Top 10 Scholarships for High School Seniors 2019

Scholarship season is in full swing at the National Society of High School Scholars, and high school seniors have several opportunities to apply for scholarships.

While some scholarships are based on academic achievements, others are based on leadership abilities, demonstration of the NSHSS core values, and special talents in particular areas of study, such as the arts, science and technology, and entrepreneurship.

Take a look at this list to learn about the top 10 scholarships NSHSS is offering for high school seniors in 2019. Keep in mind that you are welcome to apply to any scholarship opportunities for which you are eligible, but applicants may only win one award per academic year.

 

1. JAMES W. LEWIS LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2019

In honor of James W. Lewis, NSHSS President, NSHSS is offering $5,000 scholarships (USD) for high school seniors and college freshman who have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and who have demonstrated in an outstanding manner the values of James W. Lewis, co-founder of NSHSS. Scholarship funds will be sent to the university where the recipients are enrolled or will enroll upon entering college.

Students who should apply are young leaders who exemplify the values to which Mr. Lewis has dedicated his life and work, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion, creating educational opportunities for all, encouraging youth leadership, community engagement and volunteerism, global perspective, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

James W. Lewis’s overriding philosophy is as follows: “The future of our planet is dependent upon how we prepare the youth of the world. Let them dream, explore and achieve not only for the betterment of themselves, but for the global community.”

Open Date: January 2, 2019

Close Date: May 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $5,000

Application Requirements:

• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting
• Personal statement of 1,000 words in response to the following: Describe how you have demonstrated and are continuing to exemplify the leadership values of Mr. Lewis
• Video submission no longer than 4 minutes introducing yourself and your suitability for this scholarship

More information on the James W. Lewis Leadership Awards, including a biography of James W. Lewis, can be found here.

 

2. CLAES NOBEL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS 2019

This scholarship will be awarded to high school juniors and seniors who have shown how they will make a positive impact on society and how their college plans will help them on their journey to do so.

Though there is only one application, applicants will be selected for the $5,000 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarships as well as the $1,000 National Scholar Awards.

Open Date: April 1, 2019

Close Date: June 1, 2019

Scholarship Award: Applicants will be selected for the USD $5,000 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship and the USD $1,000 National Scholar Awards

Application Requirements:

• Personal statement of 500 words describing how you hope to make a positive impact on society and how your college plans should help you on your journey
• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator, Counselor, or Supervisor Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting

*Scholarship funding is sent to recipients' college or university during the freshman year. If you receive this scholarship as a high school junior, your scholarship funding will be held until you enroll in college.

More information on the Claes Nobel Academic Scholarships can be found here.

 

3. NSHSS STEAM SCHOLARSHIP 2019

This scholarship is geared toward high school seniors planning to major in a STEAM field, including science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics. Students planning to major in a medical-field-related major may also apply.

Open Date: February 15, 2019

Close Date: April 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $1,000

Application Requirements:

• Personal statement of 500 words discussing why you have selected your intended STEAM major and your future career plans related to this major
• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator recommendation
• Color headshot

More information on the STEAM Scholarship can be found here.

 

4. THE CLAES NOBEL LEGACY AWARDS 2019

NSHSS is offering two $5,000 scholarships--one for a high school senior and one for a college freshman--in honor of Claes Nobel, who co-founded NSHSS in 2002 with James W. Lewis to acknowledge and nurture the continuing success of high school and college students who have distinguished themselves through community involvement, leadership, and academic accomplishment.

Greg Goff, executive vice president of Marathon Petroleum Company, established this award to highlight the Nobel family legacy of rewarding excellence. Mr. Nobel has dedicated his life and work to the values of preserving the earth, promoting peace, and changing the world for the better.

To apply for this scholarship, you must be a high school senior or college freshman with a minimum GPA of 3.5 who has demonstrated in an outstanding manner the values of NSHSS co-founder Claes Nobel.

Scholarship funds will be sent to the university where the recipients are enrolled or will enroll upon entering college.

Open Date: March 1, 2019

Close Date: May 1, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $5,000 for one high school senior and USD $5,000 for one college freshman

Application Requirements:

• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator or program leader recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting
• Personal statement of 500 words in response to the following passage:

Mr. Nobel promotes “The Seven Rights” as a prescription for living a productive life and contributing to the betterment of society. Those include right thought, right word, right deed, right attitude and right livelihood, and conclude with right here and right now. “Ladies and gentleman, to have a future or not – that is our choice,” Nobel said. “… Together we can change the world.” Explain how you have contributed and are contributing to the betterment of the world through one or more of Mr. Nobel’s “The Seven Rights.”

More information on the Claes Nobel Legacy Awards can be found here.

 

5. JAMES W. LEWIS ENTREPRENEUR SCHOLAR AWARDS 2019

This scholarship is geared toward high school juniors, high school seniors, and college students who have an idea for a product, service, business, or other innovation.

Open Date: June 1, 2019

Close Date: October 1, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $1,000

Application Requirements:

• Business Idea and Business Plan
• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting

Business Idea: A brief description of your proposed idea, business, or product explaining what it is, why there is a need for it, how it is different from others in the same category, how you would make (or have made) a prototype, and your plan for turning this innovation into reality. Let us know how you got the idea and what you have done about it thus far.

Business Plan: Applicants are also required to include a business plan outlining strategy for launching their idea. A business plan outlines how you plan to grow your business and explains your strategic vision.

