Scholarships/Awards

Many scholarships are merit-based, while others are awarded on the basis of financial need. Some are a combination of the two.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Many scholarships are merit-based, while others are awarded on the basis of financial need. Some are a combination of the two.

KEY POINTS

  • Although decent grades are usually important, leadership, talent, and community service are often just as critical.
  • Some scholarships have simple application procedures, such as writing a short essay.

RESOURCES

SHARED WISDOM (Scholarship/Award Announcements)

  • (Updated 4/22/25, JoJo’s Jump Start Foundation): JoJo’s Jumpstart Foundation provides financial assistance through scholarships for graduating high school students for continuing education, trade school, or entrepreneurship. Please see below for a unique opportunity for your students.
  • (Added 3/31/25): We are excited to announce that the 2025 Horatio Alger Association Career & Technical Education Scholarship application is now open! Scholarships are awarded to students who have overcome great obstacles in their lives and wish to pursue a career or technical degree/certificate/diploma at a not-for-profit trade/vocational school or community college in the United States. This year, 300 students will be awarded with scholarships up to $2,500 to help fund their education or outside costs such as childcare, transportation, equipment, or supplies. Below is a link to download a digital copy of our CTE scholarship poster. We hope that you will display it for students to see and include it in any email correspondence with your distributions to students and parents. Click the button below to learn more about the Horatio Alger Association Career & Technical Scholarship and help your students start their applications today!
    • CTE Poster Download
    • Learn More About Our CTE Scholarship
    • Apply now
      • To be eligible to apply for a Horatio Alger Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
        • Have completed high school (or equivalency) by July 1
        • Plan to attend a not-for-profit community college or trade/vocational school
        • Enroll in an associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma program by September that will lead to employment
        • May not be enrolled in pre-requisite courses
        • Demonstrate financial need (applicants must show household income of $65,000 or less)
        • Be under the age of 35
        • Be a United States citizen

        Priority Deadline: June 15, 2025

        Applications will be accepted until all scholarships have been awarded

  • (Added 3/24/25):  Each summer, rising seniors attend Hoosier Boys State and Hoosier Girls State on the campus of Trine University in Angola, Indiana. This year, the 86th Session of Hoosier Boys State will be held from Sunday, June 15th to Saturday, June 21st, 2025, and the 83rd Session of Hoosier Girls State will be held from Sunday, June 22nd  to Saturday, June 28th, 2025. These programs are ideal for your student leaders, especially members of your Student Council and looks great on college applications.  Current junior class students are eligible to apply for these experiential summer camps where they will construct a mock state government, learn about civics, leadership, and citizenship while competing for scholarships (merit and need-based). Additionally, two students are selected from each program to attend The American Legion’s Boys Nation and The American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls Nation in Washington, DC where more than $20,000.00 in additional scholarships are awarded.  Both programs are currently accepting applications to attend. There is a $50 non-refundable registration fee, but all program costs are covered by American Legion Posts and American Legion Auxiliary Units (dorm room and all meals are provided). Feel free to encourage as many students as are interested in attending to apply for Hoosier Boys State at www.HoosierBoysState.org that you believe would represent your school well. To learn more information and apply for Hoosier Girls State, visit www.alahgs.org.  If you have any questions concerning Hoosier Boys State, please reach out to info@hoosierboysstate.org or call 317-630-1301. For questions concerning Hoosier Girls State please reach out to HGS Director Sue Wehr at jbwehr@comcast.com or Assistant Director Nancy Magginnis at nancymagginnis@yahoo.com.
  • (Added 3/17/25):  THE LILY ENDOWMENT: Renewal Grants for Indiana K-12 Educators – The Lilly Endowment is accepting applications for its Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program. This program supports educators throughout Indiana by providing resources for them to take time for meaningful renewal. The Endowment believes that through new experiences, exploration, and reflection educators can generate renewed energy in their careers, innovative approaches to teaching and educational leadership, and thoughtful ways to encourage students’ creative thinking. The Endowment expects to award approximately 125 grants, each totaling up to $15,000, in 2026. The application deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Monday, September 8. Four information sessions will be held in 2025:
    • Thursday, April 17,
    • Thursday, April 24,
    • Thursday, August 7, and
    • Tuesday, August 19

    To learn more or register for one of these sessions, visit the Lilly Endowment website. Contact Lilly Endowment staff at teachercreativity@lei.org with any questions.

