[Page 4] The 210 Best Essay Scholarships in May 2026
Updated: May 4, 2026
Written by:
Elise


4.9/5 by 20512 students
Writing scholarship essays shouldn’t feel like homework. Bold.org essay scholarships reward authenticity and creativity. Here, we rank top options by award amount, deadline, and eligibility so you can apply with confidence.
LIVE
May 09
,,
Awarded to Bold.org users
Why trust Bold.org?
100% free.Gilbert Tonkin Memorial Scholarship
Funded byTonkin FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the memory of Gilbert Tonkin by supporting students who are preparing to embark on their lives.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 14, 20265 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes91Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship
Funded byBryent SmothermonTo honor the legacy of Bryent Smothermon, this scholarship exists to support military veterans or military family members who have suffered from PTSD.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 14, 20265 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes92Jeune-Mondestin Scholarship
Funded byEronel MondestinThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Jeune-Mondestin by supporting students who are passionate about making a difference in the world through health.Amount$500Deadline:May 14, 20265 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes93Selective Mutism Step Forward Scholarship
Funded byBell FamilyThis scholarship seeks to support students with selective mutism who are pursuing higher education in spite of the obstacles they face.Amount$500Deadline:May 14, 20265 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes94Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship
Funded bySamantha NortonThis scholarship exists to support high school seniors or undergraduate students from Minnesota who swim, dive and/or synchronized swim.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes95Grover Scholarship Fund
Funded byDeep GroverThis scholarship seeks to support students who are pursuing trade school programs by reducing the burden of tuition or other costs.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes96Donna Davis Memorial Scholarship
Funded byDavisThis scholarship seeks to honor the life and passions of Donna Davis by supporting students from her district as they prepare to pursue their collegiate dreams.Amount$10,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes97Edward Bolton Arts and Education Scholarship
Funded byBoltonThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Edward Bolton by supporting students who are preparing to pursue higher education.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes98Michele L. Durant Scholarship
Funded byHeidelThis scholarship aims to monetarily assist women of color in pursuing higher education to free up their time and resources and allow them to focus on obtaining leadership roles and effecting necessary change.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes99Maureen C. Pace Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Funded byThe Pace FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the incredible life of Maureen C. Pace by supporting the next generation of change-making nurses as they pursue higher education.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes100Kyle Rairdan Memorial Aviation Scholarship
Funded byRairdanThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Kyle Rairdan by supporting students who are pursuing degrees in aviation.Amount$4,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes101Siv Anderson Memorial Scholarship for Education in Healthcare
Funded byAndersonThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Siv Anderson by supporting students who are passionate about pursuing careers in healthcare.Amount$500Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes102Diana Wagner Memorial Scholarship
Funded byWagner FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the legacy of Diana Wagner by supporting students from her local community who share her passion for helping others.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes103Curtis Holloway Memorial Scholarship
Funded byLesley HollowayThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Curtis Holloway by supporting a student who has lost a parent or lives in a single-parent household.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes104John D. Sherman Scholarship
Funded byFriends and Family of John D. ShermanThis scholarship aims to honor the legacy of John D. Sherman Jr. by supporting students in Vermont who have MS or a physical disability.Amount$12,000Deadline:May 15, 20266 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes105Dr. Tom Farrell Future Leaders of Maine Scholarship
Funded byThe Future Leaders of Maine FoundationThis scholarship seeks to honor the life of Dr. Tom Farrell by supporting students who share his passions and skills.Amount$15,000Deadline:May 16, 20267 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes106Lee and Elizabeth Mockmore Scholarship
Funded byMockmoreThis scholarship aims to support students who are living with transverse myelitis and demonstrating resilience and optimism.Amount$3,000Deadline:May 16, 20267 days left!Education LevelAnyTakes minutes107Legacy of Selfless Care Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship aims to honor an incredible legacy and the vital role nurses play in our communities by supporting students who demonstrate a strong commitment to service, empathy, and patient care.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes108Commitment to Excellence Scholarship
Funded byThe Natale Foundation IncThis scholarship aims to honor Joseph’s life by providing financial relief to qualified students who need help financing their pursuit of higher education.Amount$4,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelHigh School109Jon Cook Work Hard and Go Forth to Serve Scholarship
Funded byJon Cook FamilyThis scholarship aims to honor the life of Jon Cook by supporting self-sufficient students pursuing ongoing education in the healthcare field who have work experience as a CNA, paramedic, EMT, firefighter, home health caregiver, personal care attendant at a nursing home, or with home health and emergency services.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes110Duane & Diane Whitmire Scholarship
Funded byHeather McGannonThis scholarship aims to honor the memories of Duane and Diane Whitmire by supporting the students they cared so much about.Amount$2,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes111DK Memorial Sports Broadcasting Scholarship
Funded byFriends of DKThe community that loved DK aims to honor DK by supporting undergraduate and graduate students pursuing Sports Broadcasting or Sports Journalism.Amount$2,500Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelUndergraduate, GraduateTakes minutes112Kindness in Action Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship aims to honor a wonderful aunt’s optimistic outlook on life by supporting students who are pursuing higher education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes113Tinkerer’s Path Scholarship
Funded byAnand KumarThis scholarship seeks to support students who enjoy tinkering, building, and experimenting, and who want to use those skills to help others.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 17, 20268 days left!Education LevelUndergraduateTakes minutes114Coach August and Jodi Reich Scholarship
Funded byAugust Gabriel ReichThis scholarship seeks to support motivated students pursuing careers in business, sales, education, or entrepreneurship.Amount$500Deadline:May 18, 20269 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes115Jason David Anderson Memorial Scholarship
Funded byKate SansoneThis scholarship seeks to keep the memory of Jason David Anderson alive by supporting students who are pursuing higher education in order to help people who struggle with addiction.Amount$500Deadline:May 18, 20269 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes116Project Climbing Everest Scholarship
Funded byProject Climbing EverestThis scholarship will support a high school senior pursuing a career in the mental health field.Amount$500Deadline:May 18, 20269 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes117Evan T. Wissing Memorial Scholarship
Funded byKaty UhlThis scholarship aims to honor the memory of Evan Wissing by supporting students who are hoping to improve their lives through education.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 19, 202610 days left!Education LevelHigh School, UndergraduateTakes minutes118Clasen Scholarship
Funded byAurora DentistryThis scholarship aims to support students looking to pursue higher education in order to go on to careers in the medical arts.Amount$1,000Deadline:May 19, 202610 days left!Education LevelHigh SchoolTakes minutes119Dr. Hassan Homami Memorial Scholarship
Funded byNadereh HomamiThis scholarship seeks to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Hassan Homami by supporting first-generation immigrants who are pursuing their academic dreams.Amount$3,240Deadline:May 19, 202610 days left!Education LevelGraduateTakes minutes120