in duck calling. You must participate in a duck calling contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas to be considered for this award.
Weird Internships!
The Spencer's and Spirit Halloween Summer Internship is available to junior-level undergraduate students and above. As an intern, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your skills, explore your talents, and network with peers and leaders. This internship program offers a challenging, hands-on experience in a rewarding, supportive, and collaborative environment. Interns have access to all home office amenities (collaborative workspaces, fitness center, and subsidized cafeteria), networking opportunities, community events, engagement activities, professional development workshops, and a discount on on Spencer's and Spirit Halloween merchandise. Internships are located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
The CT Veterans Funeral Care Mortuary Science Internship is available to students enrolled in accredited mortuary science programs. As an intern, you will be exposed to all aspects of the funeral service industry. This opportunity is located in Waterbury or Wallingford, CT.
The Holography Internship is available to students with an interest in holography. You will assist with work in a laser lab creating and copying holograms. You will also assist with work in an art gallery: fabricating displays, creating sculptural and computer-generated art, work in cinematography and assist in the running of the business of the gallery. A personal holography project may be part of your work.
The Costume and Textiles Internship is available to post-graduate and graduate students from the following majors: costume studies, material culture, museum studies, art history, or library science. You must have completed a bachelor’s degree before the start of the internship to be considered for this position. Preference will be given to candidates currently in an academic program who have completed courses in costume and textiles history and with previous experience in a museum setting. As an intern, you will learn about collections care and long term preservation goals specific to costumes and textiles. In addition, handling, documenting, and researching objects while gaining greater knowledge and hands-on experience within a renowned encyclopedic collection of costume and textiles.
The Exotic Feline Rescue Center Internship is open to students who want to further their education in animal care. You must be at least 18 years of age, be capable of lifting up to 60 pounds and be in good health. You must also be hardworking, dedicated and self-motivating to be eligible for this internship. Students majoring in animal-related fields are preferred, but it is not required. Interns will be involved in the daily care of about 186 big cats and have the opportunity to observe veterinary procedures. Internship duties also include involvement in: food preparation, feeding, cleaning, maintenance of the enclosures and grounds, construction, veterinary care, guest services and educational programs.
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Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman is the Managing Editor and a writer at Fastweb. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, ...