America is filled with some weird and wonderful scholarships - if you don't believe us, check out the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest – and yes, it’s exactly what it’s name promises – or the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship (for those with a LOT of time on their hands). Many of these are intended only for domestic U.S. residents - but did you know, there are actually a few ways an international student, if so inclined, can also qualify for a few extra bucks from some of these offbeat scholarships? We’ve listed a few for you here – check them out!


For the pseudo-intellectuals out there:

L. Ron Hubbard Writers & Illustrators of the Future Contest
Writers: Up to 17,000 words of science fiction or fantasy prose. Artists: three black and white works in the science fiction or fantasy style, but not with a recurring theme. The work may not have been previously published. There’s no entry fee, and the contest is open to anyone - you could win up to $5000 for your submission.

Ayn Rand Essay Contests
If you’re a fan of any of Ayn Rand’s intellectual novels, this might be the place for you. The Ayn Rand Institute offers 600 prizes worth around $100,000 in prize money each year. Take a look at the site and see which book you’d like to write an essay-answer to one of the topics listed there.

 
Enjoy a little Star Trek:

The Kor Memorial Scholarship
Speak Klingon? (the language used widely through the Star Trek series). Or don’t? Well, in any case the Klingon Language Institute (yes, it really does exist), based in mid-Pennsylvania somewhere, offers a $500 award to any undergraduate or graduate student who can demonstrate some sort of familiarity with a “creative” field of language study. We don’t know what that means – but if you do speak Klingon, we say you should enter! Deadline falls annually on 1 June.

Starfleet Scholarship
In fact, if you’re a Star Trek fan, chances are you already know about the Starfleet Academy – among other things, you can find here a variety of scholarships offered by ‘the academy’. The only catch is that you need to have been a member of the organization for at least a year before applying – so sign up before you fill out those college applications! Check the listings out here

 
For the vertically inclined, or challenged, as the case may be:

The Tall Club Scholarship
If you’re exceptionally tall (minimum 5’10’’ for women; 6’2’’ for men), and already signed up to attend college starting in the Fall semester, you might be eligible for a Tall Scholarship from the Tall Clubs International social organization.

Little People of America Scholarship
On the converse, if you’re a little shorter than the usual (maximum height 4’10’’), you may be able to qualify for one of the scholarships ranging from $250 to $1000, offered to two undergraduate and one graduate student annually.

 
You want to study Vacuum Coating Technology:

Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation Scholarship
If studying vacuum coating technology has been your life-long dream, this is certainly the scholarship for you. Offered to those with a sincere interest in furthering their education in this subject, the Society of Vacuum Coaters gives financial funding to those who are already participating study in vacuum coating technology at an accredited technical, vocational, two-year, undergraduate or graduate school.


Or maybe you prefer Potatoes:

National Potato Council Scholarship
This one is a hot-potato (no-pun intended) – anyone looking to complete potato-related areas of graduate study can stand themselves in good stead to win $10,000 in scholarship funding from the National Potato Council.


There’s also Candy, the sugary-sweet foodstuff:

AACT’s John Kitt Memorial Scholarship
The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT), offers a $5,000 scholarship, paid in two instalments, for anyone with a ‘demonstrated interest in confectionary technology’, according to the website. Students applying must be studying food science, chemical science, biological science, or some related field.

 
And for those who simply prefer knitting:

National Make It With Wool Scholarship
Although absolutely anyone can enter, you must participate in the state you live or are studying in at the time of entry, according to the website. The scholarship offers $2000 at the national level. And the contest? Make a garment using 100% wool or wool blend – and be prepared to model your creation! For more, see here

 
If you can wait another year:

Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! College Scholarship
For the past three years, Random House, the publisher of the highly popular Dr. Seuss books, has sponsored an essay competition with $5000 as the prize on offer to high school seniors, under the age of 21. Essays of no more than 500 words are required in response to a set question. Deadline is usually in mid-February, however, this scholarship has been postponed until the 2014-2015 school year – so check back for updates, says the website here.