Scholarships for high school sophomores
If you’re a high school sophomore, you may already be thinking about college. While there are many scholarships available for high school seniors and college undergraduates, it’s possible to start thinking about scholarships while still in high school.
There are many scholarships available for high school sophomores. Scholarships are a great way to get free money, which can be used to pay for college or even help with living expenses. Here’s what you need to know about scholarships:
- Colleges and other organizations award scholarships.
- Many scholarship opportunities require a GPA of 3.0 or higher, but there are exceptions (like essay contests).
- Some scholarships do not require SAT scores; others do. If you have poor test scores, don’t worry! You may still be able to qualify for some scholarships even if your scores aren’t as high as they could be.
1) The Breakthrough Junior Challenge | Scholarships for sophomores in high school
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a science competition for high school sophomores. Students in the United States and Canada can enter the contest by submitting an essay on their favorite topic in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics.
Students in grades 10-12 are eligible to participate in this competition if they have not reached their 19th birthday at the time of submission. There are no restrictions on citizenship or residency.
2) The Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program
| Scholarships for sophomores in high school
The Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program is a $2,500 scholarship awarded to high school sophomores with a GPA of 3.0 and above who have demonstrated community service by raising money for a charity or volunteering their time at an organization. The application period for the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program began on March 1, 2019, and will end on May 31, 2019.
To apply for this scholarship:
- Complete all sections of the online application form
- Submit two letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors (not family members) who can attest to your academic achievement, financial need, and leadership activities
- Upload three recent photos that illustrate your personality
3) World world changer scholarship | Scholarships for sophomores in high school
If you’re a high school sophomore, the World World Changer Scholarship is for you. This $10,000 scholarship is open to students in the United States who are enrolled full-time as sophomores at an accredited public or private college or university.
Since it’s specifically designed for high school sophomores, we’ll assume that if you’re reading this article, it’s because you’re one of them.
The scholarship itself is administered by The Learning Seed Foundation (LSF), an organization dedicated to helping children achieve their dreams and become successful adults by providing grants and scholarships to help them attend college.
The scholarship application requires students to submit an essay between 500 and 1000 words on how they plan on changing their world through science and technology.
Applicants must also provide transcripts from any schools they’ve attended previously, along with two letters of reference from teachers/advisors who can speak about their academic ability outside of test scores (two letters can come from different teachers).
You must be 16 years old or older when submitting your application by April 15th – but don’t get too excited just yet. This means that if your birthday falls after March 14th but before March 15th, don’t worry about missing out; just make sure that whoever fills out your documents has valid information regarding all aspects required by LSF (namely, date of birth).
4) The Fountainhead Essay Contest | Scholarships for sophomores in high school
The Fountainhead Essay Contest is an excellent opportunity for high school students to learn the importance of writing well. It’s important that you understand the value of this contest and the many benefits it can have for your future.
Writing well is an essential skill for success in life, whether you are a student or not. You will use it on numerous occasions throughout all stages of your professional and personal life as well as in everyday situations such as emails, texts, letters, and more.
Good written communication skills can be very beneficial in any field of work, but they are especially critical if you want to become successful in business leadership positions (e.g., CEO). If someone cannot read what you write, there’s little chance they will take anything else seriously about your message or ideas.
The Fountainhead Essay Contest teaches young people how important it is to think before they write so that others will want to read what they have written.
5) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program | Scholarships for sophomores in high school
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program is a $10,000 award for high school sophomores involved in their communities.
To be considered for this award, you must submit an essay describing how you have been active in your community and what impact you think that has had on the people around you.
The deadline for submission of applications is May 1st.
6) The Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship Competition | Scholarships for sophomores in high school
The Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholarship Competition is a program that offers scholarships to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a strong interest in science. Students can apply for this scholarship from September 15th until December 1st.
To be eligible for this scholarship competition, you must:
- Be currently enrolled as a sophomore, junior or senior in an accredited US high school;
- Have completed at least one year of high school biology (or equivalent) before January 1st of the academic year when you apply;
- Have not yet graduated from high school by July 31st of the academic year when you use;
- Not have already received any bachelor’s degree before July 31st of the academic year when you use;
It is possible to start thinking about scholarships in high school
There are a few reasons why it’s important to start thinking about scholarships in your sophomore year.
First, suppose you are planning on attending a four-year university and will be entering as an undergraduate junior. In that case, there is no need to wait until senior year for scholarship applications and essays.
Second, applying for scholarships as soon as possible gives you more time to work on the essay portion of the application process.
