Do you really love animals so much you simply can’t even bring yourself to eat them? Have you been around the front lines, fighting for animal rights? Would you protest animal testing and refuse to use products which have been tested on animals? Well, there’s a generous scholarship in existence for you should you meet these and other criteria.

The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a nonprofit that spends its time educating people on vegetarianism and related health issues. The VRG survives mainly on donations and educates schools, physicians and dieticians while also developing healthy meal plans for children. VRG is a widely respected resource from the vegetarian community because of their great efforts targeted at advancing vegetarianism.

Because of some donations, the VRG is providing two $5000 scholarships to graduating students. To qualify, students must have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians are defined as people who will not eat meat, fish or fowl. Entries need to be postmarked by February 20, 2012, and this scholarship is for young students graduating in 2012. Payment of the scholarship goes directly to the winner’s school, where there is going to be media attention surrounding this scholarship. Applicants can easily download a PDF through the VRG website to start their application.

You can find three major parts to the application. Part one is just general information together with information about ‚references‘ from others inside the vegetarian movement. The second section of the application is an essay that covers sixteen major points in regards to the applicant as well as their philosophies of life and vegetarianism. Academics will play a role, and applicants are asked to attach the last two years of report cards using their application for the third portion. The third portion is more or less the ‚proof‘ section, so combined with the transcript or report cards, they have to attach letters of reference along with any evidence of vegetarianism promoting activities.

Who would have thought you can get this kind of large scholarship determined by the foods you eat – or don’t eat, for that matter. Vegetarianism has been a growing trend amongst young adults in the United States and abroad in recent years. Because of this trend organizations like VRG are taking the initiative to help educate the youth on the practice of vegetarianism. Scholarships are just one way that VRG gives to the community. Inform your vegetarian friends and have them visit the website for additional information.

Madi Martha has been in the field of weird scholarships and grants for a long time and maintains a website about weird scholarships and grants where you can get answers to the rest of your questions.