  • (Added 2/25/25):  The Indiana Oil and Gas Association (INOGA) has a rich history of involvement in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons in the State of Indiana.   INOGA is an all-volunteer organization formed more than 60 years ago.  Participating members include representatives from oil and gas exploration and development companies (operators) as well as companies and individuals working in the following sectors: pipeline, refinery, land acquisition, service, supply, legal, engineering, and geologic services.  In 2024, we awarded $15,000 in scholarships to students who were attending four-year colleges and pursuing degrees in the oil & gas career path.  Each year INOGA hosts a golf scramble to sponsor these scholarships to encourage students to continue their education in the field of Earth Sciences, Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Geology majors.  In 2025, INOGA is expanding this scholarship to be available to residents of IN, IL or KY and attending any accredited college and non- IN, IL or KY residents attending an Indiana accredited college.  Please browse our INOGA Scholarship History and Scholarship Landing Page: https://www.indianaoga.org/scholarship.html HERE is a copy of the scholarship application.  Please feel free to pass this information along to any student that might be interested.  The Deadline is April 1st!  We also encourage you to spread the work to your professional network, where appropriate.
  • (Added 2/5/25): The Indiana Chapter of the American Public Works Association would like to offer an opportunity to Indiana high school seniors to receive our 2025 annual scholarship.  The scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who would pursue a degree program in a public works related field.  Such fields would include Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Parks and Recreation, Municipal Planning, Public Administration Public Works/Municipal Operations and Fleet Management among others.  The degree may be through a university or technical school course of study.  The scholarship awards $1000.00 annually for 4 years provided that the student demonstrates continued progress toward a public works field degree.  A paid annual membership to the American Public Works Association is included in the award.  Interested high school seniors should complete the attached application.  For additional information please go to our website at https://indiana.apwa.org/resources/scholarship-opportunities/.   An Application is can be found HERE.
  • (Added 1/13/25):  The Horatio Alger Association is seeking students who display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity and plan to pursue higher education. Students must have financial need and a determination to turn their adversity into opportunity and pursue their American Dream. Click here to attend the live info session in January. Applications are due Saturday, March 1. Apply here.
  • (Added 11/12/24):  The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship application is now open. This scholarship was designed for high school juniors on track to graduate early. It offers a one-time award of $4,000 and is available to students who graduate from a publicly supported high school at least one year ahead of schedule. The funds can be applied toward tuition and fees, with any remaining amount being disbursed to the student. It is important to note that the scholarship cannot be used for remedial coursework.   For comprehensive details regarding eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit: https://www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financial-aid-by-program/mitch-daniels-early-graduation-scholarship/   If you have any questions, please send those to your assigned regional Outreach Coordinator. There may need to be adjustments to a student’s cohort in ScholarTrack if the student is having application issues. Your Outreach Coordinator can also support you in those adjustments/updates on ScholarTrack.
  • (Added 11/12/24): Applications Now Open for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is accepting applications for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 of financial support for aspiring teachers. High-achieving high school students who plan to teach in Indiana for at least five years can receive up to $10,000 per year of college (up to $40,000 total). Find additional requirements here. Priority will be given to students graduating high school, although current college freshmen and sophomore students are eligible to apply. Applications are submitted through ScholarTrack and will be accepted until January 31, 2025. Handouts are available in English and Spanish. Contact NextTeacher@che.in.gov with any questions.  Applications are submitted through ScholarTrack (ScholarTrack.IN.gov) and will be accepted until January 31, 2025. To access the application, kindly have your students follow these steps:1. Log in to ScholarTrack
    2. Click “State Aid Resources”
    3. Select “Apply for State Aid”
    4. Scroll down and click “Financial Aid for Future Educators”
    5. Select “Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship”
    6. Click “Apply”Please direct all questions or inquiries to NextTeacher@che.in.gov. You can find handouts here in English and Spanish.
  • (Added 11/05/24):  Nominations Open for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program:  The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors outstanding high school seniors and encourages high attainment among all students. This memo outlines the required qualifications and nomination process. The rubrics for general and career and technical education (CTE) applications are now available here. Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 8, in order to be considered. Contact IDOE’s Communications Team with any questions.
  • (Added 11/05/24):  INACAC 2025-26 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION. To be eligible, students must:
    • Have a completed application
    • Be a high school senior entering an Indiana college or university
    • Submit a letter of recommendation
    • Complete the essay prompt within the application
    • Applications must be submitted and completed by January 10, 2025
    • Additional information can be found on the scholarship webpage. Please share this opportunity qualifying students. We look forward to receiving their applications soon.Questions? Contact the Scholarship Committee.
