By Bridget Kulla
6 March 2007

Shaquille O’Neal earned a basketball scholarship to Louisiana State University. The 2005 Nobel Prize Winner in physics, John L. Hall, won a science scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University. But you don’t have to be a basketball star or science wiz to win money for college. Scholarships designed for students with unique talents can help fund your degree.

Skateboarding

Do you know what an Ollie is? Can you do a 50-50 grind, kickflip or nose wheelie? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may be eligible for the Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship. Applicants for this award must submit an essay on how skateboarding has had a positive impact on their lives. One scholarship winner receives $5,000 and three winners receive $1,000 each to attend the college of their choice as full-time students.

Rodeo

Whether you’re a barrel racer or a bareback rider, your rodeo skills could rope you a scholarship. Institutional awards, like Colorado State University’s rodeo scholarships, are usually reserved for students on the school’s rodeo team. Private awards, like the San Angelo Rodeo Scholarship, give students more flexibility in their college choice, but often have other requirements, like county of residence. Internationally-known scientist and cancer researcher, Dr. Raymond DuBois, won a rodeo scholarship to Texas A&M University, which helped start his successful career in medical research. He has called it one of the most important awards he has ever received.

Puppetry

Pinocchio may not be your style, but if you have an interest in puppetry, it could help you pay for college. The Connecticut Guild of Puppetry offers the Margo Rose Scholarship for students involved in puppetry who wish to attend the National Puppetry Conference. Unima-USA, the American chapter of the theatre organization Union Internationale de la Marionette, offers scholarships for students with experience in puppetry to study at the Institut Internationale de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France. Since puppetry degree programs are rare, most scholarships in this field are for private programs or for puppetry studies within a theatre arts department.

Chess

Chess stars could turn their winning moves into money for college. Several colleges, including Texas Tech University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the University of Texas at Dallas, offer promising chess players up to four-year, full-tuition scholarships. The United States Chess Federation provides information on chess tournaments and available chess scholarships, both college and privately-sponsored. Casual chess players, be warned, these scholarship programs are often very competitive. "The scene is much more competitive than when I played," says Doug Kasper, who was invited to apply for a UMBC chess scholarship in 1997, "The landscape has changed dramatically."

Knitting

If you are nimble with knitting needles, consider applying for a knitting scholarship. The American Sheep Industry Association sponsors four scholarships for applicants who submit a sample of an article of clothing they created completely with wool. To be eligible for the Bernard Steur Scholarship at Philadelphia University, you must be a textile engineering student with an interest in knitting.

Rugby

Rugby may not be an official sport at most U.S. universities, but it can still help pay your college costs. Rugby scholarships are offered at New Mexico University, Texas A&M University, Saint Bonaventure University and many other colleges. Playing rugby can also send you abroad. The Center for International Studies offers a rugby study abroad program for students to study for one or two semesters in Wellington, New Zealand and play in a local rugby club. A $500 scholarship is available to make this program more affordable. Check with USA Rugby for more rugby scholarships.

Your Own Research

Could your unique talent or unusual hobby help you land a scholarship? Maybe. Try looking for organizations that coordinate or support the activity on a regional, national or international level. You might be surprised what a simple Google search will produce.

Finally, make sure your FastWeb profile is complete and reflects your current interests. Then check out your scholarship results for a set of awards that are unique to you.

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