Nebraska scholarships: Free money for students

Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students through the American Legion Department of Nebraska High School Oratorical Contest. Eligible participants must be bona fide students under the age of 20 years on the date of the National Contest who are presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited homeschool) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade 9 and terminating with grade twelve 12. Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Contestants must either be legally domiciled within or attend an educational institution within the Department (State) that they enter competition. The contest will consist of two parts: (1) an 8-10 minute, memorized oration will be given on some phase of the United States Constitution and (2) a 3-5 minute oration on one of the four "assigned topics" assigned by National Headquarters. The contestant may not use any notes or prompts when giving their oration. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the American Legion Department of Nebraska for more information.

The Ray, NORP, and Katie, WOKTE, Pautz Scholarship will be awarded to those with a General Class License or higher. Applicants must be pursuing a field of study in electronics, computer science, or related fields at an accredited 4-year college or university. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The Paul and Helen L. Grauer Scholarship will be awarded to those with any active Amateur Radio License Class. Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor's degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields. Applicants must submit transcripts which must cover the applicant's entire high school career to date and, if in college, must include all semesters for which grades have been awarded. For students applying for graduate school assistance, high school transcripts are not necessary. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The PHD Amateur Radio Association Scholarship will be awarded to those with any active Amateur Radio License Class. Applicants must be a resident of the ARRL Midwest Division and pursuing their education in any institution. Students may be the child of a deceased radio amateur. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.

The NIAF Norman R. Peterson Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding Italian American student at John Cabot University. This student must originally be from the Midwest. Applicants must be enrolled in a US accredited institution of higher education for the Fall 2026 semester. Applicants must have an active NIAF Membership. They may use their parent, guardian or grandparent's membership. Applicants must be a United States citizen or permanent resident alien. They must also demonstrate a commitment to or interest in Italian culture and heritage. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the National Italian American Foundation for more information.

The Marie Anderson Fitz Scholarship will be awarded to members of chapters in Iowa, Missouri, or Nebraska. Applicants must provide the contact information of their reference, who should be their current or former supervisor or mentor in an academic, community, professional, and/or Theta-related capacity. Ideally, the reference should be able to compellingly speak to the applicant's commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta's values; able to clearly articulate specific details about the applicant's accomplishments, goals, and character; and be more than just the applicant's social contact. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.

The Kendall Cusick-Rindone and Gregory Rindone Scholarship shall be awarded to (1) a freshman, sophomore, or junior collegian member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the states of Colorado or Nebraska who will pursue an undergraduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. (2) Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a senior member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the states of Colorado or Nebraska who will pursue an undergraduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. (3) Should no applicants meet the first and second criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, or junior collegian member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. (4) Should no applicants meet the first to third criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior collegian or an alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Applicants must provide the contact information of their reference, who should be their current or former supervisor or mentor in an academic, community, professional, and/or Theta-related capacity. Ideally, the reference should be able to compellingly speak to the applicant's commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta's values; able to clearly articulate specific details about the applicant's accomplishments, goals, and character; and be more than just the applicant's social contact. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.

The June Longworth Hardy Scholarship will be awarded to students who must be a member of Alpha Iota at Washington University in St. Louis; or students who must be a member of Theta, majoring in elementary or secondary education in the Midwest. Applicants must provide the contact information of their reference, who should be their current or former supervisor or mentor in an academic, community, professional, and/or Theta-related capacity. Ideally, the reference should be able to compellingly speak to the applicant's commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta's values; able to clearly articulate specific details about the applicant's accomplishments, goals, and character; and be more than just the applicant's social contact. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.

The Jennings B. and Beulah G. Haggerty Scholarship was established in 1996. Despite never finishing school and experiencing a very tough life in his early years, the late William Jennings Bryan Haggerty was a successful businessman in the Lincoln community. This fund serves as a partner fund to the Lincoln Community Foundation Student Success Scholarship Fund, in which award amounts from many scholarship funds are pooled to create meaningful, renewable awards for Lancaster County students. Recipients must be current graduating high school seniors or former graduates of public or private high schools in Lancaster County, Nebraska or GED graduates residing in Lancaster County, Nebraska; planning to attend an accredited, two-year or four-year nonprofit college or university with a preference for those attending institutions within the state of Nebraska. Financial need may be considered. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Lincoln Community Foundation for more information.