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10 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples From Real Students

Make your application shine.

Only at the ice rink could I be myself; the feeling of the cold rink breeze embracing me, the ripping sound of blades touching the ice, even the occasional ice burning my skin as I fell—these were my few constants.

Writing a scholarship essay can be intimidating. The competition is fierce and the stakes are high, so students are bound to feel the pressure. It may be helpful, therefore, to look at essays that were successful. What did those students do to impress the committee? These scholarship essay examples will give you a better idea of how to make an application shine!

Tips for Writing a Scholarship Essay

We’ve put together a whole guide for how to write a scholarship essay , so if you haven’t read it already, definitely give it a look! In addition, here are some quick tips to help students get started.

Carefully read the rules

The last thing you need is to be disqualified from winning a scholarship because you didn’t do the right thing.

Start early

Don’t wait until the last minute to start researching and applying for scholarships. Give yourself plenty of time to work through the process.

Get to know the provider

Think of the scholarship provider as your target audience. You want to tailor your essay to impress them, so do your research. What kinds of candidates are they looking for? What causes do they support? Dig deep for the information you need!

Think about who you are, what you want to say, and how to appeal to the scholarship committee. Write everything down and then choose the best ideas.

The scholarship committee will be reviewing many applications. How can you make yours unforgettable? Highlight your strongest assets, share hard lessons if they showcase your growth as a person and/or student, and be honest. Never lie in a scholarship essay!

Be professional

Consider this the most important academic paper you’ve ever written. Don’t use slang or casual language. Submit a properly formatted essay that’s been well-edited and proofread by multiple people.

One last tip

Don’t reuse scholarship essays! Yes, it’s time-consuming, but students need to put the same effort into every application. Use the same process and it will get faster and easier every time!

Scholarship Essay Examples

Afc visionary scholarship essay by nicole kuznetsov.

Award Amount: $5,000

Essay prompt: Why do you want to go to college? Why is it important to you?

Why it was successful: The beauty of this essay is that it’s well-organized and simple. Nicole Kuznetsov chose to outline her story by using chronology and provided a clean, concise story following a linear path.

As a child, my life had structure. Coloring books had lines, letters took on very specific shapes, and a system of rules governed everything from board games to the classroom.

North Coast Section Foundation Scholarship Essay by Christine Fung

Award Amount: $1,000

Why it was successful: Christine Fung masterfully shared how her upbringing instilled strong values, a love for education, and a passion for medicine .

The more involved I became, the more I learned as a leader and as a person.

The Bill Browning Scholarship Essay by Gabby DeMott

Award Amount: $10,000

Essay prompt: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Why it was successful: Gabby DeMott shared her experiences with personal growth and overcoming fears in Germany. She also appealed to the very human feeling of wanting to belong in a way that was inspiring.

Never have I felt so accepted while being an outsider, so proud of a country that isn’t even mine, so part of something I didn’t really belong to.

Life Happens Scholarship Essay by Emily Trader

Award Amount: $15,000

Essay prompt: How has the death of a parent or guardian impacted your life financially and emotionally? Be sure to describe how the loss of your parent/guardian impacted your college plans, and explain how the lack of adequate (or any) life insurance coverage has impacted your family’s financial situation.

Why it was successful: Emily Trader fully addressed the prompt in honest, beautiful detail. She knew her audience and tailored her essay to appeal to them while telling her compelling story.

If this devastating experience has taught me anything, it is this: financial planning for these situations is absolutely invaluable.

Change a Life Foundation Scholarship Essay by Isabella Mendez-Figueroa

Essay prompt: Please explain how your experience volunteering and participating in community service has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your future ambitions and career choice.

Why it was successful: Isabella Mendez-Figueroa shared an empowering story about her parents overcoming financial adversity so that she and her sister could be the first in their family to go to college.

As I’ve grown I’ve learned to fight my own monsters but I now also battle the ones that frighten my parents, the monsters of a world that they weren’t born into.

Giva Scholarship Essay by Joseph Lee

Essay prompt: Who is (or what makes) a good doctor?

Why it was successful: Joseph Lee offered a captivating , personal story that was essentially a list of things that make someone a good doctor without it feeling boring or calculated.

I learned such lessons in the purest manner possible, by being a patient myself, and will use them to guide me in all future patient encounters, as I strive to be a

New York University College of Arts and Science Scholarship by Ana

Award amount: $39,500

Essay prompt: Explain something that made a big impact in your life.

Why it was successful: Ana discussed how early experiences w ith learning difficult things has contributed to her passion for teaching and supporting students.

The Fund for Education Abroad Rainbow Scholarship Essay by Steven Fisher

Award amount: $7,500

Essay prompt: The Fund for Education Abroad is committed to diversifying education abroad by providing funding to students who are typically under-represented in study abroad. Please describe how you and/or your plans for study abroad could be viewed as under-represented.

Why it was successful: Steven Fisher’s powerful essay connected his realizations about his own sexual identity with embracing the beautiful diversity found all around the world.

My growth as a person was exponential. I rewrote so many areas of my life where I didn’t do things I wanted because of social conditioning.

Women’s World Banking Founder’s Scholarship Essay by Rosaisha Ozoria

Essay prompt: Write about your hopes for the future of women and girls worldwide.

Why it was successful: Rosaisha Ozoria focused on a very specific topic , financial literacy for Hispanic women, and emphasized its importance and relevance to her own life.

This is a tremendous goal, but for me, it is an opportunity to make a difference – in my neighborhood and for my Spanish community.

The Millennium Gates Last Dollar Scholarship Essay by Famyrah Lafortune

Award amount: $3,500

Essay prompt: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way.

Why it was successful: Famyrah Lafortune starts with a strong statement about ending racial inequality and then details the steps she’ll take to make it happen.

By raising awareness of racial disparities that occur everywhere, I might encourage a new wave of change in our country ...

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Need money for college? These scholarship essay examples will help your application stand out over the competition!

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Examples

Winning Scholarship Essay Examples for Students: Tips Included

37 min read

Published on: Mar 14, 2021

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Scholarship Essay Examples Financial Need

Why this scholarship essay worked.

