Iowa Uncommon Student Award

Applications are now being accepted for 2026!

The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award is a $10,000 scholarship program for Iowa high school juniors. The program is designed to attract students who are motivated and community-minded. The award, which honors Herbert Hoover, an Iowa native and the 31st President of the United States, identifies approximately 15 Iowa high school juniors who propose and then accomplish projects of their own design. The projects the students propose should demonstrate the values that Herbert Hoover exemplified in his life of public service.

Grades, test scores, essays, and financial need are not evaluated. Each of the 15 finalists will receive a $1,500 cash award at the completion of the program. Four of those could earn an additional $10,000 scholarship each, for a total of $11,500!

USA Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this award in 2026, applicants must be a U.S citizen, a junior in an Iowa high school or home-schooled program in the spring of 2026, with a high school graduation date of Spring 2027.

Students chosen for the 2026 Uncommon Student Class are required to be at the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa between 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 20 until 1 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2026. If you cannot attend, then you cannot receive the award.

Students are required to give a presentation at the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa, sometime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026. 

DO NOT APPLY IF YOU CANNOT BE AVAILABLE ON THOSE DAYS.

The Foundation will provide housing and meals for students for the June Weekend Meeting.

Uncommon Student Award Application Deadline

The application deadline for the 2026 Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award is April 1.

Uncommon Student Award Application Process

Both the Student Application Form and the Recommendation Form (two required) must be submitted online. Keep in mind, you cannot save data typed into these forms. Please print your completed form before submitting if you would like a copy for your records.

It is important and in the best interest of the applicant to view and read the links below before applying! The project proposal is in the form of questions. Think of your project as a business plan, in which you tell evaluators what your goal is and how you will get there. All answers together should be between 2-4 pages in length. We highly suggest drafting your responses in a document first as the online application cannot be saved.

For this project, you will need to answer the following:

1. Benefits or importance of the project (why do you want to do this project?)

2. Procedures you will use to complete your project (how are you going to do it?)

3. How your work on this project relates to Herbert Hoover’s expertise as an organizer and leader (make sure to read up on Hoover before you write this section)?

4. Resources/materials you will use to complete your project?

5. Mentors you will look to for guidance, if applicable (you must ask for agreement and note in proposal)?

6. How have/will you show your leadership skills during this project?

7. Have you incorporated volunteers? How?

8. Conclusion or results you expect.

9. How did you find out about this program?

When writing your project proposal, clearly state the project goal and how you will reach it. Answer the questions why, who, what, where, when, and how? Write the proposal in words you know. Keep it clear and simple and define any specialized vocabulary. Get necessary permissions BEFORE submitting the proposal and avoid language like, “If I get permission, I will…”. Evaluators need to see a reasonable chance of success. Lastly, ask an adult unfamiliar with your idea to read your proposal. They can tell you if there are details missing.

FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP IS NOT REQUIRED AND HAS NO EFFECT ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Reminders

Projects are driven entirely by student interest. What do you like doing? What are you good at? Think about how you can make your interests into a project. Are there issues in your school or your community you would like to tackle? You may already be working on something or have accomplished a goal. In that case, base your proposal on that and take it to another level.

Projects are usually in the areas of entrepreneurship, community/humanitarian service, conservation, and technology. Read about Herbert Hoover to see how he was involved in all these areas and how he motivated others to help (making money is permissible).

Projects are individual, realistic and doable by you. Class projects are not eligible. Enlisting volunteers to help you accomplish your goal is acceptable and encouraged.

Note: You propose the project in your application. The project should not be completed before you start the program but it can have already been started. If your project is not completed by Presentation Day, that is OK. You will explain how the project will be continued.