Third, even if you don’t win any scholarships at this point in your life, applying for them will help build up your college resume and get you used to writing about yourself—a skill that comes in handy when applying for internships later on down the road.
Here’s a list of more scholarships for high school sophomores:
High School Sophomore (H.S. Class of 2025) Scholarships
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| Annual Sphinx Competition | $50,000 | 10/20/2022 |
| National Constitution Bee | $10,000 | 10/22/2022 |
| Students of the Year- Los Angeles | $2,500 | 10/28/2022 |
| $1,000 Cappex Easy Money Scholarship | $1,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| $10K BigFuture New York Scholarships | $10,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| $2,000 Nitro Scholarship | $2,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| CollegeXpress Scary Stories Scholarship | $1,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| Students of the Year – Middle Tennessee | $2,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| VFW Voice of Democracy Competition | $30,000 | 10/31/2022 |
| The Adrienne L. Green Scholarship | $5,000 | 11/02/2022 |
| Prudential Emerging Visionaries | $15,000 | 11/03/2022 |
| NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing | Varies | 11/05/2022 |
| The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists | $2,500 | 11/15/2022 |
| Michigan American Legion High School Oratorical Contest | $20,000 | 11/20/2022 |
| Teen Changemakers Essay Contest | $1,000 | 11/30/2022 |
| Become Utah’s Student of the Year | $2,500 | 12/01/2022 |
| FRA Americanism Essay Contest | $1,500 | 12/01/2022 |
| George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest | $6,000 | 12/01/2022 |
| Gonzaga University Undergraduate Scholarships | $88,000 | 12/01/2022 |
| Greater Bay Area Students of the Year | $2,000 | 12/01/2022 |
| Leadership Speech Contest | $5,500 | 12/01/2022 |
| The Explorers Club Student Grants | $5,000 | 12/04/2022 |
| Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships | $5,000 | 12/05/2022 |
| Jazz At The Ballroom Jazz Scholarship | $1,000 | 12/13/2022 |
| Persian Scholarship Foundation Recognition Awards | $1,000 | 12/15/2022 |
| Walgreens Expressions Challenge | $2,000 | 12/15/2022 |
| Take Care of Texas Video Contest | $2,500 | 12/16/2022 |
| North American International Auto Show Poster Contest | $1,000 | 12/19/2022 |
| Apprentice Ecologist Scholarship | $1,000 | 12/31/2022 |
| Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. | $1,000 | 12/31/2022 |
| Live Poets Society of New Jersey – National High School Poetry Contest | $500 | 12/31/2022 |
| NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest | $1,000 | 12/31/2022 |
| Our First Amendment Freedoms Art & Essay Contest | $5,000 | 12/31/2022 |
| Students of the Year – Worcester Chapter | $5,000 | 12/31/2022 |
| MIT THINK Out of the Box Scholars Program | $1,000 | 01/01/2023 |
| Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award | $36,000 | 01/05/2023 |
| Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship | $25,000 | 01/11/2023 |
| John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest | $10,000 | 01/13/2023 |
| SMU Nancy Ann & Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholars Program | $184,000 | 01/15/2023 |
| Rau for Art Scholarship Competition | $7,000 | 01/27/2023 |
| Association for Women in Mathematics Essay Contest | Varies | 01/31/2023 |
| Carolina Eco-Innovators Scholarship | $4,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| Charles P. Bell Scholarships and Grants | $600 | 01/31/2023 |
| LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Scholarship | Varies | 01/31/2023 |
| National AG Day Essay Contest | Varies | 01/31/2023 |
| National Merit Scholarship Corporation Program | $2,500 | 01/31/2023 |
| Princeton Prize in Race Relations (PPRR) | $1,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| Saint Robert Bellarmine Fund Scholarship | $32,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| The HIV League Scholarship | $7,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition | $10,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| Transform Rhode Island Scholarship | $25,000 | 01/31/2023 |
| House Scholarship Foundation Aspiring Scholars Award | $2,000 | 02/01/2023 |
| Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship | Varies | 02/03/2023 |
| Melmed Law Group Collegiate Scholarship | $5,000 | 02/15/2023 |
