I was fortunate enough to have an NSF grfp, a Chateaubriand, and an NSF GROW to get me through graduate school. These are highly competitive scholarships that require a lot of work to get.
Thankfully, my friend Rachel Smith has compiled a page of successful NSF grfp essays. Read these for inspiration, and to learn how to write a successful essay.
Dr. Stefani A. Crabtree 