Visit websites such as Small Business Administration for information, guidance, and tips for creating your plan. The Small Business Administration website provides free information for young entrepreneurs. You may also take 30-minute free online courses for young entrepreneurs to assist you with starting a business, as well as creating a business plan, which also contains a sample business plan template:

• https://www.sba.gov/tools/sba-learning-center/training/young-entrepreneurs
• https://www.sba.gov/tools/sba-learning-center/training/how-write-business-plan
• https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/write-your-business-plan/how-make-your-business-plan-stand-out

Your business plan should include the following components in a document:

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Market Analysis
• Organization and Management Plan
• Service or Product Description
• Marketing and Sales Plans
• Funding Request Needs (if applicable)
• Financial Projections

More information on the James W. Lewis Entrepreneur Scholar Awards 2019 can be found here.

 

6. INNOVATION IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/ROBOTICS SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is open to high school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who wish to present relevant research and theories on how AI or Robotics technology may affect the future. You may highlight a specific project in progress or conceptualized in the field of AI/Robotics.

Open Date: March 15, 2019

Close Date: May 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $1,000

Application Requirements:

• Resume
• Transcript
• Educator Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting
• Video submission no longer than 4 minutes introducing yourself and your project or vision in the field of AI/Robotics
• Personal statement discussing one of the following:
• How AI or Robotics technology may affect the future; you may wish to present research evaluating the pros and cons with your conclusion about best steps for mankind in this area.
• Discuss a specific project of yours that is conceptualized or currently in progress in the field of AI/Robotics.

More information on the Innovation in Artificial Intelligence/Robotics Scholarship can be found here.

 

7. NSHSS VISUAL ARTS COMPETITION 2019

This scholarship is open to high school students, including high school seniors, who would like to submit their visual artwork in two categories: 1) Photography/Digital Photography; and 2) Painting/Drawing/Mixed Media/Digital Art (including painting, drawing, ceramics, glass, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, and weaving, for example).

Open Date: March 15, 2019

Close Date: May 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: 1st prize: USD $1,000; 2nd prize: USD $500; 3rd prize: USD $250 in Photography/Digital Photography and Painting/Drawing/Mixed Media/Digital Art

Application Requirements:

• Title and description of your submission (up to 200 words)
• Digital files of your artwork uploaded to the application
• Educator recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting

All pieces of work must be submitted in a digital file and uploaded to your application.

All submissions must be the student’s original work.

*Students have the option to apply to both categories. Applying to both categories does not improve your chances of winning; all submissions will be judged based on quality and uniqueness of work. Only one entry per category is allowed. Students are only eligible to win one NSHSS Scholarship per academic year.

More information about the NSHSS Visual Arts Competition can be found here.

 

8. NSHSS VIDEO COMPETITION 2019

This scholarship is open to high school students, including high school seniors, who want to submit a film of five minutes or less that creatively represents their worldview or who they are.

Open Date: March 15, 2019

Close Date: May 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: 1st prize: USD $1,000; 2nd prize: USD $500; 3rd prize: USD $250

Application Requirements:

• Title and description (up to 200 words) of your submission– what inspired the work, how it was created, and the intent
• Video Submission
• Educator Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting

Video Prompt: Express yourself by providing an artistic representation of who you are or your worldview through film.

Films should be no more than 5 minutes long, and submissions can be made in the following categories: scripted film narrative, animation, documentary, or music video/musical/dance performance.

***Previously created music may be used if the song’s original artist and composer are credited.

• Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
• Expression of a clear theme
• Quality of the story line and script (if applicable)
• Creativity and/or content originality
• Production quality
• Editing

*To enter, upload your video to YouTube and provide the link in your application.

Plagiarism: NSHSS has a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Any applicant whose winning work is determined to be plagiarized in whole or in part will forfeit any awards.

More information on the NSHSS Video Competition can be found here.

 

9. NSHSS LITERARY COMPETITION 2019

This scholarship is open to high school students, including high school seniors, who would like to submit literary work in two categories: Poetry and Fiction.

Interested students may apply in one or both categories. However, entries should not have been previously published, and students should only submit one entry per category.

Open Date: March 15, 2019

Close Date: May 15, 2019

Scholarship Award: 1st prize: USD $1,000; 2nd prize: USD $500; 3rd prize: USD $250

Poetry: Students may submit their original poetry in any style, from formal verse, to free verse, to experimental. The poem should be formatted as you wish it to appear in publication.

Fiction: Students may submit a piece of short fiction, which must be no more than 5,000 words and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student’s choice, including graphic novel or story.

Application Requirements:

• Upload of writing piece in Word or PDF file
• Each writing entry should include a title
• Educator Recommendation
• Color headshot suitable for website posting

Winning literary entries will be published on the NSHSS website. Entries will be judged on creativity, technique, expression, and originality.

More information on the NSHSS Literary Competition can be found here.

 

10. NSHSS ACADEMIC PAPER AWARDS 2019

With this award, NSHSS will offer 10 high school students, including high school seniors, cash awards to recognize their academic papers as class assignments in high school. These can include a research paper, an original essay, or an analytical paper.

The 10 winning papers will be published on the NSHSS website. Note: the essay must have been assigned and submitted for a class you have taken in high school or are currently taking. If you are dual-enrolled in high school and college, you may submit a paper from your college class.

However, we will not consider fiction or poetry, journal entries, computer programs, or lab reports. You may submit one paper per year, and winners must agree to the publication of their essay on the NSHSS website to receive the award.

Open Date: March 1, 2019

Close Date: May 1, 2019

Scholarship Award: USD $250 x 10 recipients

Method of Submission: Upload a copy of your essay on the online application as a Word document or a PDF. Essays must be submitted in English.

Application Requirements:

• Title of the paper
• Brief description of the assignment
• Name of the class
• Term/year when the class was taken
• Name of the teacher who assigned the paper
• Email address of school counselor

More information on the NSHSS Academic Paper Awards can be found here.

For a full list of scholarships available through NSHSS, view the NSHSS Scholarships page on the NSHSS website.