Your high school student doesn’t have to be a senior to apply for scholarships! This month features scholarships and contests open to students as young as kindergarten (!), but if your student is at least age 13, you won’t want to miss these. This month includes opportunities for Eagle Scouts, young artists, cybersecurity, endangered species advocacy, and superheroes!
ScholarshipAmerica is this month’s scholarship site spotlight, which offers tons of unique options you won’t find anywhere else. Scholarship America offers other resources on the website, including articles about how scholarships work, paying for college, preparing for college, and support during college.
The scholarship list for this post was generated using Gemini by using skills learned through the Coursera Google courses, specifically, the AI Essentials and Prompting courses. A variety of sources were utilized, primarily: JLV College Counseling, Scholarships.com, Bold.org, Access Scholarships, and Scholarship America.
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
Sponsor: American Foreign Service Association
Amount: $2,500 + a trip to Washington D.C.
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: Open to high school students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service. Write an essay about the importance of the Foreign Service in global diplomacy.
Sponsor: Bold.org
Amount: $25,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: This is a “no-essay” scholarship awarded to the student with the “boldest” profile. It’s open to students of all education levels, emphasizing earnestness and determination over GPA.
Sponsor: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026 (varies by state)
Description: A creative contest for K-12 students. Participants must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species to promote conservation through the arts.
Project Yellow Light Hunter Garner Scholarship
Sponsor: Project Yellow Light
Amount: Up to $8,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: Create a video, billboard, or social media post that discourages distracted driving. This is a creative competition designed to save lives while providing funds for education.
Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship
Sponsor: The American Legion
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: Awarded to a high school senior who is a registered Eagle Scout and has demonstrated practical citizenship in their school, church, and community.
AFA Teens Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship
Sponsor: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: High school seniors are invited to submit an essay (up to 1,500 words) or a video describing how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives or their community.
Sponsor: FS-ISAC
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: March 2, 2026
Description: Designed for women and underrepresented groups pursuing a career in cybersecurity or information assurance. Open to high school seniors and college students.
Science Without Borders® Challenge
Sponsor: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: March 2, 2026
Description: An international art contest for students aged 11-19. Participants create artwork to build awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans.
Creative Writing Summer Scholars Program
Sponsor: New College of Florida
Amount: Up to $500 + Full/Partial Tuition Scholarships
Closing Date: March 2, 2026
Description: Open to grades 9-11. Submit a creative work in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction. Winners attend a summer camp and can earn significant college scholarship offers.
Species on the Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest
Sponsor: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 3, 2026
Description: High school students nationwide are invited to create a social media campaign to advocate for an endangered or threatened species.
Sponsor: American Society of Human Genetics
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 4, 2026
Description: High school students (grades 9-12) write an essay on a specific genetics-related topic provided by the ASHG.
Sponsor: U.S. Courts for the Ninth Circuit
Amount: Up to $3,000
Closing Date: March 6, 2026
Description: An essay and video contest for high school students in the Western U.S. and Pacific Islands. Students analyze the importance of various constitutional amendments.
“Sleep for Success” High School Video Contest
Sponsor: American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Amount: $1,000
Closing Date: March 11, 2026
Description: High school students (13+) are tasked with creating a video that highlights the importance of sleep for success in school and daily life.
Kaplun Foundation Essay Contest
Sponsor: Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation
Amount: Up to $1,800
Closing Date: March 12, 2026
Description: Open to students in grades 7-12. Participants write an essay reflecting on Jewish values and their application to contemporary issues.
Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
Sponsor: Fontana Transport Inc.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Closing Date: March 13, 2026
Description: Open to underrepresented, first-generation high school seniors pursuing a full-time degree in transportation, math, or engineering.
Stossel in the Classroom Video Contest
Sponsor: Stossel in the Classroom
Amount: Up to $2,500
Closing Date: March 13, 2026
Description: Students in grades 5-12 create a short video (1-3 minutes) addressing one of the four provided topics on economics and personal liberty.
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Sponsor: Barron Prize
Amount: $10,000
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: This prize honors “young heroes”—students ages 8 to 18 who have organized a significant service project that has helped people and the planet.
Sponsor: The 911 Promise Run
Amount: $15,000
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: Open to children of first responders and military service members who have died or been injured in the line of duty.
Becca’s Closet Involvement Scholarship
Sponsor: Becca’s Closet
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: Awarded to graduating high school seniors who have made outstanding contributions to their communities through volunteer service.
Wells Fargo Stacey Milbern Scholarship
Sponsor: Wells Fargo / Scholarship America
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: March 20, 2026
Description: Designed to support students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Applicants should demonstrate leadership and involvement.
Courageous Persuaders Video Contest
Sponsor: Adcraft Foundation
Amount: Up to $3,000
Closing Date: March 30, 2026
Description: Create a 30-second commercial targeted at middle schoolers to warn them about the dangers of underage drinking.
Sponsor: Unigo
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Open to U.S. students 14 and older. Write a short response (250 words) about which superhero or villain you would want to change places with for a day.
Sponsor: Cirkled In
Amount: $2,500
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: A quarterly “no-essay” scholarship for students 13 and older. It’s designed to be quick and easy to apply for by creating a student profile.
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Open to all high school students in the U.S. Submit an original poem of 20 lines or fewer on any subject.
Sponsor: WQED / PBS Kids
Amount: Varies (Prizes & Publication)
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: A contest for children in grades K-5. Children write and illustrate their own original stories for a chance to be featured on-air and online.
A heads up for a big opportunity due in May:
Past is Prologue
Sponsor: American Battle Monuments Foundation
Amount: Up to $10,000 (there are 3 age categories)
Closing Date: May 3, 2026
Description: Over the course of history, millions of Americans and other freedom-loving people around the world fought to stop evil. Learn how and why as you compete for prize money with your winning essay about the great alliance between France and America during one time period in history!
