How to Win Awards and Scholarships Through Extracurriculars

Article Summary

How to win awards and scholarships through extracurriculars: competition strategies, application tips, and a list of opportunities for high school students.

Full Article

Beyond the intrinsic value of learning and growing, extracurricular activities offer something else: the chance to earn recognition, win awards, and secure scholarships that can significantly offset college costs. Thousands of competitions, grants, and scholarship programs exist specifically to reward students who excel outside the classroom—but most students never find them or apply too late.

This comprehensive guide will show you how to discover award opportunities, position yourself to win, track crucial deadlines, and leverage your extracurricular achievements for maximum financial and application impact.

Why Awards and Scholarships Matter

Pursuing awards through your extracurriculars offers multiple benefits:

• College application boost – Recognition validates your achievements and demonstrates competitiveness
• Financial aid – Many awards include cash prizes or scholarships worth thousands of dollars
• Network building – Competitions connect you with mentors, peers, and organizations in your field
• Skill development – The process of preparing for competition sharpens your abilities
• Portfolio building – Award-winning projects become tangible evidence of your capabilities
• Personal growth – Competing teaches resilience, time management, and grace under pressure

Pro Tip: Track all your activities and accomplishments in our Activities Builder so you never forget details when applying for awards or filling out college applications.

Types of Award Opportunities

Academic Competitions

These test knowledge and skills in specific subjects:

• Science: Regeneron Science Talent Search, Regeneron ISEF, Science Olympiad, Physics/Chemistry/Biology Olympiads
• Math: AMC/AIME/USAMO pathway, MATHCOUNTS, Math League competitions
• Writing: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Bennington Young Writers Awards, Ocean Awareness Contest
• History/Social Studies: National History Day, We the People, Model UN conferences
• Computer Science: USACO, Google Code Jam, hackathons, app competitions
• Economics/Business: National Economics Challenge, DECA, FBLA, Knowledge@Wharton Investment Competition

Talent-Based Competitions

These showcase artistic and creative abilities:

• Visual Arts: Scholastic Art Awards, Congressional Art Competition, YoungArts
• Music: YoungArts, state and regional competitions, All-State ensembles
• Theater/Film: YoungArts, August Wilson Monologue Competition, student film festivals
• Photography: Scholastic Art Awards, National Geographic student competitions
• Creative Writing: Scholastic Writing Awards, Bennington, New York Times contests

Leadership and Service Awards

These recognize community impact and leadership:

• Presidential awards: President's Volunteer Service Award, Congressional Award
• Service organizations: Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, Jefferson Awards for Public Service
• Leadership recognition: National Honor Society Scholarship, JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest
• Local/regional: Rotary youth awards, Chamber of Commerce recognition, mayor's volunteer awards

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions

These reward creative problem-solving and business thinking:

• STEM innovation: Conrad Challenge, Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam, eCYBERMISSION
• Social entrepreneurship: Diamond Challenge, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
• App development: Congressional App Challenge, Verizon Innovative Learning
• Sustainability: Siemens Competition, Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Scholarships Tied to Extracurriculars

Many scholarships specifically reward extracurricular achievement:

• Activity-specific: Robotics scholarships, athletic scholarships, music conservatory awards
• Leadership-focused: Coca-Cola Scholars, AXA Achievement Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship
• Community service: Bonner Scholars, AmeriCorps Education Award, local service scholarships
• Professional organizations: Many professional associations offer youth scholarships in their field

How to Discover Opportunities

Finding the right awards requires proactive searching. Here's where to look:

Start with Our Database

Browse our comprehensive opportunities database to find competitions, programs, and awards that match your interests. Filter by category, grade level, and deadline to find opportunities right for you.

Ask Your School

• Guidance counselors often know about regional and national opportunities
• Teachers in your subject area track field-specific competitions
• Club advisors are plugged into their activity's competitive landscape
• Your school may subscribe to scholarship databases

Join National Organizations

Many national organizations offer members exclusive competition opportunities:

• Academic honor societies (NHS, Science NHS, etc.)
• Activity-specific organizations (Key Club, DECA, Science Olympiad)
• Professional associations with student chapters

Follow Organizations in Your Field

Subscribe to newsletters and follow social media accounts of organizations related to your interests. They often announce competitions, grants, and opportunities.

Network with Peers

Connect with students who've won awards in your area. They can share tips about opportunities you might not know about and offer advice on what it takes to win.

Positioning Yourself to Win

Finding opportunities is just the beginning. Here's how to become a competitive candidate:

Build Genuine Expertise

Award-winning students aren't generalists—they have deep knowledge in their area:

• Spend consistent time developing your skills over months and years
• Go beyond what's required in school; pursue independent learning
• Find mentors who can guide your development
• Create a portfolio of work that demonstrates growth

Start with Local, Work Up to National

Build your competitive resume gradually:

• School level: Win awards within your school first
• Local/regional: Compete in city, county, or regional competitions
• State: Progress to state-level recognition
• National/International: Top performers compete at the highest levels

Each level builds experience and credentials for the next.