This scholarship essay example effectively conveys the applicant's financial need and their determination to overcome the challenges associated with it. Here's why this essay worked:

Personal Storytelling: The essay begins with a personal anecdote that establishes a connection between the applicant's background and financial constraints. This helps create empathy and demonstrates the genuine impact of financial challenges on their educational journey.
Resilience and Resourcefulness: The applicant showcases their resilience and resourcefulness in navigating financial hardships. They highlight their proactive approach to seeking part-time employment and actively pursuing scholarships.
Academic Commitment: Despite the financial strain, the applicant emphasizes their commitment to academic excellence by maintaining a high GPA. This showcases their dedication and ability to prioritize their studies amidst challenging circumstances.
Community Involvement : The essay also highlights the applicant's involvement in community service. This demonstrates their desire to give back and make a positive impact.
Connection to Scholarship: The applicant clearly articulates how receiving the scholarship would benefit them. This demonstrates a strong alignment between their goals and the purpose of the scholarship.

Want more examples, check out these winning scholarship essay examples.

Financial Aid Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Essay for Financial Need

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

Why this essay worked.

This scholarship essay worked for several reasons, such as:

It effectively showcases the applicant's passion for mathematics, community engagement, and resilience.
It compellingly conveyed the applicant's dedication, ambition, and potential for making a positive impact. This makes them a deserving candidate for the scholarship.
Clear connection to the scholarship's goals and how it would further the applicant's educational journey and impact.

Here are some scholarship essay examples about yourself; get an idea from them, and create a successful essay.

Scholarship Essay Example About Yourself

Scholarship Essay About Yourself

Scholarship Essay Examples for Nursing

Why this essay worked.

This essay worked due to its compelling portrayal of the applicant's genuine passion for nursing, coupled with their unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in patient care.

The essay effectively demonstrates the applicant's well-rounded preparation for a nursing career and their clear alignment with the goals and mission of the scholarship, making them a strong candidate for consideration.

Below are some more examples of scholarship essays for nursing.

Nursing Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Essay for Nursing

Scholarship Essay Examples About Career Goals

This essay worked for the following reasons:

Clear and Specific Career Goals: The essay effectively outlines the applicant's career goal of becoming a clinical psychologist specializing in mental health support. The clarity and specificity of the goal demonstrate a well-defined path and a strong sense of purpose.
Demonstrated Preparation and Commitment: The essay showcases the applicant's comprehensive preparation for their career goals. It also demonstrates their readiness and dedication to excel in the field.
Alignment with Scholarship Objectives: The essay effectively highlights how the scholarship will contribute to the applicant's career aspirations. This includes attending conferences, workshops, and advanced training programs.

If you find difficulty writing the scholarship essay about career goals, get help from the below-mentioned examples, and submit a well-written essay.

Scholarship Essay Examples About Leadership

Three reasons why this essay worked are:

Demonstrated Leadership Experience : This essay effectively highlights the applicant's practical experience in leadership roles, showcasing their ability to lead teams, organize events, and coordinate volunteers.
Commitment to Personal Growth : The essay demonstrates the applicant's proactive approach to leadership development by seeking formal training and participating in workshops focused on honing their skills.
Emphasis on Collaboration and Empowerment: The essay emphasizes the applicant's belief in collaborative leadership. It promotes inclusivity and empowers team members to contribute their unique perspectives.

Here we gather some good scholarship essay examples about leadership that help in your writing.

Leadership Scholarship Essay Example

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Scholarship Essay Examples About Community Service

Here are the reasons:

Genuine Passion and Commitment: The essay effectively conveys the applicant's genuine passion for community service, highlighting their long-standing involvement and the transformative impact it has had on their life.
Integration of Service with Education: The essay demonstrates the applicant's proactive approach to integrating their passion for community service with their educational pursuits.
Aspiration for Social Change: The essay goes beyond personal experiences and highlights the applicant's aspirations for broader social change.

Here is an excellent community service scholarship essa y that can help you write for community college.

Scholarship Essay Example about Community Service

High School Scholarship Essay Examples

Clear and Convincing Goals: The essay effectively communicates the applicant's strong desire to pursue higher education despite financial constraints.
Demonstrated Leadership and Well-Roundedness: The essay showcases the applicant's involvement in extracurricular activities. It highlights their ability to balance academic responsibilities with active participation in clubs, sports teams, and community service initiatives.
Emphasis on Giving Back and Community Engagement: The essay not only focuses on the applicant's personal aspirations but also highlights their commitment to giving back to their community.

The following are the best high school scholarship essay examples, use this for your help, and write an attention-grabbing essay.

Scholarship Essay Example for High School

Scholarship Essay for High School

Scholarship Essay Examples for University

Why this essay works.

Three reasons why this essay works are:

Strong Personal Motivation: The essay effectively communicates the applicant's unwavering commitment and determination to pursue a university education.
Articulation of Long-Term Goals and Social Impact: The essay goes beyond highlighting the applicant's academic achievements and financial needs. It emphasizes the applicant's desire to contribute to their community and make a positive impact on society.
The connection between Scholarship and Applicant's Potential: The essay effectively illustrates how receiving the scholarship would directly address the financial burden. Plus, it will enable the applicant to fully embrace the university experience.

Here are some excellent scholarship essay examples for university students that help you in writing the essay.

Scholarship Essay Example for University Students

Scholarship Essay Examples for Engineering

This essay worked because of the following reasons:

Passion and Commitment: The essay effectively conveys the applicant's deep passion for engineering. It also shows their genuine commitment to making a positive impact in this field.
Alignment with Scholarship Objectives: It clearly establishes the connection between the scholarship and the applicant's goals in engineering.
Future Impact and Growth: It also communicates the applicant's aspiration to contribute to the field of engineering and make a positive difference in the world.

The following is another scholarship essay example that can help you in creating the perfect essay on your own.

Scholarship Essay Examples for Masters

This essay worked for several reasons:

Clear Purpose and Goal: The essay effectively conveys the applicant's clear purpose and goal of pursuing a master's degree. It highlights the transformative impact that a master's degree can have on personal and professional growth.
Financial Need and Scholarship Alignment : The essay addresses the financial challenges associated with pursuing a master's degree. It demonstrates the direct alignment between the scholarship and the applicant's needs.
Impact and Giving Back : The essay goes beyond personal aspirations and emphasizes the applicant's intention to make a broader impact on their community and society.

Here is an example that you can use as a guide and write a perfect scholarship essay.

Why Should You Receive this Scholarship Essay Examples

Three brief reasons why this essay worked are:

Clear and Convincing Arguments : The essay presents concise and compelling arguments to support the applicant's case for receiving the scholarship.
Personal Connection : It demonstrates how receiving the scholarship would directly impact the applicant's academic journey
Gratitude and Future Commitment : It expresses sincere gratitude for the opportunity and emphasizes the applicant's commitment to making the most of the scholarship.

