Scholarship Bulletins
Scholarship Bulletins | SchooLinks
Review the SPS Scholarship Bulletin as well as SchooLinks. Additional posted Scholarships opportunities available are sorted by month due.
Finding different types of scholarships (need, merit, athletic, creative)
Finding Scholarships
Visit the Bucknell admission blog for more details and information about finding scholarships. Sites like Scholarships.com, Chegg, Fastweb, and Unigo are great places to begin looking for opportunities. Knowing the kinds of scholarships you’re eligible for will give you direction during your search (Needs-Based, Merit, Athletic, Creative, Government, Grants.)
Need-based Scholarships
Need-based scholarships are given to students who, as the name implies, demonstrate a need for financial aid. Typically, a student’s demonstrated need is calculated based on their guardians’ ability to pay for college. Some scholarships have a set income threshold, while others take a more holistic approach to identify the financial support a student qualifies for.
These scholarships are available from schools, private institutions, and state and federal governments. We’ll discuss some more specifics of government-funded scholarships and grants later on.
There are some scholarships for students experiencing financial hardship due to extenuating circumstances, such as the loss of a parent. A Google search can yield appropriate results for students with unique financial situations.
Merit Scholarships
Merit scholarships are awards for high-achieving students with impressive academic records and/or a strong talent or interest in a particular subject.
Though eligibility can vary from school to school, qualifying factors for merit-based scholarships can include:
- High school GPA
- Standardized test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.)
- Courses taken
- Community service hours
- Involvement in clubs or extracurriculars
Often, schools will automatically consider students for merit scholarships based on their admissions applications. If you’re eligible, they’ll include the scholarship offers with your acceptance letter. However, some colleges might require you to submit a separate application alongside your application for admission to be considered. You’ll want to be sure of the process for consideration at each university or college on your list before applying.
Athletic Scholarships
Students with an impressive athletic record may be eligible for athletic scholarships. Securing this financial support typically involves a lengthy recruiting process that begins in high school and ends with a student committing to play on a college’s sports team.
Colleges and universities often send recruiters to high schools to scout prospective players, which is how many students make connections that lead to scholarships.
Depending on the designation of the school’s athletics program, athletes can be eligible for anything from partial tuition coverage to a full ride that includes room and board.
It’s important to note that smaller schools can have more flexible requirements for athletic scholarships than a Division I or Division II school. If you’re a passionate athlete but don’t aspire to play at the highest level, there are plenty of less competitive options.
Creative Scholarships
Like athletic scholarships, creative scholarships offer financial aid to students with special talents. Typically, creative scholarships are for those who excel in the arts.
You might be eligible for a creative scholarship if you’re involved in any of the following extracurriculars:
- Dance
- Music (vocal or instrumental)
- Theatre
- Visual arts (painting, drawing, filmmaking, etc.)
- Graphic design
These scholarships may include fellowships, performance showcases and other opportunities to hone your craft throughout all four years.
Government Grants and Scholarships
In the United States, the federal and state governments offer a variety of scholarships and grants to help students pay for college.
The most well-known grant from the federal government is the Pell Grant. It is to help undergraduate students who demonstrate “exceptional financial need.”
Different states also offer scholarships and grants to students who graduated from a high school in that state. Sometimes, these scholarships are merit-based, and other times, they are open to all local graduates.
Check out the websites of your state’s department of education to see what they have to offer. Some states offer up to 100% tuition coverage for qualifying students, so it’s important to know what you’re entitled to.
Spotlight Scholarships & Grants
Please note: Scholarships are not necessary in date order.
2026 Seahawks Community Scholarship Due Nov. 1
The Seattle Seahawks are excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Seahawks Community Scholarship. This scholarship program awards up to $10,000 to qualifying high school seniors across Washington to support tuition or educational expenses. Funds will be paid directly to the recipient’s college, university, or accredited program in 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and Washington resident
- High school senior, graduating in 2027
- Demonstrate financial need
- Show leadership in school and/or community
- Strong academic achievement
- Planning to attend a four-year college/university, community college, or accredited technical/vocational program in fall 2027.
The application will be open until November 1, 2026! Apply Today!
Seniors Applying to WSU: Reach Out By Oct. 23
Seniors: Are you applying to WSU? Do you have at least a 3.8 GPA? If so, let your school counselor know you’d like to be considered for the WSU Regents Scholarship worth $4000/year for four years for a total of $20,000! WSU is looking for students with outstanding academic potential who have demonstrated leadership through contribution to community, family, and/or school activities. If you are nominated as a Regents Scholar, you will then compete for the Distinguished Regents Scholars Award, which covers full tuition and fees for four years, approximately $42,000. Contact your school counselor by Friday, October 23, 2026 to be considered for this scholarship.
