Editorial: Not on my nickel

01/27/09 - Amidst the bright lights and Saturday night's overwhelming audience in Las Vegas, Katie Stam, 22, of Indiana, was crowned Miss America 2009.After being announced winner, Stam gasped with delight and was handed a bouquet of roses. The former Miss America placed the sparkling tiara on Stam's head, and she waved a perfected pageant wave to the cheering crowd.

Aside from the crown, the clothes and a year-long reign of cross-country speaking engagements, Stam snagged a $50,000 scholarship, because when she's not practicing her vocals for the talent competition or promoting community service, the new Miss America is a communications major at Indianapolis University.

And as anyone who has ever seen Miss Congeniality knows, the Miss America Organization is more than tiaras and swimsuit competitions.

"This is not a beauty pageant," said Sandra Bullock's Gracie Lou Freebush. "This is a scholarship program."

In fact, last year the Miss America Organization provided about $45 million in scholarships and other cash awards.

While higher education often comes with a steep price tag, finding ways to earn scholarships by doing what you love, does not.

Scholarships are available for anything and everything you could possibly do with your spare time. The Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling contest awards $1,500 to a high school student who is the master of the duck calling craft.

Think you're clairvoyant? There's one scholarship called the Excellence in Predicting the Future Award that offers $400 to students who make predictions similar to those of the stock market using cenimar.com.

Maybe you've been in a nudist organization for a few years. Write an essay and the American Nudist Research Library might award you $1,000.

In other cases, that extra cash for school might come from doing absolutely nothing. A myriad of scholarships exist for people who are exceptionally short or tall. There is even some money allocated just for being left-handed.

If by chance, you don't have a special talent, or a unique hobby, rest assured there is plenty of money out there for students who have good grades.

Even at URI, hundreds of scholarships pertaining to specific majors or grade point averages are listed on the University's Web site and take little time to apply for.

So, whether you're trying to score some funds for college by showcasing your accordion skills or demonstrating your passion for bird watching, just remember there is a scholarship out there for everyone.

Almost everyone has to pay something for a good education, but it doesn't always have to be your dime.