  • (Added 9/16/24, Michelle Ashcraft, CHE): We want to call your attention to the Scholarship One-Pager we have under “Financial aid resources” at https://learnmoreindiana.org/resource-hub/materials/. This handout has a list of vetted scholarship resources.
  • (Added 5/28/24, Hilary Deardorff, CHE):  The Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship is designed for high school juniors on track to graduate early. This scholarship offers a one-time award of $4,000 and is available to students who graduate from a publicly supported high school at least one year ahead of schedule. The funds can be applied toward tuition and fees, with any remaining amount being disbursed to the student. It is important to note that the scholarship cannot be used for remedial coursework.  The deadline for students to apply for the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship is August 31, 2024.  For comprehensive details regarding eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit: https://www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financial-aid-by-program/mitch-daniels-early-graduation-scholarship/.
  • (Added 5/22/24, ISCA):  The Indiana School Counselor Association will present a $1,000 Ike Womack Scholarship to a student seeking a master’s degree in School Counseling at any Indiana college or university.  We are accepting applications for this scholarship until June 2nd, 2024. The recipient of the scholarship will be awarded with a $1,000 check at the ISCA Awards luncheon during the ISCA Fall Conference. If you are a current school counseling graduate student and are interested in applying for the Ike Womack Scholarship, please click on the Application link below and fill out the associated Google application form.  A recommendation letter from a graduate school professor and/or site supervisor will be required when you submit your application. Click HERE to apply.
  • (Added 5/15/24):
  • (Added 5/15/24): Beauty Schoool Scholarships
  • (Added 5/1/24, ISCA): Indiana High School Counselor of the Year Nominations Are Open! Nominations for Indiana High School Counselor of the Year are now open.  If you know of a high school counselor who is making a significant impact on their school, we encourage you to nominate them for Indiana High School Counselor of the Year by clicking the link below.  Our nomination process is modeled after the ASCA national award model. The yearly ISCA Awards will be presented at the ISCA Fall Conference Awards luncheon this November at the Indianapolis Marriott East in Liberty Hall.  Time and Dates of the luncheon are currently TBA.  Winners of each award will be invited to the luncheon to receive their award.  Nominate a well-deserving School Administrator, School Support Staff, and/pr School Counselor below.
  • (Added 3/1/24, ISCA): The Indiana School Counselor Association will present a $1,000 Ike Womack Scholarship to a student seeking a master’s degree in School Counseling at any Indiana college or university.  We are accepting applications for this scholarship until June 2nd, 2024. The recipient of the scholarship will be awarded with a $1,000 check at the ISCA Awards luncheon during the ISCA Fall Conference. If you are a current school counseling graduate student and are interested in applying for the Ike Womack Scholarship, please complete the Application.  A recommendation letter from a graduate school professor and/or site supervisor will be required when you submit your application.
  • (Added 2/13/24): The Indiana Chapter of the American Public Works Association would like to offer an opportunity to Indiana high school seniors to receive our 2024 annual scholarship.  The scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who would pursue a degree program in a public works related field.  Such fields would include Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Parks and Recreation, Municipal Planning, Public Administration Public Works/Municipal Operations and Fleet management among others.  The degree may be through a university or technical school course of study.  The scholarship awards $1000.00 annually for 4 years provided that the student demonstrates continued progress toward a public works field degree.  A paid annual membership to the American Public Works Association is included in the award.  Interested high school seniors should complete the attached application.  For additional information please go to our website at https://indiana.apwa.org/resources/scholarship-opportunities/.   Deadline is April 26th. For more information, email Angela Erpelding at angela.erpelding@cityoffortwayne.org
  • (Added 2/1/24, ISCA): ISCA 2025 School Counselor of the Year Nominations:
    The Indiana School Counselor of the Year Award honors outstanding professional school counselors in Indiana for their outstanding service and achievement. Through an extensive outreach process, Indiana school administrators, school counselors, teachers, and other staff members are encouraged to nominate professional school counselors who run exemplary school counseling programs at their schools. The nominations for the 2025 Indiana School Counselor of the Year awards will remain open until June 2, 2024.  If you have an exceptional school counselor at your school we encourage you to nominate them clicking the link below. A recommendation letter will be required when you submit your Google nomination form.
    Click HERE to Nominate
  • (Added 2/1/24, Laurie Ransom, Proteus, Inc): The National Farm Worker Jobs Program Grant helps farm working students pay for college or training expenses. I cover 16 SW IN counties, but all of Indiana is covered. I have attached a map that will show you the contact info for the Career Coach that covers your county. If you have students who have done paid farm work and need financial assistance to pay for college or training, please have them use the QR code on my flyer or they can always call, text, or email me. If a student is eligible for the grant, they can receive between $1500-$3000 a semester for 4-6 semesters. I have 14 spots left for 2024, I look forward to working with you! laurier@proteusinc.net