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship Award Due Nov. 12
This scholarship is available to high school seniors and the deadline is November 12, 2026. You can find more information, and students may apply online. The Ballard Elks Lodge awards six $1,000.00 scholarships to be used towards college tuition. Be sure to let students know to select “Ballard Elks” during the application process.
Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. Applicants may also advance and be considered for additional State and National Elks scholarships. For students who indicate on their application that they are heading to WSU, the Washington State Elks offers additional funds through the Yothers Memorial Scholarship Fund. If you have any questions, please reply to us via email or contact the Ballard Elks office at: 206-784-0827.
The Cancer Pathways Teen Writing Contest Due Feb. 2027
The Cancer Pathways Teen Writing Contest. This is a writing contest for 9th-12th graders who have been impacted by cancer — either their own diagnosis or that of a loved one — and winners can receive $1,000!
Over the last 20 years, Cancer Pathways has asked teenagers to submit essays about the impact of a cancer diagnosis, -their own, or a loved one’s. Each year we receive honest, heartfelt, and unique stories from teens about the impact cancer has had on their lives. The contest opens mid November 2026 and closes in late February 2027. All the details can be found on the Cancer Pathways Website. Please contact paige@cancerpathways.org if you have questions about the Teen Writing Contest.
Scholarships For 2026-2027
- Washington State Fair Foundation Scholarships
- Washington State PTA (WSTPA) Scholarship Program
- Rainier Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
The College Investor
The College Investor site lists several scholarship search engines and details the benefits of them. The best college scholarship search websites make it easy to find and apply for the legit scholarships that you have a real chance of winning. View the 10 Best College Scholarship Search Websites from The College Investor on the link below.
SPS Scholarship Opportunities Begin Here for Seniors
Thousands of scholarships are available to seniors and go unclaimed every year!
There are plenty of ways for seniors to earn money for college. You just need to know where to look.
Student Scholarship Multiple Due Dates
Scholarship Programs has been providing scholarship information to students and scholarship management services to companies since 2003. They have the largest collection of Scholarships. Below you will find a list of Scholarship Programs available to students. More than 495 Individual Scholarships will be distributed through these Programs. Largest Collection of Scholarships on the Web.
Bold
Bold is a student scholarship platform. They have recently announced new scholarships for Black and African American students and would be interested in receiving applications from Ballard High School students. All students should have the opportunity to pursue higher education and the career of their dreams. It’s our mission to make college accessible for all students by eliminating student debt.
Army ROTC Program Scholarships
The University of Washington’s ROTC program is now accepting applications for seniors interested in 4-year full tuition scholarships. We would love to offer your students the opportunity to be a part of the University of Washington’s deep and rich history. The Army ROTC is a program that allows you to attend college and earn a degree while simultaneously completing requirements to commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. ROTC is not an alternative to getting a college degree nor is it something students do in lieu of college. Students who are interested in applying for the ROTC scholarship or would like to learn more about the program or UW please contact us at armyrotc@uw.edu . Visit the Army ROTC Scholarship page to apply.
Applications & Additional Information
All applications are available in the Counseling Center or can be downloaded. If you have any questions or need additional information please stop by the Ballard HS Counseling Center.
Disclaimer: BHS only shares these postings and does not endorse any of these businesses.
As of October 15, 2026
District Updates
Scholarships for SPS Students
Scholarships are a type of grant (monetary gift you do not have to pay back) for students to use in paying for after high school training and college programs. Scholarships are available for students as early as elementary school and continue through graduate school.
Federal and State programs provide over 46 billion dollars in student aid. Private companies, community organizations, civic groups, foundations, and religious organizations provide an additional 3 billion dollars in scholarships.
Finding Scholarships
A scholarship database can be found in SchooLinks (all SPS 6th-12th grade students have 24/7 access to SchooLinks) as well as some of the following resources. You should never pay for access to scholarships you find online.
- Search Engines for Scholarships
- The WashBoard
- Scholarships for students with disabilities
- Seattle Foundation Scholarships
Share a Scholarship
Are you aware of and/or sponsoring scholarships that are not in our SchooLinks list? Fill out the form below to add your scholarship to SchooLinks for all SPS students to access.