Intrigued? Of course you are! Who wouldn't want $20,600 to help pay for college? Get the scoop on how these four scholarship winners snagged crazy dough, plus their pointers on how you can get your hands on some free cash, too.

Stats: Kevin Koo, freshman at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Award: Teen H.I.P. (Teens Helping Influence People Award)
Loot: $10,000
The Goods: "Scholarship [sponsors] aren't looking for teen inventors," says Kevin. "They're looking for honest people who care about what they do. You don't have to be a rocket scientist or a celebrity to win a scholarship."
Two-Word Translation: Be yourself.

Stats: Eréndira Marcela Alvarez, sophomore at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas
Award: Hispanic Heritage Youth Award for Academic Excellence
Loot: Eréndira won $2,000 at the regional level, $5,000 at the national level, plus $500 worth of gas from Exxon, $100 in Subway coupons, and a Dell laptop. Total: about $8,600
The Goods: "Find an essay topic you're passionate about, instead of a cookie-cutter essay that comes across as not true to yourself," Eréndira advises. 
Two-Word Translation: Get creative.

Stats: Jordan Hadfield, freshman at University of Maryland at Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland
Award: Wal-Mart Sam Walton Community Scholarship
Loot: $1,000
The Goods: "When I pick up a form, I say I'm picking some up for friends, and take three, because you're going to mess up at least one," Jordan says. "You need to make sure [applications] are perfect."
Two-Word Translation: Be neat.

Stats: Joy Sears, freshman at Old Dominion University in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Award: Geico Scholarship
Loot: $1,000
The Goods: "I had my high school teachers look over my essay, and I sent it in a week early to make sure it got in on time," says Joy.
Two-Word Translation: Stay organized.
   
Remember: Scholarship opportunities abound. Added up, they can make a huge difference.