Here is an example, take help from them for your scholarship essay.

Why Should You Receive this Scholarship Essay Example

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Examples

Compelling Personal Story: The essay effectively presents the applicant's personal story and highlights their dedication and commitment to their education
Addressing Academic Excellence and Financial Need : The essay successfully addresses both academic excellence and financial need, which are two crucial aspects considered by scholarship committees.
Commitment to Making an Impact: The essay goes beyond the applicant's personal goals and emphasizes their dedication to making a positive impact in their community.

Hereâs another example for this scholarship essay below:

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Example

Tips for Writing the Effective Scholarship Essay

When it comes to writing an effective scholarship essay, there are several key tips to keep in mind.

By following these guidelines, you can maximize your chances of standing out and impressing scholarship selection committees.

Here are some essential tips to help you craft a compelling scholarship essay:

Understand the Prompt

Take the time to thoroughly understand the essay prompt or topic provided by the scholarship provider. Pay attention to any specific instructions or guidelines given.

Research the Scholarship

Familiarize yourself with the organization or institution offering the scholarship. Understand their values, mission, and objectives. This knowledge will help you align your essay with their goals and demonstrate your fit for the scholarship.

Tell Your Unique Story

Use the essay as an opportunity to showcase your personal experiences, like obstacles you might encounter, achievements, and aspirations. Highlight what sets you apart from other applicants. Be authentic and genuine in conveying your story, like overcoming personal failures.

Start with a Compelling Introduction

Grab the reader's attention from the beginning with a strong and captivating introduction. Consider starting with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful statement.

Structure Your Essay

Organize your essay into a clear and logical structure. Start with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs that support your main points, and end with a concise and impactful conclusion.

Be Concise and Specific

Scholarship essays often have a word or character limits, so make every word count. Be concise in your writing and avoid unnecessary fluff. Focus on providing specific examples and details that support your claims.

Showcase Your Achievements

Highlight your academic accomplishments, extracurricular involvements, community service, leadership roles, or any other relevant achievements. Link them to the values and goals of the scholarship.

Address the Selection Criteria

Ensure that your essay addresses the selection criteria specified by the scholarship provider. If they are looking for specific qualities or skills, tailor your essay to showcase how you possess those attributes.

In conclusion, writing an effective scholarship essay is a crucial step in securing the financial aid you need for your education.

By following the tips outlined here, you can enhance your essay-writing skills and create a compelling narrative that captivates scholarship selection committees.

Be authentic, concise, and specific in your writing. Tailor your essay to align with the values and objectives of the scholarship provider. And above all, believe in yourself and your potential to make a difference through education.

If you're seeking further guidance and support in your scholarship essay writing journey, consider partnering with our AI essay writing tools !

We also have a team of experienced and professional essay writers who can provide personal essay writing service with valuable insights.

Hire our college paper writing service today and take the next step towards securing the financial aid you deserve.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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FREE TRAINING: How I Secured 6-Figures in Scholarships & Graduated Debt-Free

The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money

Scholarships & Financial Aid Student Success

Updated on December 22nd, 2023

Scholarship application essays often carry a TON of weight when deciding who will receive the most scholarship money, but it’s not always easy to stand out in the crowd of applications. Even if your student fits the scholarship criteria exactly , they’re still likely to be one of a number of applicants with similar grades, accomplishments, community involvements, and aspirations.

That’s where an excellent scholarship application and scholarship essay format becomes a necessity and the key to winning the money. The scholarship essay provides the scholarship committee an opportunity to learn more about the individual behind the application and gives them a much more detailed look at your student’s school and home life. Additionally, the essay is your child’s greatest chance to shine and make their case for why they should be awarded the scholarship.

So, what do you need in order to write a great essay and maximize your chances of winning?! Check out these scholarship essay examples from scholarship winners that won money!

If you and your student are working on the scholarship process, make sure you don’t miss our free scholarship training. I cover exactly where you can find more scholarships your student is actually eligible for and are legitimate . Grab your spot here: 6 Steps to Quickly Securing Scholarships for College .

1.1 Learn About Different Essay Prompts
1.2 Understand What’s Considered Unique and Compelling
1.3 Explore Different Styles to Find Your Voice
1.4 See What Resonated with the Scholarship Committee
2.1 Winner #1: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay
2.2 Winner #2: Plan beyond college essay
2.3 Winner #3: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay
2.4 Winner #4: Plan beyond college essay
2.5 Winner #5: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay
2.6 Winner #6: Plan beyond college essay
3.1 Example 1:
3.2 Example 2:
4 How to Use Scholarship Essay Examples to Win Scholarships

Why Reviewing Scholarship Essay Examples Is Time Well Spent

Many students may wonder whether reviewing scholarship examples that won money is worth doing. After all, scholarship essays should tell a personal story, so anything covered by another student might not relate to your student at all.

However, there are several benefits to checking out scholarship essay examples. Here’s a look at why reading them is time well spent.

Learn About Different Essay Prompts

Every winning scholarship essay is based on a specific essay prompt. While many organizations use similar prompts, a scholarship provider can ask students unique questions, too.

When students explore example scholarship essays, they usually learn about the prompt that inspired them. That can help your college or high school student find out more about what a scholarship committee may present as a prompt before they begin their scholarship journey. Then, they can consider how they’d respond to each of the given questions, leaving them better prepared for the road that lies ahead.

Essentially, checking out the essays and prompts encourages them to reflect on their lives to identify moments that can become the basis for their essays. It could even inspire them to write practice essays based on the prompts they discover, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the scholarship essay format and writing process.

Plus, practice essays are opportunities to get feedback from parents, teachers, or friends before they begin the process of pursuing this type of financial aid. As a bonus, if a particular practice essay is incredibly strong, they can always save it for future use in case a scholarship provider presents that prompt, allowing them to have a functional head start.

Understand What’s Considered Unique and Compelling

The most widely given advice to students who are preparing to write scholarship essays is to make sure what they’re sharing is unique and compelling. But what exactly does that entail? In many cases, the guidance feels very ambiguous or vague, particularly to students who may not know whether various aspects of their lives may stand out.

When reviewing examples of scholarship essays that won money, students see precisely what a scholarship committee deemed unique and compelling enough to win the award. That may help students determine whether a particular community service experience, personal statement, education abroad experience, or other aspect of their lives is intriguing enough to separate them from the pack.

