These Unusual Scholarship Opportunities Should Not Be Overlooked

Paying for college is expensive, and the price tag grows every year. As parents scramble to find ways to pay for tuition, many overlook valuable scholarships that they aren't aware of.

Some public high schools have a scholarship expert to help match students to the money they qualify for. Some universities have students fill out a survey to root out any university scholarships, but these things can often slip through the cracks.

A good portion of the money the government sets aside for Pell Grants each year goes unclaimed, and the same is true of scholarships. Some are large and some are just enough to cover some groceries, but if you stack them on top of each other, they're extremely helpful in finding ways to pay for college.

We've highlighted some examples of lesser-known and unusual scholarship opportunities to show you exactly what we're talking about.

Who knew your kids' love of pop stars could help them get an education? This one is open to all students influenced by Sabrina Carpenter's career and pays out $500 to the participant.

If you or your kids have been impacted by the Harry Potter empire, there's a $500 scholarship just waiting for you. It won't get you to Hogwarts, it's not a Horcrux and there are no Defense of the Dark Arts classes at any college, but every student is eligible to apply for this money.

Is your child an artist or do they even have creative tendencies? If so, this is the scholarship for them. They submit the best greeting or holiday card and compete with other students, with the only requirement being that they are over 14. The public can vote to narrow entries down to the top ten, but judges make the final decision on who gets the $10,000 award.

This scholarship is designed for fans of shows like Z Nation and The Walking Dead. Unigo offers the scholarship and just asks for a 250-word essay on what they would do if there was a zombie apocalypse at their school. The winner gets $2,000 and the deadline is appropriately on Halloween.

Is your student passionate about football? If so, they meet the requirements for this unique scholarship. The best part? They can win the $500 without writing an essay.

If your child meets the requirements, this is a scholarship worth looking at. Applicants have to be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, high school seniors, and planning to enroll in a university or college as a degree-seeking student. They must also have a GPA of 3.2. The Ike Foundation was created to instill a love of fishing in kids, so keep that in mind during the application process.

Are there any gamers out there? Who says you can't turn video game time into something profitable? This scholarship is intended for those who love the game and can articulate in writing how it affects career development and education. Your child can earn $2,000 toward school for writing about their passions.

Students involved in the American Quarter Horse Association who can also achieve specific academic goals and prove financial need may be interested in this option. Amounts are determined each year, but they've given out more than $9.6 million since the first scholarship in 1976.

This scholarship is for kids at all grade levels, as long as they are over 14. The money is awarded to the student who can come up with the best top ten reasons they should get the scholarship. The deadline is usually at the end of the year and the award is $1,500.

Whether you think the movie is always better than the book or you lean the other way, help your child pick out their favorite book that's been adapted to a movie or series. From the Hunger Games to Twilight to Harry Potter, there's a huge selection to choose from, and your student can earn $1,000.

Is fall your student's favorite season? If so, this scholarship may be made for them. The Pumpkin Spice Fan Scholarship is a $500 award given to students at any level with any GPA. You simply have to fill out the application and honestly declare your love for all things pumpkin spice.

Every year this foundation gives out multiple scholarships in the amount of $500 to graduate students, college students, and high school seniors. The only requirement is that your child has at least one food allergy and they write a 500-word on how that essay has shaped their life.

This award is ideal for those who love candy and is funded by the American Association of Candy Technologists. One college sophomore, junior, or senior who demonstrates an interest in confectionery technology can win this award in the sum of $2,500.

This award is open to students at all grade levels and only requires a short essay. Your student writes about which villain or superhero they would change places with for a day and explains why they made that choice. With just a bit of creative writing, students are awarded $2,500.

Another female pop star inspired a chance for students to earn money for school. All your student has to do is share what songs or lyrics have impacted their lives and spoken to them. The amounts may seem random unless you're a Switfie. Earn $1989 dollars toward school with this scholarship because Taylor herself was born in 1989 and has an album with the same name.

This scholarship is offered to both high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. For a chance at $2,500, all your student has to do is craft a well-written essay about how having a pet has influenced their lives. It doesn't even have to be your pet — it can be someone else's.

This scholarship is only available to high school seniors in the states that produce the most rice: Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. As October is National Rice Month, the due date falls on the 14th of this year and requires a three-minute video about rice growth in the US and the importance of rice in the world. Three lucky students walk away with up to $5,000 if they do it right.

If your high school senior or college student has a 3.0 GPA, they may qualify for the Rove Pest Control Scholarship. Keep in mind that special consideration for the $500 scholarship goes to anyone pursuing a degree in entomology or something related.

This scholarship is geared toward those who are enrolled for a minimum of ten hours in a family entertainment educational program. Applicants must also be members of Clowns of America International, and the amount varies from year to year.

These scholarships are awarded quarterly in the amount of $1,000. High school seniors, and college and graduate students are all eligible to apply as long as they are studying in the United States.

Award amounts range from $500 - $10,000, but this scholarship requires some creativity. It's open to students 14 and over in every state except Vermont, Colorado, and Maryland. Applicants must create a prom outfit made exclusively from Duck Brand Duck Tape.

This scholarship is designed for those who are exceptionally tall. Any woman who is 5'10" or taller and any man who is 6'2" or taller can apply. Application just requires directly contacting Tall Clubs International, and the organization gives out several $1,000 awards each year.

If your student has a special interest in composition dolls, this is a unique option. The application process includes submitting a research topic and plan, and the amount varies each year, but it's ideal for someone with a niche interest.

This scholarship does a great job of rewarding good behavior. It's available for undergraduate, graduate, and high school students committed to spreading the word about how dangerous driving and texting can be. The first part of the application process involves the submission of a 140-character statement about why the student promises to never text and drive. If your student is selected as a finalist, they'll be asked to write a 500-1,000 word essay to be considered for the $1,000 award.

For a chance at $1,500, your student just has to share a 250-word essay explaining what they would say to the entire world if they had the chance. All students over the age of 14 qualify.

May is the 5th month, and this scholarship is all about explaining the number five and why it matters. Students must submit a 250-word essay that can be funny or serious but must be original. This is a great opportunity for those who love creative writing and is open to high school sophomores, juniors seniors, and undergraduate and graduate students.

Two Ten Footwear Foundation offers scholarships to various students up to $4,000. They must be an employee or a child of an employee of any company in the footwear industry. Their goal is to help students "hit the ground running" as early as they can.

This is another option for students who love creative writing. Every year, one student receives $1,500 for writing a 250-word essay on what they dream about. The subject can be something about their future or a bizarre dream they had the week before. It's open to all grade levels and expected deadlines are usually around the first of the year.

Available to high school students who are passionate about the environment and creative arts. Your child can win one of the multiple awards up to $1,000 by sharing about their relationship with the natural world through dance, music, film, music, spoken word, poetry, visual art, and creative writing.

Is your student fascinated by mold, spores, or fungus? If so, they may qualify for a $1,000 undergraduate award or one of two $2,000 graduate awards.