By tamara Did you know that the first week of August is National Clown Week? If you have coulrophobia (a fear of clowns), that probably isn’t welcome news. Nobody knows how many people suffer from coulrophobia, but a quick search on the Internet pulls up over 355,000 links to articles and mentions of this phobia. The term ‘clown’ actually refers to someone who is a klutz or always tripping over his/her own feet – not very scary, right? But throw on a colorful costume, some heavy face paint and a red nose, people lose their minds! Love them or hate them, clowns seem to be everywhere, so to celebrate National Clown Week (no creepy pictures – we promise!), we’ve compiled a few clever scholarships that celebrate clowns and their original intention of making people smile and laugh! 1. NCA Memorial Fund Scholarship The first part of being a clown is wearing an amazing costume. The National Costumers Association offers several awards each year, ranging from $500 to $1,500. Applicants must be 17 years or older, have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and study in a field related to the costume industry. Deadline: April 1, 2013. 2. Raymond J. Schulte Scholarship Each year, the Scottville Clown Band awards several scholarships to music students. Scholarships are provided to students to attend camps or college programs during the summer term. Deadline: May 14, 2013. 3. Wholesale Halloween Costumes Scholarship If you suffer from coulrophobia, this is the perfect opportunity for you to put your fear to good use. Simply create a scary monster (or clown), relate it to Halloween, and submit an essay for your chance to win $1,000 for college. Deadline: August 19, 2012. 4. Marian A. Smith Costume Scholarship The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) offers a $2,300 scholarship to a student who is pursuing his/her graduate degree in costume design or technology. Applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree at an institution within the SETC region. Deadline: January 21, 2013. 5. Make Me Laugh Scholarship Not all scholarships are serious. In fact, this scholarship requires you to submit a short essay (250 words or less) about a funny or embarrassing incident in your life. Time to let your inner clown out for a chance to win $1,000! Deadline: August 31, 2012.