Study Past Winners

Research what previous winners did:

• Read their project descriptions or winning essays
• Understand the judging criteria and scoring rubrics
• Identify patterns in what makes winners stand out
• Reach out to past winners for advice if possible

Get Feedback Early

Don't wait until the deadline to perfect your submission:

• Share drafts with teachers, mentors, and peers
• Ask for honest, constructive criticism
• Revise multiple times based on feedback
• Have someone unfamiliar with your work review it for clarity

Tell a Compelling Story

Many competitions require personal statements or project narratives. Make yours memorable:

• Start with a hook that grabs attention
• Explain why this work matters to you personally
• Describe challenges you overcame
• Quantify your impact with specific numbers
• Connect your work to broader significance

Pro Tip: Take our Find My Fit quiz to discover activities and competitions aligned with your genuine interests. Authentic passion comes through in applications.

Tracking Deadlines: A System That Works

Missing deadlines is the most common reason students don't apply for awards. Here's how to stay organized:

Create a Master Calendar

At the start of each school year, research and record all relevant deadlines:

• Use Google Calendar, Notion, or a paper planner
• Set reminders 6 weeks, 2 weeks, and 1 week before each deadline
• Color-code by type (academic, service, scholarship, etc.)
• Include early registration deadlines for fee discounts

Work Backward from Deadlines

For major competitions, create a preparation timeline:

• 8+ weeks out: Begin project or essay draft
• 4-6 weeks out: Complete first draft; gather materials
• 2-4 weeks out: Get feedback and revise
• 1-2 weeks out: Final polish; check all requirements
• 3+ days out: Submit to avoid technical issues

Create a Submission Checklist

Before submitting any application, verify:

• All required materials are included
• Essays meet word count requirements
• Recommendation letters are uploaded (if required)
• Contact information is accurate
• You've saved confirmation of submission

Common Award Categories and Strategies

Research Competitions (Regeneron, Siemens, etc.)

• Start research summer before junior year at the latest
• Find a mentor at a university or research institution
• Focus on original contribution, not just lab work
• Keep detailed research notes for write-up
• Practice presenting your work to non-experts

Essay Competitions

• Read winning essays from previous years
• Choose topics you genuinely care about
• Draft early and revise extensively
• Have multiple readers provide feedback
• Follow formatting requirements exactly

Service Awards

• Document hours and impact meticulously
• Focus on depth and sustained commitment
• Get verification from supervisors/organizations
• Quantify your impact with specific metrics
• Show leadership, not just participation

Innovation/Entrepreneurship Competitions

• Solve a real problem you understand personally
• Create working prototypes when possible
• Get user feedback and iterate
• Develop a clear pitch and business model
• Show traction (users, revenue, partnerships)

Performance/Portfolio Competitions

• Choose pieces that showcase your range and best work
• Follow submission guidelines precisely
• Get feedback from teachers and professionals
• Prepare for live auditions/interviews if required
• Include artist statements that provide context

Leveraging Awards for College Applications

Once you've won recognition, maximize its impact:

Where to Include Awards

• Common App Honors section: List most significant awards
• Activities section: Reference awards within activity descriptions
• Additional Information: Explain context for unusual or significant achievements
• Essays: Weave in awards naturally when they support your narrative (but don't brag)

How to Describe Awards

When listing awards, include:

• Full name of the award
• Level (school, regional, state, national, international)
• Selectivity (# of winners out of # of applicants, if impressive)
• Brief description if not well-known

Connecting Awards to Your Story

Awards are most powerful when they reinforce your overall application narrative. If you're positioning yourself as an aspiring scientist, research awards support that story. Random, disconnected awards can actually confuse your narrative.

What If You Don't Win?

Not winning is part of the process. Here's how to handle it:

• Request feedback: Many competitions provide evaluation forms or feedback
• Learn and improve: Use rejection as fuel for growth
• Try again: Many competitions allow repeated participation
• Pivot if needed: If you're consistently not placing, consider whether this is the right competition
• Value the process: The skills you develop preparing are valuable regardless of outcome

Remember: many successful people lost competitions before winning. Persistence matters more than any single result.

Your Next Steps

Ready to start winning recognition for your achievements?

1. Take our Find My Fit quiz to identify your strengths and interests
2. Browse our opportunities database to find competitions and scholarships
3. Track your activities and accomplishments in the Activities Builder
4. Create a deadline calendar for the next 12 months
5. Identify 3-5 competitions or scholarships to target this year
6. Know of a great award opportunity? Submit it to help other students!

The students who win awards aren't necessarily more talented—they're more strategic about finding opportunities and more diligent about preparing competitive applications. Start early, stay organized, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Your next award might be just one application away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Featured Programs

• QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program — Empower your college journey with this free leadership program for high-achieving juniors. Gain skills, college prep
• Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Awards — Gain national recognition in journalism and publishing! This high school competition develops writing skills
• Regeneron ISEF Special Awards — Organizations award 600+ special awards at ISEF. Includes NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, and specialty organizations.
• MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge) — A free, internet-based applied math modeling competition for high school teams in the U.S., U.K. and select countries
• National Japan Bowl — Compete in the National Japan Bowl to showcase your Japanese language and cultural knowledge. Build key skills

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