| American Dance Festival Internships | Varies | 02/18/2023 |
| Live Deliberately Essay Contest | $500 | 02/21/2023 |
| Davidson Fellows Scholarship | $50,000 | 02/23/2023 |
| International Young Eco-Hero Award | $500 | 02/28/2023 |
| Straight “A” Scholarship | $2,000 | 02/28/2023 |
| The 431 Exchange Scholarship | $1,431 | 02/28/2023 |
| Aero Club Foundation of Washington Scholarship | $5,000 | 03/01/2023 |
| Field Museum Internships | Varies | 03/01/2023 |
| GRCF Fred and Lena Meijer Scholarship | $10,000 | 03/01/2023 |
| GRCF Sherman L. & Mabel C. Lepard Scholarship | Varies | 03/01/2023 |
| Jewish United Fund Merit Scholarship Program | $1,000 | 03/01/2023 |
| Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars Scholarship | $6,600 | 03/01/2023 |
| JUF Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program | Varies | 03/01/2023 |
| National Technical Honor Society Scholarship | $1,000 | 03/01/2023 |
| Norwegian National League Scholarship | $1,000 | 03/01/2023 |
| Oregon Chafee Education and Training Grant | $2,500 | 03/01/2023 |
| Science Without Borders Challenge | $500 | 03/01/2023 |
| The Estelle Beaumont Ellison Scholarship Fund | Varies | 03/01/2023 |
| DNA Day Essay Contest | $1,000 | 03/02/2023 |
| Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest | $1,000 | 03/04/2023 |
| Classic Center Cultural Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship | $2,000 | 03/04/2023 |
| Doodle for Google Competition | $30,000 | 03/04/2023 |
| Gold Coast Jazz Society’s Jeanette M. Russell Scholarship Fund | $5,000 | 03/04/2023 |
| Akron BBB’s Laws of Life Essay Contest | $500 | 03/05/2023 |
| Army ROTC Scholarships | $3,000 | 03/06/2023 |
| Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation Essay Contest | $1,800 | 03/13/2023 |
| VSA International Young Soloists Competition | $2,000 | 03/14/2023 |
| ABPA Harrington-Arthur Memorial Scholarship Essay Competition | $1,500 | 03/15/2023 |
| Essay and Art Contest on Civil and Human Rights | $1,000 | 03/15/2023 |
| Italian Catholic Federation First Year Scholarship | $2,500 | 03/15/2023 |
| Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students | $1,500 | 03/15/2023 |
| Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarship | $5,000 | 03/15/2023 |
| Communities Foundation of Oklahoma Universal Scholarship Application | $28,000 | 03/25/2023 |
| Tommy Tranchin Award | $2,500 | 03/26/2023 |
| 4-H Youth in Action | $5,000 | 03/29/2023 |
| Fitchburg Optimist Club Scholarship for Community Service to Youth | $1,000 | 03/30/2023 |
| Diversity Scholars Program | $4,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| Folds of Honor Higher Education Scholarship | $5,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| GRHS Youth Essay Contest | $1,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| Hearthstone Housing Foundation Scholarship | $5,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| Oakwood Masonic Lodge 1444 Scholarship | $1,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| Saab Family Foundation Scholarship | Varies | 03/31/2023 |
| Suncoast Music Scholarship | $3,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| The Blades of Green Scholarship Fund | $1,000 | 03/31/2023 |
| WISH Rising Stars Scholarship | Varies | 03/31/2023 |
| GRCF Dorothy B. & Charles E. Thomas Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Gerald M. Crane Music Award Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Geraldine Geistert Boss Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Jack Family Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Margery J. Seeger Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Orrie & Dorothy Cassada Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| GRCF Stephen Lankester Scholarship | Varies | 04/01/2023 |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation 1,000 Dreams Scholarship | $1,000 | 04/01/2023 |
| Naija Nation Legacy Foundation Scholarship | $1,000 | 04/01/2023 |
| Powering Education Scholarship | $2,000 | 04/01/2023 |
| Species On The Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest | $1,000 | 04/01/2023 |
| Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy Scholarship | Varies | 04/03/2023 |
| AFSA High School Essay Contest | $2,500 | 04/06/2023 |
| Joshua L. Anderson Memorial Foundation Scholarship | $3,500 | 04/09/2023 |
| Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes | $10,000 | 04/15/2023 |
| Hayat Life Celebrating Cultural Muslims “A Creative Artistic Competition” | $5,000 | 04/15/2023 |
| Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program | $5,000 | 04/15/2023 |
| Shirley Martin Scholarship for Young Songwriters | $500 | 04/15/2023 |
| U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize | $15,000 | 04/15/2023 |
| Joseph B. Ezhaya Memorial Scholarship | $750 | 04/25/2023 |
| Just Drive 30 PSA Video Contest | $5,000 | 04/28/2023 |
| Celebrate The West High School Art Competition | $1,500 | 04/30/2023 |
| Dedman Essay Competition | $1,500 | 04/30/2023 |
| Right Fit Foundation $5,000 Local Scholarship | $5,000 | 04/30/2023 |
| $10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship | $10,000 | 05/01/2023 |
| Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship | $10,000 | 05/01/2023 |
| The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 | 05/01/2023 |
| The Paradigm Challenge | $100,000 | 05/01/2023 |
| The Weston Scholarship | $1,000 | 05/01/2023 |
| Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship | $3,000 | 05/02/2023 |
| Children’s Cancer Cause College Scholars Program | $2,000 | 05/10/2023 |
| Districts Make the Difference Video Contest | $2,000 | 05/10/2023 |
| Beat the Odds Scholarship Program | $10,000 | 05/12/2023 |
| Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Competition | $100,000 | 05/12/2023 |
| Smile Train College Scholarship Program | $5,000 | 05/12/2023 |
| UMPS CARE All-Star College Scholarship | $40,000 | 05/13/2023 |
| Brower Youth Award | $3,000 | 05/14/2023 |
| The Bayar Fellowship | $1,000 | 05/17/2023 |
| Washington State Scholastic Esports Championship Scholarship | $15,000 | 05/21/2023 |
| A Voice for Animals Contest | $500 | 05/31/2023 |
| Lyric Music Theater Scholarship | Varies | 05/31/2023 |
| Mica Hammond Fund Education Reimbursement For Special Needs Families | $1,000 | 05/31/2023 |
| 5000 Role Models of Excellence Scholarship | Varies | 06/01/2023 |
| Eaton County Democratic Party Student Scholarship | $500 | 06/01/2023 |
| Mira Kimmelman ‘Learning from the Holocaust’ Essay Contest | $750 | 06/01/2023 |
| My Manas Foundation Scholarship for the Underdog | $3,000 | 06/01/2023 |
| Robert J Frankel Scholarship | $5,000 | 06/01/2023 |
| The Desire To Inspire Scholarship | $1,500 | 06/05/2023 |
| Stuck At Prom Scholarship Contest | $10,000 | 06/08/2023 |
| Ocean Awareness Student Contest | $1,500 | 06/13/2023 |
| ConnectHER Film Festival | $5,000 | 06/15/2023 |
| Fourth Circuit High School Essay Contest | $2,000 | 06/15/2023 |
| Asian American Storytelling Video Contest | $1,000 | 06/19/2023 |
| IAFC Fire Explorer Scholarship | $500 | 06/24/2023 |
| One Earth Film Festival Young Filmmakers Contest | $1,000 | 06/25/2023 |
| John Sexton Essay Contest | $1,000 | 06/30/2023 |
| Dave Ledo Scholarship | $2,500 | 07/11/2023 |
| Adam Charles Ports Foundation Scholarship | $1,000 | 07/31/2023 |
| We Art Scholarship | $1,000 | 08/06/2023 |
| American Red Cross – Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program | $2,500 | 08/31/2023 |
| Claes Nobel Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship | $2,000 | 08/31/2023 |
| Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund | Varies | 08/31/2023 |
| Singing For Scholarships | $1,000 | 09/16/2023 |
| L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of The Future Contest | $5,000 | 09/30/2023 |
| L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest | $5,000 | 09/30/2023 |
| U.S. Naval Institute Information Warfare Essay Contest | $5,000 | 11/30/2023 |
| American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest | $25,000 | Varies |
| Ethical Torch Essay Scholarship | $1,500 | Varies |
| GLHF College Bound Scholarship | Varies | Varies |
| ICAFS Student Training Opportunity and Project (TOP) Grant | $750 | Varies |
| Jewels Academy Scholarship | Varies | Varies |
| Kids’ Chance of Maine | $5,000 | Varies |
| Lindsay Sale-Tinney Award | Varies | Varies |
| Maine Community Foundation Scholarships | Varies | Varies |
| Military Child of the Year Award | $10,000 | Varies |
| North Carolina American Legion High School Oratorical Contest | Varies | Varies |
| North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Scholarships | $2,000 | Varies |
| Poetry Out Loud Scholarship Contest | $20,000 | Varies |
| Students of the Year – Boston Chapter | Varies | Varies |
| UNCF Scholarships | $5,000 | Varies |
Conclusion
What we have discussed today is a small sampling of scholarships available for high school sophomores.
There are many other opportunities, but those are some of the most popular and competitive ones.