  • (Added 2/1/24, Linsay Osos, CHE):Nomination forms are now open for the 2023-2024 CTE Awards for Excellence (AFE) and may be accessed below. The CTE team at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education annually spotlights excellence in both secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education through the AFE. This year’s ceremony will be held on May 06, 2024. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 1, 2024.  Nominations are being accepted in four secondary categories including students, programs of study, partnerships and career advising. We invite each high school and career center to submit one nomination per category.  Find eligibility and scoring criteria, as well as links to the four secondary nomination forms here. Please use the appropriate link to enter your nominees in any or all four of the award categories.  We ask and encourage that you share these nomination form links with school faculty and staff at the secondary level who may have nominations to submit. Questions related to the Awards for Excellence, and nomination process specifically, can be directed to CTE@che.in.gov. The nomination forms were initially released yesterday through our monthly newsletter. You can find that complete newsletter here. As a reminder, this is the main avenue our team utilizes to share information related to CTE and we encourage you to sign up to receive our newsletters if you haven’t already done so.
  • (Added 01/23/24, Rebekah Frazer, IDOE):  Each summer, rising seniors attend Hoosier Boys State and Hoosier Girls State on the campus of Trine University in Angola, Indiana. This year, the 85th Session of Hoosier Boys State will be held from Sunday, June 16th to Saturday, June 22, 2024, and the 82nd Session of Hoosier Girls State will be held from Sunday, June 23rd to Saturday, June 29, 2024. These programs are ideal for your student leaders, especially members of your Student Council and looks great on college applications. Current junior class students are eligible to apply for these experiential summer camps where they will construct a mock state government, learn about civics, leadership, and citizenship while competing for scholarships (merit and need-based). Additionally, two students are selected from each program to attend The American Legion’s Boys Nation and The American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls Nation in Washington, DC where more than $20,000.00 in additional scholarships are awarded. The application for both programs is now open, and the program is completely free for students (dorm room and all meals are provided). Feel free to encourage as many students as are interested in attending to apply for Hoosier Boys State at www.HoosierBoysState.org that you believe would represent your school well. To learn more information and apply for Hoosier Girls State, visit www.alahgs.org.  If you have any questions concerning Hoosier Boys State, please reach out to info@hoosierboysstate.org or call 317-630-1301. For questions concerning Hoosier Girls State please reach out to HGS Director Sue Wehr at jbwehr@comcast.com or Assistant Director Nancy Magginnis at nancymagginnis@yahoo.com.
  • (Added 01/05/24, Indiana State Police): 2024 Indiana Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest – The Indiana State Police is partnering with the U.S. Department of Justice for the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest, which provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and families to discuss and promote child safety. Indiana’s winner will receive a national award certificate from the U.S. Department of Justice, and the student’s poster will be selected to go to the national judging competition. The national winner, along with the student’s parents and teacher, will be invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. More information, including contest rules, is available here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 16. Poster submissions can also be mailed to Sergeant Tumey at 8660 E. 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219. Contact Sergeant Seth Tumey with questions.
  • (Added 12/15/23, CHE): Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship Application is Now Available CHE is accepting applications for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship and the Next Generation Hoosier Minority Educators Scholarship. High-achieving high school and college students who plan to teach in Indiana for at least five years can receive up to $10,000 per year ($40,000 total). Current college students who apply must be able to use the scholarship for two full academic years. Apply through ScholarTrack by Wednesday, January 31. Please contact the CHE for more information.
  • (Added 11/14/23, Laurie, Ransom, The National Farm Worker Jobs Program Grant): This is a federal grant from DOL that serves agricultural workers. If you have any student 13 yr old or older that has done at least one hour of paid farm work during 1/20/20-5/20/23 they are eligible for a one time $600 gift card from the USDA. The student must be able to prove their work through a paystub, W2 or 1099, have a valid state issued ID and a working email address.
  • (Added 10/31/23, Iris Sanchez, Director of HSI initiatives at PNW): Scholarship List: One tab for DACA students and one for students who are undocumented.
  • (Added 10/16/23): Class of 2024 Students Can Qualify for $40K by Starting Their Big Future Scholarship List  – Students in the class of 2024 who use BigFuture Scholarship Search and save three scholarships to their list will earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships that can be applied to 2 or 4-year colleges or universities. Students can search for more than 23,000 scholarships on BigFuture, based on their background, interests, and future plans. Encourage students to log in to BigFuture to get started. For the class of 2024, $500 and $40,000 are awarded monthly until February 2024.
  • (Added 9/11/23): INACAC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION
  • (Added 8/25/23 – IDOE Update): Nominations Now Open for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program: The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors outstanding high school seniors and encourages high attainment among all students. This memo outlines the required qualifications and nomination process. The rubrics for general and career and technical education (CTE) applications are now available here. Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 27, in order to be considered. Contact Emily Black with any questions.

SHARED WISDOM (Other)

CONTENT FEEDBACK

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