Putting the FUN in College Funding

Many students believe they need to be athletic or maintain a 4.0 grade point average in order to earn a college scholarship, but merit-based scholarships aren't the only option. Plenty of businesses and organizations use scholarship competitions to promote brand awareness and garner favor with college -bound consumers. Here are a few annual scholarship competitions that put the fun in college funding:

• STARFLEET International Scholarships - members of the STARFLEET International Star Trek Fan Association may apply for one of five $1,000 scholarships. 
• Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest - wear duct tape to prom for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. 
• Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway - students submit a video explaining how they will make an impact in their community. Prizes include either $2,500 or a trip to a College Football Championship Game to compete with other finalists for $100,000 in tuition. 

Note: When looking for out of the ordinary scholarship opportunities, students should be careful to avoid scams. Visit the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation's external scholarship opportunities page to learn more about third-party scholarship opportunities.