By tamaraPool parties, barbecues and vacations are all indicators that summer has arrived. It’s the time of year I always look forward to; soaking in the summer sun and enjoying some free time with my friends. Homework and tests are far from my mind; instead, I concentrate on tan lines and making the perfect backyard burger. Unfortunately, the summer months always seem to fly by and soon I’ll have to start thinking about going back to school. That means scraping together the funds to pay for books, tuition and other college expenses again. If you always seem to be scrambling to find the money for your education each fall, consider tackling these scorching summer scholarships before they melt away like an ice cream cone on a hot, sunny day. 1. Abbott and Fenner Scholarship U.S. students, who are between the ages of 16 and 30, may be eligible for this award. Students must submit an essay addressing one of two topics listed on the provider’s website. A total of $1,000 will be awarded. Deadline: June 14. 2. Akash Kuruvilla Memorial Scholarship High school seniors and college students may apply to this scholarship. Students must submit an essay answering the following prompt: “What does the phrase ‘The American Dream’ mean to you and how do you embody ‘The American Dream?'” Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Deadline: June 28. 3. Castle Ink ‘Paperless’ Scholarship Students involved in recycling efforts at their school or in their community may be eligible for this award. One $1,000 scholarship will be offered. Deadline: July 1. 4. Wholesale Halloween Costumes Scholarship U.S. students, 16 years and older, may apply for this scholarship. Students must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and submit a jingle that incorporates WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com into the lyrics. One $500 scholarship will be provided. Deadline: July 23. 5. “From Failure to Promise” Essay Contest High school and college students may enter this contest by submitting an essay addressing the topic listed on the provider’s website. A total of three scholarships will be offered, ranging in value from $500 to $1,500 each. Deadline: July 31. 6. Flavor of the Month Scholarship U.S. students, 13 years or older, may apply for this scholarship. Students must submit a short essay explaining which flavor of ice cream best describes their personality. One winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Deadline: July 31. 7. ‘Advice to Your High School Self’ Scholarship Current college students and recent college graduates (2011 to 2013) are eligible for this award. Students must complete a short survey about their college experience and submit an essay. One winner will receive $2,500. Deadline: July 31. 8. CouponCommunity.com Scholarship Program Graduating high school seniors and college students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply. Students must submit a short essay explaining how they save money in college. One $2,000 scholarship will be offered. Deadline: July 31. 9. Bryce Thomson Scholarship Fund Students who work at an ice cream parlor (or other National Ice Cream Retailers Association member business) may be eligible for this scholarship. Students must be college-bound high school seniors or currently enrolled in college. Ten scholarships, valued between $1,000 and $3,500 each, will be provided. Deadline: August 30. 10. Make Me Laugh Scholarship U.S. students, 13 years and older, may apply to this scholarship. Students must submit a funny or embarrassing story that will make the scholarship review committee laugh out loud. One winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Deadline: August 30. Summer is the perfect time of year to work on scholarships; you have fewer things to juggle and more time to really dig into applications. Over the next few months, take some time research available programs that may help you cover some or all of your upcoming college expenses. Don’t forget to check out Tumblr, Pinterest and Reddit, as well as a few good online search tools. You never know where a scholarship may pop up!