October brings unique, generous scholarship opportunities, including the $25,000 Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program and the SMART Scholarship, which provides full tuition and a civilian employment opportunity at the Department of War for STEM students. Plus: dependents of Entergy employees can earn up to $5,000!
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Fall is in the air and the academic year is in full swing—and October also brings students some unique, generous scholarship opportunities. Open now are the $25,000 Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program and the SMART Scholarship, which provides full tuition, stipends, mentoring and a civilian employment opportunity at the Department of War for STEM students.
We’re also proud to announce the Entergy Community Power Scholarship, awarding scholarships up to $5,000 to high school seniors who are dependents of Entergy employees.
Learn more about these scholarships below. To see what’s coming soon and start your plans for applying, visit our Browse Scholarships listing.
For more than 50 years, Chick-fil-A, Inc. has invested in the educational goals of its Team Members, awarding more than $244 million in scholarships to more than 138,000 restaurant employees, enabling them to pursue their academic and professional goals at qualifying institutions.
In 2022, the company expanded its scholarship program beyond its restaurants for the first time with the Chick-fil-A™ Community Scholars program. You can meet the most recent class of Community Scholars here—and if you’re a high school senior, college undergrad or graduate student of any age, you are invited to apply now!
Thirteen Chick-fil-A Community Scholarships of $25,000 will be awarded, based on academic success, community service, and financial need. Selected Community Scholars will participate in the Chick-fil-A Scholars Program, a one-year engagement that includes mentoring and leadership development alongside the 2027 Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship Winners.
“The Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program is unlike other scholarship programs because it comes with the opportunity for students to participate in a year-long leadership development and mentorship program,” said Brent Fielder, vice president of Global Impact for Chick-fil-A, Inc. “Scholars are paired with a Chick-fil-A Staff leader to mentor them. Scholars also have the chance to meet together virtually each month, creating an environment of collaboration, growth and fun.”
To apply for the Chick-fil-A Community Scholarship, you must be 18 years of age by July 15, 2027, a resident of the U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada, and be enrolled or planning to enroll at any qualifying institution of the recipient’s choice for the 2027-28 academic year. In addition, you must have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), demonstrate care through community service during the last twelve months, and be recommended by 1-3 teachers, coaches, community leaders, or mentors. (Please note that Chick-fil-A Team Members should apply for the Remarkable Futures Scholarship.)
Applications are open through November 3. Apply Now >
As students focus on their futures and aim to make wise investments in themselves, they want to ensure their degrees set them up for lasting success and impact in their fields. The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship excels in meeting both standards. For over 20 years, SMART has empowered STEM students to achieve their educational goals without the financial burden by offering full tuition and an accelerated future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with the Department of War (DoW).
SMART scholar Joshua Castillo says the SMART Scholarship has been nothing short of life changing. “SMART removed the financial barrier to higher education and gave me clarity and confidence in my career path,” said Castillo, who earned his SMART-funded combined bachelor’s/master’s degree in computer science and engineering at Old Dominion University. He credits the SMART Scholarship with providing an abundance of meaningful professional experience through hands-on internships, mentorship, and real-world projects that bridge the gap between theory and national security impact, all before completing his degree.
More than a scholarship, SMART scholars receive full tuition, annual stipends, summer internships, mentorship, and opportunities for research funding. As part of the program, SMART scholars begin their full-time civilian career with the DoW after graduation, working as nonmilitary government employees who solve complex challenges in their fields.
“SMART has shaped my education and career in a big way,” said Andre Slonopas, a SMART scholar pursuing his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Johns Hopkins University. “The mix of coursework, research, and hands-on experience pushed me to grow faster than I expected, while also showing me how my work fits into real mission needs.”
By supporting hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students annually, SMART attracts and retains top technical talent in STEM disciplines that are critical to national security, with impacts beginning as early as a scholar’s first summer internship. “When I got into the labs, I realized that actually tons of the things we did as interns really transferred,” said Nathan Jones, who earned his SMART-funded master’s degree in mathematics and now works as a research mathematician for the Air Force Research Lab Information and Spectrum Warfare Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“You get to see these seedlings of ideas they give you as interns grow into a full program,” continued Jones, who has been with the SMART Program since 2021 and has seen how his efforts are used across the department and other agencies. “It’s really cool to actually see that the work you’re doing is making an impact and what you’re doing is really important.”
By helping students like Joshua, Nathan, Andre, and hundreds of others, SMART represents the future of DoW innovation and leadership. With over 6,500 scholarships awarded since its inception, SMART empowers the research leaders of tomorrow to focus on their passions and drive the nation’s technological advancements.
SMART awards over 500 scholarships annually to top STEM students across the nation. If you’re interested in becoming a SMART scholar, and you are pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in one of the eligible STEM fields, you can apply before December 4, 2026, at smartscholarship.org.
High school seniors who are dependent children of Entergy employees can earn a $5,000 scholarship through the Entergy Community Power Scholarship Program, administered by Scholarship America.
To apply, you must be the dependent child of a full-time Entergy employee with at least one year of tenure at the company, and you must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical program for the 2027-28 academic year. You’ll also need to demonstrate a history of volunteer community service over the past four years, ideally in areas that reflect one or more of Entergy’s focus areas: education and literacy, community improvement, healthy families, arts and culture, and environmental stewardship.
Up to 22 system-wide awards of $5,000 are available, with additional dedicated awards reserved for students whose parents work for Entergy Louisiana or Entergy Mississippi. A portion of the awards are also set aside for students pursuing two-year college or vocational-technical programs. Recipients are chosen based on their volunteer services, academic performance, leadership, work experience, a statement of goals, and an online recommendation – financial need is not considered.
Awards are one-time only and cover undergraduate study.
If you’re the dependent child of an Entergy employee, this is a great opportunity to put your community service to work for your education.
Applications are open through December 2. Apply Now >
