To write a good scholarship resume, highlight your academic successes, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles that demonstrate your strengths and potential. Use concise bullet points and action verbs to describe your experiences, and tailor your resume to the scholarship criteria.
Chris demonstrates academic commitment and hands-on research experience, essential for many science-focused scholarships. His role in a real research setting and contribution to a poster presentation show initiative and involvement beyond coursework.
Shawn’s leadership experience shines through, with clear references to outcomes and impact. The resume ties volunteer experience to long-term goals and aligns well with scholarships emphasizing civic engagement.
Learn how to build a resume that showcases this kind of service
Avery’s experience connects directly to environmental topics and shows real-world application of scientific methods. They demonstrate initiative through public presentation and collaboration with agencies.
Jesse’s resume shows dedication to teaching early in their academic journey. The work experience reflects relevant skills like lesson planning and intervention strategies that resonate with education-focused scholarships.
Skyler combines leadership and technical experience, a strong formula for STEM scholarships. Quantifiable achievements—like managing a budget and placing in competition—highlight responsibility and problem-solving ability.
Logan’s resume highlights both leadership and writing impact, especially through quantifiable results like increased readership. The role as editor-in-chief strengthens the case for journalistic scholarships.
Devon’s direct patient care experience and CNA certification make this resume ideal for health care-focused scholarships. Their impact is clear, and the professional tone underscores maturity.
Blake’s resume highlights mentorship and coding fluency—qualities that reflect well on both academic and community-building scholarships. Tutoring builds transferable skills, even outside traditional employment.
Reese’s resume shows emotional intelligence, relevant experience, and future alignment with their field. Including hands-on roles in both a hotline and a shelter makes this a powerful candidate profile.
Sam balances design ability with real-world application, showing how their creativity supports community causes. Scholarships tied to the arts or community service would value this alignment.
Chris’s resume combines civic involvement with hands-on campaign and policy experience. It’s tailored for scholarships that support civic engagement, government, or leadership development.
Shawn’s resume shows initiative in financial education and budget management at a young age. It blends practical work experience and leadership in school activities, which resonates with finance-focused scholarships.
Avery’s resume connects academic interests with real action—both through research and peer education. It aligns well with scholarships focused on psychology, public health, or student advocacy.
Jesse’s resume mixes creative output with performance data (like engagement metrics), which is key for marketing scholarships. Their experience shows applied knowledge, not just theory.
Skyler blends performance, leadership, and teaching—key elements that scholarship committees look for in creative arts applicants. Their accomplishments are specific and performance-based.
Logan’s resume focuses on hands-on experience with young learners and ties directly to their academic goals. Their consistent engagement with early childhood makes them a strong candidate for education-related scholarships.
Devon’s resume highlights both technical know-how and initiative in peer collaboration. Their resume is structured with concrete tech experience and personal projects that boost scholarship eligibility.
Blake shows depth by listing both performance and assistant directing roles. Their resume displays creativity, initiative, and an understanding of theater as a team effort—ideal for arts-focused scholarships.
Reese’s experience directly aligns with the values of many public health scholarship programs. Their role in both direct service and data gathering shows a commitment to impact and education.
Sam’s resume highlights real kitchen experience and connects culinary interests to broader community goals. By including both school and restaurant roles, Sam shows commitment and readiness for more advanced training—perfect for culinary-focused scholarships.
Unless the application instructions say otherwise, plan on using the combination (or hybrid) resume format. (All resume examples on this page follow this format.) A combination resume has two main parts:
The following are tips and examples to help you create each section of your scholarship resume.
Your summary is likely the first section a scholarship committee member will read, so make it count. This short paragraph should give the top reasons you qualify, such as your academic achievements, leadership roles, volunteer work, or overall commitment to your chosen field. (Note: Most applicants find it easier to write this section last.)
Biology student with a 3.9 GPA, over 150 volunteer hours in health care outreach, and leadership experience as president of the Science Club. Committed to helping address health disparities in underserved communities.
I am a biology student with good grades who volunteers regularly in the local community.
