Elementary school children may not know where they want to go to college or what they want to study, but thinking about paying for college can be intimidating for their parents. Below are scholarships and contests for students in elementary school.

Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Sponsor: United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: February 15, 2025
Description: Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools in the United States and the U.S. territories. Contestant must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Deadline only for Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Deadline for Maryland has already passed, but all other states have later deadlines – see website for details.

Youth Eco-Hero Scholarship
Sponsor: Action for Nature
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: February 28, 2026
Description: The award is available to students between the ages of eight and 16 who exhibit environmental activism. Applicant must carry out an action-based and self-initiated project that concerns environmental health, advocacy, research, or protection of the natural world.

Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Sponsor: United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 1, 2026
Description: Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools in the United States and the U.S. territories. Contestant must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Deadline only for Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Deadlines have already passed for Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Oregon, but all other states have a later deadline – see website for details.

Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Sponsor: United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools in the United States and the U.S. territories. Contestant must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Unfortunately deadlines for Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.