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The Best Scholarships for 11th Graders

Everyone knows that college is expensive. Thankfully, there are many different scholarships to help students and their families with the heavy cost. You might think it’s something to worry about later, but you don’t have to wait until senior year to secure some of this money. Plus, winning one of these prestigious scholarships would look very impressive on your Common App honors section! Scholarships for 11th graders are out there.

Do your research and start applying during your junior year to get a head start. In this blog, I have outlined scholarships for college selected based on the amount of the award, the prestige of the awarding organization, and the availability to high school juniors. Read on to see if one of these scholarships for 11th graders is right for you.

1. Cameron Impact Scholarship

Do you believe you’ve been making a positive impact in your community? Do you plan to pursue public service in the future? If you’ve said yes to either or both of these questions, consider the Cameron Impact Scholarship. The Bryan Cameron Education Foundation supports “leaders of the next generation” through merit-based scholarships each year. Recipients are awarded up to $50,000 each year towards college tuition and educational expenses. To apply, students must: 1) excel in academics with a minimum 3.7 unweighted GPA, 2) be motivated leaders, 3) actively participate in community service, and 4) participate in a broad array of extracurriculars. With two application cycles each year, the deadlines are on May 24 for the early application, and September 13 for the regular application. Early applications are limited to 3,000 and applicants find out in June.

2. Coolidge Scholarship

Imagine a full ride to college covering tuition, room and board, and other associated expenses for undergraduate study. Incredible, right? One of the best scholarships for 11th graders and named after the 30th President of the United States, the Coolidge Scholarship awards students for their academic excellence and demonstrated interest in public policy and service. This scholarship is need-blind and open to students of all backgrounds pursuing any discipline of study. Recipients are invited to an orientation in Plymouth Notch, Vermont (Coolidge’s birthplace) and are asked to return for one week over the next three summers, including their first two summers while in college. They are also invited to the Coolidge Senators Summit in Washington, D.C. The deadline is on January 23.

3. Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Another scholarship for the community leaders out there. Each year, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes recognizes 25 extraordinary young leaders aged 8-18 with a $10,000 scholarship to be used towards their undergraduate education or a service project. To apply for the Barron Prize, students must be working individually on an inspiring service project or have done so in the past 12 months. This activity must have been primarily initiated by the applicant and not be the result of a mandatory school assignment. Winners must demonstrate courage, initiative, tenacity, and high moral purpose in pursuit of their goals. Applicants must be permanent residents of (or currently residing in) the United States or Canada. The deadline is in April.

4. Davidson Fellows Award

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, giving away more than $6.7 million to almost 300 students. While the grand prize is $50,000, scholarships of $25,000 and $10,000 are also awarded. Davidson Fellows are invited to Washington, D.C. for Congressional meetings and a special reception. To apply, students must complete and submit a substantial, college-level project in one of the following disciplines: engineering, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, science, technology, or “outside the box.” Here’s your chance to take what you are passionate about to a whole new level, and win one of the best scholarships for 11th graders while you’re at it! This project should be geared towards benefiting society and should promote a new way of solving problems. The deadline is in February.

5. MathWorks Math Modeling (M3) Challenge

If you love math, this one’s for you! Sponsored by MathWorks (the leading developer of mathematical computer software), the Math Modeling (M3) Challenge asks applicants to use applied mathematics as a problem-solving tool to tackle a new and specific real-world problem each year. If your friends claim that there’s no real-world application of math, here’s your chance to prove them wrong. Gather a team of 3-5 juniors and/or seniors and compete for the prizes totaling $100,000.

The M3 Challenge is Internet-based. The registration deadline is 10 days before each challenge start date. It occurs over the first weekend of March, when teams download the problem at any time and start the countdown of 14 consecutive hours of work time. Once the clock starts, it cannot be paused. Over 125 Ph.D.-level applied mathematicians serve as judges presiding over the challenge’s three rounds. Winners are announced in April.

6. Student Research Foundation Personal Achievement College Scholarship

Over the last 20 years, the Student Research Foundation has awarded over $1 million in scholarship money across the United States. The Foundation believes that students achieve great things every day, improving their communities and their nation through challenges and adversity. Because of this, the Foundation offers the opportunity to win up to $15,000 in the form of college scholarships for 11th graders and 12th graders. The application is simple with a short essay describing the applicant’s personal achievement story, detailing adversity and how the applicant overcame the struggles to reach their goals. Working on this essay can help you get started brainstorming your college personal statement as well! The deadline is July 26, 2019.

7. Toptal Scholarships for Women

Five female leaders striving to change the world receive $10,000 each year from Toptal, a global community of experts committed to empowering the next generation of female CEOs, founders, and world leaders. In addition to the scholarship money, winners also receive a year of mentorship from Toptal experts. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and publish a 1,000-word blog post detailing how they can and will change the world. Awards are distributed one per global region (Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asian, and Oceania).

This is your chance to practice your writing skills and talk about goals that you might have felt were too impossible to achieve. Not only can you establish yourself as a female leader to watch out for, but you can win one of the best scholarships for 11th graders! The blog posts are judged based on the originality of the idea, the overall plan, and the applicant’s passion for the cause. Deadlines are based on region. For the Americas, the deadline is March 31, with the winner announced in early June.

8. Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Science Competition

The Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Science Competition is a STEM competition open to students in grades K-12, but the judging is separated by age group, with high schoolers competing with each other. You will not only be competing with others seeking scholarships for 11th graders, but kids from other grades as well. But, the fun part is, you can work on a team with your friends from other grades and even your friends from other schools, as long as they’re all in high school!

Teams of 2-4 students must work together to identify a technology, explore how it works, and predict how it might change in the future and affect society. Applicants must submit projects that demonstrate engagement with real-world problem solving and have a clear emphasis in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics. All entries must include the following: an abstract, a description, a bibliography, and five sample web pages. Winners receive $10,000 each and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the Exploravision Awards Weekend. The registration deadline is in early January of each calendar year, with the projects itself due early April.

9. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition

If you love debate, Model UN or any public speaking course or organization, you do not want to miss out on this scholarship! Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, the Voice of Democracy Scholarship encourages students to express their beliefs regarding democratic principles and ideals. Almost 40,000 high school students across the nation enter this contest to win a portion of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships. The 1st prize winner is awarded $30,000 toward his or her college education. Other recipients receive $1,000-$16,000. To apply, you must write, record, and submit an original speech (and the recording) based on the provided topic. The current theme is: “Why My Vote Matters.” The deadline is midnight on October 31.

10. William Randolph Hearst Foundation US Senate Youth Program

Each year, the U.S. Senate Youth Program welcomes a select group of students from across the nation to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, in-depth view of the Senate and the federal government. The program is looking for students who have participated in their student governments and demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, academic achievement, community involvement and extracurricular activities. If you believe that’s you, you must be nominated by your high school or state selection officials, so get working on that!

Selected candidates for the program will receive $10,000 and an invitation to an educational and professional development week in Washington, D.C. If you win, you would be encouraged to pursue government, history, and public policy education in college, which you might already have been planning if you applied for this scholarship for 11th graders in the first place. While the deadline varies by state, it is usually around October.

Scholarships are always competitive, so it’s best not to wait for senior year. As you can see, there are plenty of scholarships for 11th graders. Plan ahead well in advance of the deadlines to submit your applications, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Ask your school counselors for guidance and information. Get your friends to help, especially if the scholarship requires a team project. Then go apply to secure the finances to fund your education. Good luck!