As the above examples indicate, you should avoid using “I” statements in your summary. Or if you do use them, just remove the “I” phrase from the beginning of each sentence. For instance, change “I am a biology student with…” to “Biology student with…”
Include a skills list under your summary to show the different ways you can apply yourself. Tip: Each item in your list should be a term you can plug into the sentence “I’m skilled in X.” So, while a phrase like “Team collaboration” is correct, “Highly collaborative” is incorrect.
| Common key skills for scholarship resumes | |
|---|---|
| Academic research | Budget tracking |
| Canva design | Community outreach |
| Conflict resolution | Event coordination |
| Fundraising | Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) |
| Group facilitation | Microsoft Office |
| Peer mentoring | Public speaking |
| Social media strategy | STEM tutoring |
| Team leadership | Time management |
| Volunteer coordination | Writing and editing |
Now that you’ve listed your main skills, show them in action.
For each recent role or experience you’ve had, take some time to brainstorm and jot down your thoughts separately. As career expert Richard N. Bolles pointed out, “the act of simply writing things down is a powerful tool, whether you’re scribbling them on paper or typing in a notes app or a blank document. If you can, consider writing with pen and paper, retro as that may seem.” Try to remember and record what you valued in each experience, along with any major projects or achievements.
When you’re done brainstorming, review each item in light of the scholarship program. Choose the most relevant highlights to present as bullet points in your experience section(s). This approach helps you focus on details, showing how and why you meet the scholarship criteria.
Library Assistant, Pineview High School Library, Pineview, OR | August 2023 to August 2025
Library Assistant, Pineview High School Library, Pineview, OR | August 2023 to August 2025
When adding your education, include the degree you earned, the school you attended, and, optionally, the year you graduated. (The second education example below shows how to frame a degree you’re still earning.) Follow a similar format for any certifications, listing your title, the organization, and optionally the completion date.
Education
Diploma, Cascade High School, Seattle, WA | 2023
Candidate: Bachelor of Science in Biology | expected May 2026
Greenfield University, Greenfield, IL
Certifications
The resume templates above help you organize and display your scholarship qualifications. When choosing from these or other approved templates, trust your instinct. Often, the design you’re naturally most drawn to will best reflect your work style and be the one you’re most confident sending.
Resume.org offers free, HR-approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes.
Build Your ResumeCommon action verbs for scholarship resumes include:
| Action verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Clarified |
| Collaborated | Completed |
| Created | Delivered |
| Directed | Earned |
| Explored | Facilitated |
| Generated | Improved |
| Investigated | Led |
| Organized | Raised |
| Ranked | Reduced |
| Researched | Studied |
| Supported | Volunteered |
| Won | |
New artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT or DeepL Write, can help you get started on your resume by quickly creating a first draft. AI can also offer new ideas and suggest better ways to describe your experience and skills.
But while AI is a great tool for getting started, it can’t do everything. You still need to think about your key achievements, pick the most relevant information for each section, and make sure all the details on your final resume are accurate.
With resume design, less is more. The less visual information you add, the more attention you’ll draw to your relevant skills and achievements. Keep your format simple and polished. Avoid visual flourishes like elaborate borders, colorful logos, or unusual fonts and bullet symbols, which usually just distract the hiring manager.
Head of Career Advising
Kara Dennison, SPHR, CPRW, EC is an Executive Career and Leadership Coach, Organizational Strategy Consultant, and CEO of Optimized Career Solutions. With certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and Encouragement Consultant (EC), Kara brings a unique blend of strategic insight, behavioral science, and personal development to her work. Her career began in corporate recruiting and HR leadership, where she partnered with C-suite executives to hire top performers and reviewed more than 500,000 resumes. That experience ignited her passion for helping high-achieving professionals clarify their path, tell their story with impact, and advance into roles they love.
Today, Kara coaches executives and consults with organizations on culture, communication, and leadership development. She’s been named a Top 101 Global Employee Engagement Influencer by Inspiring Workplaces for 2023, 2024, and 2025, and contributes regularly to Forbes on topics like career growth, leadership trends, and the evolving workplace. Her work has appeared in Fast Company, LifeHacker, Thrive Global, and other leading outlets. Through one-on-one coaching, brand strategy, and organizational consulting, Kara’s mission is simple: empower professionals and leaders to live impactful lives, showing up with clarity and confidence so they and their teams can thrive.
Resume.org offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.
