Iowa Uncommon Student Award

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 2024, applicants must be a U.S citizen, a junior in an Iowa high school or home-schooled program in the spring of 2024, with a high school graduation date of Spring 2025.

Students chosen for the 2024 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 22 until 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23, 2024. If you cannot attend, then you cannot receive the award. Students are required to give a presentation at the library and museum sometime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

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 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 creating a Word document and saving it, then pasting it into the the online application.

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. Resources/materials you will use to complete your project?
4. Mentors you will look to for guidance, if applicable (you must ask for agreement and note in proposal)?
5. How have/will you show your leadership skills during this project?
6. Have you incorporated volunteers? How?
7. Conclusion or results you expect?
8. 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)?
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.