It also gives students insights into their competition. By seeing what a scholarship provider selected as a winning essay, students can understand what other students may present to the scholarship committee. Then, they can figure out how to ensure what they write goes above and beyond what most students submit, increasing their odds of landing scholarships that will help them achieve their educational and career goals.

Explore Different Styles to Find Your Voice

While scholarship essays typically use a particular format, students need to use the right voice when telling their stories. Since many students don’t spend much time writing about their lives, figuring out how to share information in a way that aligns with their personality (but also meets scholarship committee expectations) isn’t always easy.

Fortunately, reviewing scholarship essay examples that won money can make the process easier. It’s a chance to explore how other students express themselves in writing, and that often leads to powerful insights.

Additionally, checking out several essays shows that a wide variety of approaches are effective. In many cases, that can make the process of finding their voice less intimidating to students, as it demonstrates that students have far more flexibility in how they present themselves than they may expect.

See What Resonated with the Scholarship Committee

Often, a scholarship provider has specific values and perspectives that guide the actions and decisions of the scholarship committee. As a result, what resonates with one may not connect as well with another.

While students can learn a bit about an organization’s values and perspective by doing some research, that may not give them a comprehensive picture of what the scholarship committee is hoping to see. But if students can find scholarship essay examples that won money from a specific scholarship provider, they can learn how to connect with that particular scholarship committee.

When reviewing the essays, they’ll see what types of stories, formats, and tones caught the eyes of committee members, and they can use that to shape how they approach writing their own essays. In some cases, that could allow students to increase their odds of landing the award, making the time spent reviewing the submissions worthwhile.

Click here to grab a copy of these examples

The Scholarship System Winning Scholarship Essay Examples

Prompts for our scholarship essay:

Discuss a special attribute, experience or accomplishment that sets you apart. How do you think that will help you succeed in college? (500 – 750 words) (Hint: we ask for ONE attribute, experience or accomplishment so please choose only ONE to talk about.)
Discuss your plan beyond college. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Please include what you majoring in and how you plan on using that in your career. (250 words maximum)

Winner #1: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay

“Two and a half years ago if I had been asked if I wanted to be a part of the HOSA organization I honestly would not have had a clue what that meant or where to begin! I did know that I wanted to pursue a career in the health field and was guided to Tolles Career & Technical Center where I was accepted into the Pre-Vet two year program. At the start of my Junior year I was introduced to HOSA, an organization for Future Health Professionals. The mission of HOSA is “to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience”. I became a member immediately and participated locally in many of the community events and service projects. I also competed in the Ohio HOSA competition for medical innovation and advanced to the local, regional and state level.

I then decided to run for one of the seven Distinguished Representative positions for all of Ohio. This was an intense process! I was required to first take a test over HOSA rules, regulations, and guidelines. I was then asked to set goals for the organization and give a speech regarding my goal ideas in front of several hundred people, the current state delegates and officer team. The final step was a vote by the current state delegates and officer team. I was successfully elected as Historian and my HOSA experience was in full swing.

My first HOSA conference as the Historian was the International Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida in June 2017. Over 2,500 students came together to learn from five outstanding healthcare professionals. Topics included exploring healthcare careers, changes in healthcare, and medical innovations needed in the industry. I had the opportunity to have an active role in facilitating and participating in workshops and meetings for HOSA members. The goal of these workshops and meetings was to develop practical leadership skills, effective communication skills with people of all ages, and to understand the importance of encouraging individual and group achievements. Exceptional qualities that I plan on using in my career.

In September 2017 I participated in the HOSA Washington Leadership Conference where 400 officers from all the states learned strategies to improve our leadership skills. These interactive workshops included topics on self-motivation, problem-solving skills, managing others, and professionalism. I collaborated with representatives from many different states in preparation for our meeting with our political leaders both from the House of Representatives and the Senate to discuss with them the value of Career & Technical Education. We explored and presented evidence regarding the importance of funding for these types of educational opportunities. Upon completion of this conference I reported back to the local Board of Education sharing my experiences and the success of our meetings. Both of these conferences taught me what it takes to be successful in healthcare.

writing about your own life and career goals

As my tenure was coming to a close, I organized meetings with the local students who were planning to run for local and state officer positions. I met with them in groups and individually to help prepare them for the interview process, and to emphasize the importance of maintaining the high standard of leadership in the global health community, if elected. In May 2018 the Ohio HOSA State Leadership Conference was held in Columbus, Ohio. I had an integral role in interviewing, selecting, and presenting the new Ohio State Officers to over 1500 students and advisors from around the state.

In conclusion, my HOSA experience helped provide me with improvements in leadership, communication, and team work skills. As I move onto college each of these skills will help me in defining my goals, establishing lasting friendships and relationships, and working with others for common goals for the betterment of our local, state, and national health communities. I am confident that all of these qualities that I have learned and practiced through HOSA will contribute to my success in every aspect of my future!”

Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money

Winner #2: Plan beyond college essay

“The day was May 28, 2014. My doctor told my parents that I would need Spinal Fusion Surgery with rods and screws, and it had to happen quickly. Before surgery, the doctor suggested strength training for the muscles in my back so that I’d recover faster. I immediately went to the local gym and began working with a personal trainer, Justin. I learned so much from him including how the body works and how surgery takes time to heal. After surgery, I knew that I wanted to use my experience to help others, just like Justin helped me. My ultimate goal is to own my own gym to help others, just like Justin helped me. I will also include a nutritional supplement line to make sure clients are fit inside and out. I know I will successfully reach my goals!

I will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science with a Minor in Business. These areas of study will give me the knowledge and background to achieve my ultimate goal. In association with this area of study, I will also be taking an entrepreneurial class and participating in entrepreneurial study group. This will help me in understanding the energy, perseverance, financial commitment, and planning needed to open my own business.

Upon graduation in 4 years, I plan on getting a job in a field associated with my goals, continuing to learn about the field, investing and saving to achieve my dream of having my own gym.”

If you and your student are working on the scholarship process, make sure you don’t miss our free scholarship training. It’s about 45 to 60 minutes long and I cover exactly where you can find more scholarships your student is actually eligible for and are legitimate. Grab your spot here: 6 Steps to Quickly Securing Scholarships for College.

Winner #3: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay

“I wake up to the sounds of chickadees singing outside my bedroom window and the delicious smell of breakfast cooking downstairs. A feeling of contentment washes over me as I slip out of bed and into my slippers. I saunter downstairs and sit at the kitchen bar as I rub the sleepy dirt from my eyes and wait to taste my mom’s delicious cooking. I love my laid back mornings. No alarms are jolting me out of a deep sleep followed by a mad rush to get ready and catch a bus like the other children in the neighborhood.

