Searching for money for school can be a serious business, but there are times when it can seem downright odd, especially when it comes to scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships out there, but there are the occasional few that are so specific you just have to laugh … or wave your arms frantically yelling, “Pick me! Pick me!”

The once and former American Quarter Horse Foundation Nursing Scholarship is a good example. Unfortunately, it ran out of funding last year, but when it was a going concern, it was awarded, of course, based on membership in the AQHA as well as financial need and community involvement. Its sheer unusual quality isn’t the only reason to mourn this one’s passing, though, considering that it was worth up to $10,000.

There are still plenty of quirky scholarships out there, though. Consider the following list of programs that either have unusual prerequisites or unexpected requirements.

Scholarships of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Yes, that Confederacy. If you can trace your roots back to supporters of Civil War secessionists, and you’re already enrolled in a nursing school, you qualify to apply for the Phoebe Pember Memorial Scholarship. And, if you’re a female in nursing … or business administration, computer science, home economics or nutrition (are you detecting a trend here?), you could apply for the Walter Reed Smith Scholarship.

American Radio Relay League William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship. This one is open to seniors in high school who are amateur radio operators and are interested in nursing or business, computers, medical, engineering or science-related fields. Not too surprisingly, there aren’t many applicants per year—about 12—but competition is stiff because most applicants have a 4.0 GPA or above. It covers most education costs minus other scholarships, rewards and Expected Family Contribution. Application deadline: Feb. 1.

The Health Resources and Services Administration Nursing Scholarship Program.
There’s nothing particularly funny or unusual about this government program, just one odd exclusion that stands out. The scholarship pays for three years of nursing school education and education-related expenses along with a monthly stipend of $1,289 in exchange for your agreeing to work at a health care facility, usually in an inner city area, for two years.

To find more nursing scholarships, check out the Discover Nursing Web site.