Top need-based scholarships: Find free money for students

The purpose of the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) is to provide federal financial support for Native Hawaiians who are students at health professions schools, in return for a commitment to provide primary health services to the Native Hawaiian population in the State of Hawai'i in an eligible service obligation setting which meets the following requirements, in order of priority: (1) First, one of the five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS). (2) Second, in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in Hawai'i, or Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) in Hawai'i, or a geographic area or facility that is: located in the State of Hawai'i; and has a designation made by the Secretary, acting through the Public Health Service Act. Applicants must be enrolled in one of the following NHHSP-Eligible Health Professions: Clinical Psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.); Dentistry (D.D.S or D.M.D.); Dental Hygiene (B.S.D.H. or A.S.D.H.); Dietetics/Nutrition (M.S.); Nursing, Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse Practitioner (D.N.P., A.D.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., C.N.M. or N.P.); Physician (M.D. or D.O.); Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.); and Social Work (M.S.W.). Applicants must be enrolled in a fully accredited health professions program located in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Territory of Guam, the Territory of American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia. Applicants attending schools outside of these geographic areas are not eligible. The NHHSP will apply the following statutory priorities for funding, in this order, to applicants determined eligible and qualified. First priority will be given to current or former NHHSP participants who are seeking, and are eligible for, additional support for the 2025-2026 school year or through the date of their graduation. Second priority will be given to any application submitted by an applicant with attributes that increase the probability that the applicant will continue to serve within Native Hawaiian communities beyond the period of obligated service. Third priority will be given to an applicant who is from a disadvantaged background. Applicants must create and submit a video recording of themselves answering the following questions: (1) What does "raising the health status of Native Hawaiians" mean to you? (2) What role will you have? (3) What are your responsibilities towards achieving "raising the health status?" Applicants must also submit two recommendations. It must provide a detailed description of the applicant's performance in school; education/work achievements; community/civic or other nonacademic achievements; ability to work and communicate constructively with others; and interest and motivation to serve Native Hawaiian populations through work experience, course work, special projects, research, etc. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Joseph and Dorothy Headley Scholarship provides financial assistance for students who have been residents of Vinalhaven for at least three years who are pursuing post-secondary education. The following criteria will be used in the selection: good character, good citizenship, financial need, and ambition. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Maine Community Foundation, Inc. for more information.

The Desert Legacy Scholarship was created in order to help those who have encountered and overcome some sort of personal challenge or adversity. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors in AZ. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Arizona Community Foundation for more information.

The Marian Wood Baird College Scholarship is available to high school seniors who have excelled academically, demonstrated achievements in leadership and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program (such as USTA School Tennis, USTA National Junior Tennis League (NJTL), USTA Team Tennis or USTA High Performance or other such qualified programs as determined by the Scholarship Committee). Applicants must demonstrate sportsmanship on and off the court. The scholarship will be awarded over a term of four years. The Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA must be submitted. Two letters of recommendation are also required. One must be from a teacher or guidance counselor and one must be from a tennis mentor. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the United States Tennis Association Foundation for more information.

The SU Study Abroad General Scholarship is awarded to students based on their cumulative GPA, application essay, and demonstrated financial need from FAFSA. The study abroad program must be approved by the Janet Dudley-Eshbach Center for International Education. Students must have also applied and been accepted to the study abroad program. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Smithfield Foundation Scholarship is open to full-time students of Christopher Newport University who are dependent children or grandchildren of full-time or retired employees of Smithfield Foods, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. Priority consideration will be given to students who pursue a course of study in environmental studies or agricultural issues. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship was created by the late Dwight F. Davis, III, grandson of Dwight Filley Davis, and is now generously supported by the Davis family. It is their wish that the recipients maintain contact with them. The scholarship will be awarded for over four years and administered directly to the college or university in which the student is enrolled. The scholarship will be awarded to students who have excelled academically, demonstrated community service and participated in National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programming. The Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA must be submitted. Two letters of recommendation are also required. One must be from a teacher or guidance counselor and one must be from a tennis mentor. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the United States Tennis Association Foundation for more information.

The Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award is available to high school seniors of ethnically diverse heritage who have excelled academically and participated extensively in an organized community tennis program. Applicants must demonstrate sportsmanship on and off the court. The scholarship will be awarded for over four years and administered directly to the college or university in which the student is enrolled. The Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA must be submitted. Two letters of recommendation are also required. One must be from a teacher or guidance counselor and one must be from a tennis mentor. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the United States Tennis Association Foundation for more information.

The Coastal Camera Club Scholarship is open to students enrolled in the Photo Imaging program at the Owens Campus. Preference is given to students with financial need. Students may visit the scholarship's website or contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships for more information.