From the time I entered kindergarten until my eighth-grade year, I had the privilege of being homeschooled. It was during these formative years that I developed a love of reading and learning. My siblings and I used a literature-based curriculum which made history and other subjects come alive. My favorite part of the school day was our read-aloud books. My mom would sit on the couch, and the four of us would gather around her to see the pictures and hear the stories and then discuss the adventures we just went on. It was so enjoyable that it hardly seemed like school and we would beg for more. The schooled kids I would talk with were all jealous and wished they could be taught at home, too.

life experiences while being home schooled

I was a late reader and had difficulties with spelling, but I didn’t realize that as my mom let me progress at my own pace and never compared me to others. I had plenty of opportunities to be a child and learn through play during the early years and to explore and follow my interests, which often centered around horses and animals. The freedom to pursue my interests is how my passion for architectural design also began as I got a little older. In the early years, my mom would dictate for me and allow me to answer questions orally while my written expression and spelling developed. My mom was a firm believer in “better late than never,” when it came to reading and learning. This method worked well for me. I learned much later that I had dyslexia, and I believe if I had started off in public school I would have been frustrated and realized I was struggling more than the other children. My love for learning very well may have been hampered.

The joy of reading and learning is just the tip of the iceberg of how I benefited from being taught at home. I got to grow up surrounded by my family, interacting with them, working as a team, and calling my siblings my best friends. I developed valuable life skills as a result of doing life together. I learned to cook, do laundry, watch younger siblings, plant a garden, clean, and I learned a lot about good health. I learned responsibility, time management, and how to work independently. I became self-motivated and took an interest in my learning.

Homeschooling laid a firm foundation; my values are firmly rooted. My work ethics are strong. I can stand on my own two feet and function independently. I have the skills to manage both my education and my personal life outside of my home. I have the skills necessary to be a successful college student and to pursue a higher level of learning. I give much of this credit to the experience I received as a homeschooled student early on in my formative years.”

Winner #4: Plan beyond college essay

“In five years I will have a four-year degree in Industrial & Innovative Design and a year of work experience under my belt with a design firm. My degree will provide me with the skills, tools, and technology necessary to digitally design. Communication and interpersonal skills will also be part of my educational foundation as interaction with clients will be an essential part of my job. There are several avenues I could pursue with my degree, but my passion lies in residential architectural design. I will be working in a position where I will be talking to clients, drawing out their dreams in a house, designing it, watching it come to life before my eyes, and seeing them move in, making that space their own. As I gain knowledge and expertise, I envision myself volunteering for an organization like Habitats for Humanity which provide housing for those in need of a place to call home.”

Winner #5: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay

“I never felt so out of place before.

The battlefield was a scrap-littered felt carpet, white fold-up chairs graffitied by permanent marker and frozen yogurt bowls full of worn-down pencils. Ahead, lied the lone boys’ art class at my church. I was the lone volunteer, deploying only two open ears as a weapon, and had to coax their participation in the annual Christmas craft bonanza that they dreaded for weeks. My first and most impactful lesson in teaching had begun.

The class quickly degenerated into anarchy. I spent the first twenty minutes watching as elbows sent pencils overboard and handmade tattoos crawled up arms. With chaos mounting, I was paralyzed by the inability to speak. I forced myself to listen, as their conversations progressed to artistic ideas: Spiderman ornaments, Batman Christmas cards, ninja star origami. I expected a stir of artistic energy as their art took shape, but all I heard was the crinkling of paper and scattering of markers as ideas never became reality.

Then, it clicked. I could fulfill my duty as a teacher by cultivating the artistic visions I heard. I didn’t need to employ bubbly enthusiasm or commanding words. Rather, I could listen, and use my observation to empower their artistic expression. Slowly, I worked to tailor to each fantasy-infused idea, with Pinterest, bubble cuts, and mounds of tape to aid me. As class ended with an assortment of festive superhero projects, I saw a glimpse of the impact that I could make by responding to my observations.

Now, I cherish the chance to act based on what I hear. Through teaching at Kumon and church and leading volunteer organizations, I’ve worked to develop and implement my style of listening to benefit others. Listening is a skill that I feel is often under appreciated in leadership. People usually flock to the figure in the center of the room, not the person on the side listening. But from my experience, it’s clear that I can guide others by harnessing my observations to benefit the inspirations and passions of those around me. My college plans are only avenues to further explore this ideology, as I’ll have the unique perspectives of thousands of other students, and professors to listen to.

While in college, I hope to impact my own learning experience and that of the student body around me by taking an active listening approach. Rather than sink back to my high school mindset that purely focused on soaking in knowledge and regurgitating it for grades, I plan to adopt a posture of employing my listening abilities to curate and act upon a stronger understanding of the lives and perspectives of my campus. Whether it be reciprocating the advice I receive in my summer transition program to my future roommates or finding campus opportunities best fit for my classmates while in conversation with upperclassmen, I believe that I will be able to positively impact both my own individual growth and the intellectual development of others by harnessing my observations and parlaying them into new opportunities, connections, and insights for others.

At a large school, I will be able to work alongside a student body with a swath of complex and fresh career plans, and it is through my observations and subsequent response that I hope to help others move further along their path to reaching their ideals while pursuing my own career in medicine. In doing so, I am confident that I will be able to forge the deep, lasting bonds that I consider critical for personal development all while building up skills in observation and interaction- traits that I consider integral to a successful medicinal career.

Whether it’s in a lecture hall or while stepping foot into my first Christian club meeting, I’ll be surrounded by a myriad of unique voices, experiences, and insights. I can hear it now, and I can’t wait to listen.”

Winner #6: Plan beyond college essay

“Having worked in children’s education for years, I’m enthralled by child psychology. From shaping my Kumon students’ work ethic through positive reinforcement to employing associative learning to help my church students anchor their understanding of scripture, I have become experienced in using my knowledge of psychological concepts to help children manifest their cognitive and social abilities. Based on my experience working and bonding with youth, I want to be able to integrate psychological concepts into my future work as a pediatrician to develop supportive and insightful relationships with my patients.

As a psychobiology major, I hope to continue building a strong, fundamental understanding of the mental aspects of human well-being to complement with a growing knowledge of the physical aspects involved in bodily development. While learning, I plan to integrate and enhance an expanding grasp of psychological concepts within my volunteer and extracurricular activities, as I find new organizations and clubs that allow me to teach children and gain further insight into how psychological ideas can impact the health of a child.

