Once known as the BF Goodrich Collegiate Inventors Program, the National Inventors Hall of Fame sponsors the Collegiate Inventors Competition annually. This scholarship awards a grand prize of $25,000, with a second place prize of $10,000. The scholarship encourages students to pursue new ideas, processes and technological innovations. Judges look for originality, inventiveness and potential use to society. You can work in a team of up to four people, with prize money split among the team. To apply, go to invent.org/collegiate/.
The Ayn Rand Institute offers the Atlas Shrugged Essay contest annually. All college students can apply for the scholarship. The first prize awards $5,000. You can also receive one of three $1,000 second place scholarships, or one of five $400 third place prizes. You must apply by mid-September to become eligible for the scholarship. Your essay should be short, novel, unpublished and relate to the philosophical themes of Ayn Rand’s book "Atlas Shrugged." To apply, go to aynrand.org/contests.
The Surfrider Foundation offers the Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship annually. Students should express an interest in coastal environmental science. Topics in the field include oceanography, environmental science, marine affairs, public policy, natural resources and community planning. The award amount for an undergraduate student is $2,000. To apply or for more information, send an email to [email protected].