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University Daily Kansan
Organizations have scholarships for some of the strangest things, which leave people asking,
Wednesday, March 19, 1997
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Hill topics
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'You got money for that?'
Story by Mark McMaster • Illustration by Blake Walles
Just because you have a low grade point average, obscure interests and no personality does not mean that you are ineligible for scholarships. In fact, there are a plethora of unusual academic awards out there for just about every variety of scholar. All it takes is a search. Here are a few examples, which can be found in guides such as The Scholarship Book by David Cassidy and Peterson's College Money Handbook.
Do you strive to be a great athlete, yet colleges aren't recruiting you? Maybe you've chosen the wrong sport. The Professional Bowlers' Association Billy Welu Memorial Scholarship gives $500 awards to students who represent their college on the school bowling team. If bowling isn't your thing, perhaps the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation can offer assistance. If you've been a caddie on a participating course for two years or more, the foundation might pay your tuition through college.
In academics as well as sports, a great way to maximize your scholarship potential is to choose a less-popular specialty.
It may be hard to get a scholarship to law school, but not in other occupations. For example, the National Association of Animal Breeders offers $10,000 scholarships for students pursuing a career in "bovine breeding and physiology with emphasis on artificial insemination." For students who don't wish to deal with cows that intimately, the association also gives scholarships in animal genetics and agricultural market research.
Another choice is the American Board of Funeral Service Education Scholarship which gives over 70 awards each year for, yes, the lively field of funeral service. However, applicants must have completed a semester in the major - presumably to weed out people who are not genuinely interested in funeral service.
On the other hand, maybe you have already devoted your life to the study of "lighting design." If so, consider the Landscape Architecture Foundation William Locklin Scholarship. The foundation offers this award to promote their goal of demonstrating "the importance of 24-hour lighting in landscape designs." A noble goal, indeed.
For those with artistic aspirations, there are many scholarships that might not attract too much competition. Students especially interested in blacksmithing, needlepoint or basketweaving may apply to the Haystack Mountain School Of Crafts Scholarship Program, which helps with tuition at that institution. Also honoring young artists is the American Accordion Musical Society Contest, which awards up to $250 for musicians that compose a serious piece of music of six minutes or more for the accordion.
The Norwich Jubilee Esperanto Foundation offers grants to students who wish to further their study in Esperanto, the international language. To qualify, you must be fluent in Esperanto, an artificial language invented in 1887 by Polish scientist Ludwik L. Zamenhof, and spoken only by a small, devoted group spread throughout the world. The group, among other things, operates Esperanto-speaking nude beaches and compose rap music to promote the language.
Possessing some strange trait may also help you qualify for additional awards. The John Gatling
Scholarship Program guarantees anyone with the surname "Gatlin" or "Gatling" $6,000 a year at North Carolina State University, provided they meet minimum admission requirements.
But some scholarships may have limited their applicant pool too much. The Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence organization gives up to nine scholarships to students who can prove that an ancestor signed that document. The Ladies of Northants Scholarship is for a woman over the age of 40 who has emigrated to Northamptonshire, England, from the United States and plans to pursue a career in nuclear engineering. In case too many aspiring nuclear scientists apply, preference is given to those living in the village of Podington.
Perhaps the most unusual, though, is the International Onexioca Founders Memorial Award which honors the memory of Hernesto K. Onexioca. To qualify you must have the name Onexioca, yet not be related to Hernesto by blood or marriage and have been born on January 1.
Sometimes a tragic event in the family can mean additional scholarship money. If your parent was
Silly scholarships
Hard up for some cash? Don't exactly have a stellar scholastic record? Not to worry. The following are some organizations that give out money — if you meet certain requirements.
Professional Bowlers' Association Billy Welu Memorial Scholarship
National Association of Animal Breeders
American Board of Funeral Service Education Scholarship
Landscape Architecture Foundation William Locklin Scholarship
Haystack Mountain School Of Crafts Scholarship Program
American Accordion Musicological Society Contest
The Norwich Jubilee Esperanto Foundation
John Gattling Scholarship Program
- Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
The Ladies of Northants Scholarship
International Oenicoxa Founders Memorial Award
Renovation Department of Military Affairs—
International Onexloca Founders Memorial Award
Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs—
Bureau of Veterans' Affair
the victim of an armed conflict or terrorist attack, and if you have lived in Pennsylvania for five years, are aged 16 to 23 and demonstrate financial need, the Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs—Bureau of Veterans' Affairs could have a $4,000 scholarship with your name on it.
One student thought the criteria for some of these awards were unfair.
"Just because you're a lefthanded pomeranian breeder from Tonganoxie doesn't mean you deserve your own scholarship," said Marisa Crowther, Three Rivers, Tex., sophomore. "It seems like they could find better qualifications for these scholarships. Probably there's just a bunch of rich old philanthropists who get a kick out of creating their own scholarships for obscure things."
Even Misti Spann, a student advisor at the University Scholarship Center, admits she finds many scholarships ridiculous. However, she says that few students apply for these scholarships, making them a great opportunity for students who take the time to search them out.
"I'm sure there's a scholarship for everybody out there," said Spann, a Lawrence sophomore. "There's a lot of money that is going to lessqualified people because nobody applies."
Of course, the scholarships listed above are only the most unusual ones—there are many others that students with more mainstream hobbies and interests might qualify for.
Spann suggested that students interested in applying for scholarships begin at the bulletin board across from the Scholarship Center office at 33 Strong Hall. The board lists a wide range of awards for which the center has applications.
Students can also find information about scholarships they may be eligible for by using a search service, such as fastWEB! available free to internet users at www.fastweb.com. Using this service, students enter information about themselves, and then receive a list of scholarships that match those characteristics.
The Scholarship Center also offers a similar service, called CASHE, for a $12 fee.
So begin your search for scholarships, brush up on your Esperanto vocabulary, and begin composing your magnum opus on accordion. The money soon will be rolling in.
WEDNESDAY
Doctoral recital: Rob Reid, conduction, University Singers; Terri Teal, conduction, Women's Chorale; 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Free.
Cake, Dieselhead, and Danger Bob, 8 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $12.50.
*Pamela Bruner, 8 p.m. at Nouvelle Dell 129 E. 10th St. Free.*
THURSDAY
Hampshire St. Cost; $8 advance tickets
Adrian Legg and Richard Johnson, 8
p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New
Doctoral Lecture-Recital: Russell Guyyer, conducting; 7:30 p.m. at
buyer, conducting. © print Swarthout Recital Hall. Free
Marvin Hunt, 9 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli,
129. F, 10th St., Free
Low, The Dirty Three and T-shirt, 9 p.m.
at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire
St. Cost: $8 advance tickets.
FRIDAY
LAB Jazz Trio, 6 to 8 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli, 129. E.10. St. Ft.
Sister 7, 9:30 p.m. at The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $5 and
$6.
SATURDAY
Java Junkies, 10 p.m. at Nouvelle Dell,
J29 E.10th St. Free.
Shiner, Catherine, Fragile Porcelain
SUNDAY
Swing Set, 8 p.m. at the Bottleneck,
737 New Hampshire St. Free.
Mice, and Prudentall, 9:30 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
Cost: $5 and $6.
MONDAY
Open Mic, 8 p.m. at the Bottleneck,
737 New Hampshire St. Free.
TUESDAY
Dan Newman, 8 p.m. at Nouvelle Deli,
129 E. 10th. Free.
Sweet & Low Orchestra and Phil Cody,
8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New
Hampshire St. Cost: $2 and $3.
ADT