Following this experience, I plan to attend medical school, where I will be able to harness my undergraduate education to explore medical concepts in depth while also receiving more hands-on experience shadowing and observing the work of current and future physicians.

Ultimately, I plan to discover a career path that fits both my strong interest in the underlying mental and physical factors that shape child development and translate my knowledge into becoming a dependable and caring pediatrician.”

Additional Winning Scholarship Essay Examples That Won:

Essay Prompt: Submit an essay (750-1,000 words) on the following topic:

Tell us about that time you did something extraordinary with money.
What did you accomplish and why?
How did that experience shape you as a person?
What did you learn?
What can you share with others so they can also learn from your story?

Standing outside in the rain shuffling through the wet mail is about as riveting as it sounds. I was going through a handful of car dealership coupons and bills when I saw an envelope at the bottom of the stack addressed to me—something that doesn’t happen often when you’re twelve. Inside was an $800 check for a radio show I worked on called “Adventures in Odyssey.” That day was my first taste of money, and I felt like a millionaire. Then I asked my mom how much our house cost because I was curious, and the numbers that came out of her mouth were more than middle school me could have imagined. Suddenly $800 didn’t seem like so much. My mind immediately went to the fact that one day I would have to pay my own rent, electricity bill, and buy my own groceries, not to mention pay for college, which I had already heard about from my friends’ parents and older siblings. I knew I had to think up a way to start earning and saving money as soon as possible, and the idea of starting my own business was one that stuck.

I’ve been drawing and painting since I was three or four, and the most popular request I got when I took my sketchbook out in school was, “Could you draw me?” It occurred to me that it was the perfect way to start my own business selling my art, and since I was my own boss, I could work whenever I had the time from the comfort of my own home. Eventually, word got out at my middle school that I was selling drawings and people I didn’t even know began to reach out to me to buy them. I ended up making well over a hundred dollars in my first two weeks.

At one point, people started asking me if I could sell a piece to a friend of theirs who didn’t go to our school. The drawings and money changing hands made it difficult because both had to go through someone else to reach me, and the person who ordered the art. I started to think about how I could start selling my art to people outside my school in an easier way, and the perfect platform dropped into the palm of my hand when I discovered Tumblr. It was a social media platform like Facebook or Twitter, but it was dominated by people who were around my age at the time. I found dozens of art blogs that said that they sold their art through online commissions, and everything seemed to click. I created a blog and set up a Paypal account so I could sell my art to people from all around the world, and that was the birth of Kohana Illustrations, a company I still run to this day.

The experience of starting my own company completely changed my point of view about money. Being a family of artists, our income was inconsistent, so we learned to be smart with our money. But actually earning money for myself for the first time made me even more financially conscious and taught me how to handle, track, and save money. I remember using some of the money I made to go to the store after school to buy a little black notebook, which I decided would be my “money log” to keep track of my income and expenses. My parents told me when they got a paycheck, they would put aside 10% of their earnings for charity and another 10% to put towards investments (another term I learned that day). I decided to do the same thing whenever I got paid. I drew a four-column chart in my notebook and kept track of my total earnings, investment savings, charity donations, and expenses. This is a system that has stuck with me to this day. It has taught me to not only retain money but also the value of giving back. I’ve donated to several charities including Nourish the Children, a charity that feeds malnourished children, and the ACF, which works to bring love back to children affected by the trauma of child abuse and family violence. In terms of investments, as I earned more money, I decided to open a Roth IRA account when I was fourteen. I’ve been contributing to it for the past four years and I’m proud to see a 34% gain to date!

Kohana Illustrations has taught me nearly everything I know about money so far through experience. If I had never created it, I wouldn’t have the money to give back to charity or start my retirement fund at such a young age. Working for my own money taught me its value and how to best utilize it so I can retain it over time. This scholarship would be a huge step towards my graduating with as little debt as possible, and I hope that people can learn from my experience and my story. If I can share anything with others, it would be that you’re never too young to start saving and investing in your own future.

Essay Prompt: unknown

Ever since the birth of modern America, community and school-driven sports have brought families and friends closer for decades. Competition is the fuel behind this fire and has sparked both rivalries and college careers. I have played sports since a very young age and it has taught me many life lessons through the years and I believe it has prepared me in a positive way to pursue not only my college education, but my life goals as well.

I started playing sports when I was 5 years old. Ironically it was soccer, which is a sport I haven’t pursued as a player, but one that I referee now. Also I was coached by none other than Bruce Elvington. His son, Logan, was on the team as well and we have maintained a steady friendship through the years. I have lived in Howe all my life so it was only natural that I started playing pee-wee football when I was 6 years old because that is what my friends did in Howe. Playing with my buddies has always been the biggest thing I enjoy about sports and a lesson I learned early on which started in pee-wee football. It helped me to connect with my friends outside of school with a sport that arguably does the best job of bringing guys closer together and forming an almost unbreakable bond.

I started playing baseball about the same time I started playing football which, as anyone with kids can imagine, was a nightmare in terms of scheduling. I played every year until kid-pitch and I managed to break my arm which forced me to miss a whole season of baseball. This was my first lesson of injury in a sports season which was something I had never before experienced. Missing that first season of kid pitch was rough because I felt I was a year behind and after that I had to work long hours to improve my skills to achieve the same level of the other guys. However, this turned out to be a positive situation of sorts because it was a small step in preparing me for high school sports and the real-world. How? It forced me to work harder.

I continued to play sports throughout middle school including football, basketball, track in school and baseball with Howe Youth Sports Association. Upon entering high school I continued these 4 sports and did my part as a freshman, working hard to help the program and fill spaces. My sophomore year I didn’t play football because it was difficult to manage my Type 1 Diabetes in the heat, and the risk of concussions, so I tried powerlifting and quickly realized I had the technique and strength to truly be good at it. I placed 8th in the Region in the 165 weight class and was looking forward to the next year. I played baseball that spring as well and just focused on my mechanics. I knew I did not want to play sports at the collegiate level. I simply enjoyed playing for the sake of competition, physical conditioning, discipline and being part of a brotherhood.

My junior year, which was last year, was probably the most interesting year yet. I decided again to not play football, I focused on my offseason workouts and getting ready for powerlifting. That is what I thought about every day until football was over. The very first meet we went to, the S&S powerlifting meet, I was on my final squat lift of 440 pounds. I went down and as I pushed to come up, I felt a sharp pain in my lower back and knew something was wrong. They walked me to the training room and was told that I strained my lower back quite severely. I was devastated. I had been working so hard all offseason and my third lift of the season I get hurt? It sucked and it was a huge lesson and mental struggle to get over those facts. The biggest lesson I took from that ordeal is that sometimes you work extremely hard for something and it can be taken away in a split second. It just showed me even more that life really is not fair. On the bright side, I made a decently quick recovery and was able to compete in the Howe meet and I managed to qualify for Regionals. I was sitting in 6th place after my bench lift during the Regional powerlifting meet in Chico, Texas. I had one more chance to qualify for state or at least qualify for state alternate. The odds were not looking good until the very last lift of two guys in front of me. They decided to go for a crazy weight and both ended up dropping the bar which automatically disqualifies them. I did well enough to place 3 rd and was able to go with my friends to the state powerlifting meet as the first alternate in the 165 weight class.

This year, I decided to play football to be with my buddies for my senior year and because I believe in what Coach J is bringing to our program. Our season was rough and there were many different struggles we all shared as a football family. Through all we went through, all the hurts and pains and discomforts, I would do it all again for my brothers. Football showed me what it can be to have a strong bond with the guy next to you. It’s almost like a less intense version of serving in the military. I’m blessed I did not have to be called to serve. Coach J did that for us.

Throughout my high school career of sports, I have learned my different lessons, big and small that have helped me grow as a young man and be prepared for the world today. I have been accepted to Southwestern Assemblies of God University and plan to get my degree in something pertaining to the ministry. Playing sports in high school has shown me the enormous amount of discipline it takes to keep up with school, sports, and extracurricular activities so I will be better prepared for college schedules and be much less overwhelmed. I am so thankful for the lessons I have learned playing these sports and the many memories and laughs I have had with all my friends. It is something I will always remember and treasure for many years. I want to give a big thank you to every coach and parent that has contributed to this journey because without them, none of it would have been possible. My parents deserve a heap of praise as well for supporting me and carting me to every practice and every game. Playing sports has had an enormously positive impact on my life, my future and has taught me countless life lessons both big and small and for that I will be forever grateful.

How to Use Scholarship Essay Examples to Win Scholarships

As students review scholarship essay examples, they may wonder how they can leverage them to increase their odds of winning scholarships or other financial aid that requires essays. First, students need to remember that plagiarizing another student’s essay is never a smart move. Many scholarship committees will use a variety of tools to see if any content is copied from another source. Additionally, they’ll likely recall any of the winning essays sent to their organization.

Ultimately, students need to treat the examples of winning scholarship essays as learning opportunities and sources of inspiration. Students can see which scholarship essay format typically works best, how to approach story-telling, what type of tone connects with committee members, and much more. That information can turn them into better essay writers, ensuring their responses to scholarship essay prompts meet or exceed expectations.

Additionally, scholarship essay examples help students figure out what moments in their lives are unique and compelling. Essentially, it gives them a point of comparison, allowing them to determine whether the topic or event they were going to discuss is likely to catch the attention of scholarship committee members.

By keeping all of that in mind, students can hone their essay-writing skills before they start applying for scholarships. Then, when it’s time to submit their scholarship essays, they’ll be in the strongest possible position with the knowledge and tools they need to stand out from the pack.

If you’re looking for additional helpful information regarding writing scholarship essays? Here are some additional articles to explore:

How to Write Winning Scholarship Essays

Make Scholarship Essays Stand Out by Avoiding These 4 Clichés

Learn how I won $126k in external scholarships by registering for my webinar.

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December 4, 2020 at 3:01 pm

These essays are so impressive and enjoyable to read, they really are the best scholarship essays I have come across. Thanks very much for posting they are very educative.

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I like how personal they were. Each essay has got it’s own uniqueness and I have learned a lot from reading them. Thank you @thescholarshipsysytem.

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Scholarship Essay Examples

With college tuition costs rising each year, many students apply for merit scholarships to help make college more affordable. However, merit scholarships can be competitive—and that’s where our scholarship essay examples come in. By reading our scholarship essay examples, you can learn what it takes to write an award-winning essay.

Scholarships are an excellent opportunity for students to lessen their college tuition costs. Most merit scholarships require a brief application, usually including one or more essays. Below, we’ve rounded up our best scholarship essay examples.

Reading winning scholarship essay examples, especially scholarship essay examples about yourself, can help you begin the scholarship essay process. By reviewing essay examples, you can learn how to craft a strong essay. You’ll also get a better sense of what scholarship committees look for when they review applications.

In this guide to Scholarship Essay Examples, you’ll find tips on how to write the best scholarship essay, as well as:

Various scholarship essay examples about yourself
A strong scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship
Scholarship essay examples about financial need, and more!

We’ve included scholarship essay examples specific to schools, including UC Berkeley, as well as specific programs, like the SHPE scholarship. We’ll also discuss the different types of scholarships you’ll find on your scholarship search.

Now, before we jump into our essay examples, let’s learn more about getting scholarship money for college.

What is a scholarship essay?

A scholarship essay is an essay you’ll include in your merit scholarship applications. In many ways, your scholarship essays might resemble your college essays. So, the scholarship essay format should seem familiar.

The best scholarship essays will highlight who you are and why you deserve money for college. Scholarship essay prompts will ask you to include various information, from details about your background to explanations of why you deserve a scholarship.

Crafting a compelling, well-written essay can help you win substantial financial awards to help cover your college tuition costs. However, not all scholarship essays are the same. Later on, we’ll review different winning scholarship essay examples to show you what kind of essays you’ll write in your application process.

Types of Scholarships

There are many different types of scholarships available to students. You can find a variety of scholarship opportunities on scholarships websites. The earlier you start your scholarship search, the more scholarships you’ll find.

While some scholarship applications accept applicants of all backgrounds and abilities, some have very specific eligibility guidelines. So, you may not be eligible for every scholarship. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re eligible, you can find eligibility information on most scholarships websites.

Here are a few different scholarship types you may come across in your scholarship search:

Academic scholarships
Merit scholarships
Essay competitions
Community service scholarships
Military scholarships

Scholarship essay prompts will differ across programs. As you’ll see in our winning scholarship essay examples, the prompts can vary in word count and complexity. We’ll provide you with descriptive essay examples to help you get an idea of what to expect.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Most scholarships we’ll highlight in this article are merit-based scholarships . A merit-based scholarship is money awarded by a college or community organization based on your academic achievements.

In contrast, a need-based scholarship is awarded based on a student’s financial need. If you are applying for financial aid, be sure to check out our scholarship essay examples about financial need. You’ll find both merit- and need-based scholarships on your scholarship search.

To qualify for a merit-based scholarship, you generally must meet specific criteria. Scholarship committees look at your grades, academic achievements, extracurriculars, and even test scores. Need-based scholarships can have similar requirements, but they’re primarily concerned with your family’s financial status.

There are many merit-based scholarships available to help students afford college, including:

National merit scholarships
Gates Scholarship
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
Robertson Scholarship

Check out our guides on these popular merit-based scholarships for more details. There, you’ll find tips on how to write a winning essay. Our descriptive essay examples can also help prepare you to apply to these programs After all, while prompts vary, the scholarship essay format remains fairly standard.

Finding scholarships

In this guide, we’ll highlight some scholarships you may be eligible for. However, make sure to check out the rest of our resources to help you approach the scholarship search.

Some scholarships we’ll discuss include:

QuestBridge scholarship : helps low-income students attend elite colleges
Park scholarships : for students attending NC State University
SHPE scholarship : offers financial assistance for Hispanic students interested in STEM degrees.

Scholarship essay examples about financial need will help you prepare for your scholarship applications. For instance, if you apply for the SHPE scholarship, you’ll include a lot of details about your background.

You can also use scholarship search portals or scholarships websites to find other scholarships you may be eligible for.

How do you write a scholarship essay?

While scholarship essay prompts may differ, you’ll usually stick to the same general scholarship essay format.

One resource that can help you write the best scholarship essays and find money for college is Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae is a private lender offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional student loans. They also grant scholarships and provide aspiring college students with a scholarship search portal on their scholarships websites. Here’s what they have to say about having a winning scholarship essay format.

Organization

When writing a scholarship essay, it’s best to start with a scholarship essay format that organizes your thoughts. This will allow you to follow a plan that clearly and concisely gets your points across. You should begin your essay with a solid introduction. Then, introduce your supporting arguments and add an appropriate conclusion.

A good scholarship essay clearly states why you deserve to win money for college with evidence to back up your argument. You’ll see how to do this in our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The best scholarship essays will be original and honest. It should be written in an inspirational and positive tone, highlighting your strengths and capabilities.

When you feel like you have put your best foot forward, you should ask others for their feedback. This can be from a teacher, counselor, or one of our advisors here at CollegeAdvisor! Proofread your final essay and make sure you’ve caught any spelling and grammatical errors before submitting your application.

Up next, we’ll get into our descriptive essay examples and the different scholarship essay prompts they responded to.

By looking at scholarship essay examples, you can learn what exactly makes a good essay. So, let’s look at some descriptive essay examples written by students looking to secure money for college.

First, we will walk you through scholarship essay examples about yourself. Then, we’ll look at a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. Lastly, we will provide you with scholarship essay examples about financial need. Remember to keep these scholarship essay examples in mind when writing essays of your own!

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

Let’s take a closer look at some scholarship essay examples about yourself.

Scholarship essay prompts vary quite a bit, so make sure you understand what the prompt really asks of you. That way, you can answer the question or address the prompt in its entirety.

Some scholarship essay prompts may ask how the scholarship will make a difference for you. They may also ask about any contributions you have made to your community.

Ready to look at some winning scholarship essay examples? Check out these scholarship essay examples below.

The first of our scholarship essays is for Phi Sigma Rho. Here’s the prompt:

How do you promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM on your campus or in your community? (300 words Max)

Phi sigma rho scholarship essay.

In my campus and community, I strive to promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM by promoting Phi Rho’s values and sharing my experiences and passion for Phi Rho.

My involvement in the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has allowed me the opportunity to promote Phi Rho and STEM. These activities have given me insight into how to successfully create a network that will support and encourage women in engineering to continue their careers.

Within WEP, I served as a sophomore orientation leader (Envoy), mentoring first-year women and assisting with program logistics. As an envoy, I was able to promote Phi Rho ideals of friendship and encouragement. I was also able to informally recruit for Phi Rho by sharing my experiences and passion for the sorority.

Within SWE, I was the Internal Relations Chair my freshmen year and am the Director of Member Engagement this year. Both roles are related to member engagement, allowing me to promote friendship within engineering. Member engagement is important for creating a community among female engineers. Similar to my envoy position, my leadership within SWE has allowed me to share my love for Phi Rho.

Additionally, my volunteer experience with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a STEM outreach group, has allowed me to promote STEM in the community. In EA, I give presentations on engineering, speak on panels, and lead hands-on activities for K-12 students. EA has taught me strategies to promote STEM to children and teenagers.

Because of Phi Sigma Rho, I have the confidence to inspire and encourage the next generation of female engineers. I hold the values of scholarship, friendship, and encouragement in the highest regard and strive to embody those in every leadership position and volunteer role. Through SWE, WEP, and EA, I have promoted Phi Sigma Rho, its values, and STEM as a whole in both my campus and community.

This is, in many ways, a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The writer clearly highlights how they’ve engaged with Phi Sigma Rho and how their values align with those of the organization. The writer also provides specific examples of their leadership positions, skills, and accolades.

The next two of our scholarship essay examples about yourself are for the SHPE scholarship. Here they are:

SHPE Scholarship essay example #1

Essay prompt:.

Summarize your life experiences and any challenges that have impacted your path to higher education. (250 Words)

Essay Example:

I vividly remember the first day of First Grade because I didn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance like the rest of my classmates. Growing up in a Hispanic household, I had never learned what the pledge was. This was the beginning of several years of disconnect.

From receiving weird looks when I told classmates my family opened Christmas gifts at midnight, to my parents’ confusion when I didn’t want them to speak Spanish in public, both sides of my life never understood the other. As a result, I always felt out of place in school, like I was behind in some way because I didn’t share the same upbringing as my classmates. In contrast, academics felt like a level playing field, something we were all learning together in the same way.

While I couldn’t tell you who won the super bowl, I could do mathematics or read just as well, if not better, than my classmates. Socially, I always felt out of place, but academically I was always comfortable, and as a result, I tried to excel in that area of my life. That desire to succeed created the relentless work ethic I have today and the appreciation I have for education.

Despite the lack of emphasis from my parents on schoolwork, I developed this sense of responsibility and persistence to pursue an education. Although my family’s Hispanic culture made my life difficult when I was younger, it made me a more resilient person.

More scholarship essay examples

Shpe scholarship essay example #2.

Discuss your educational and career aspirations as well as your ability to complete and achieve these goals. (250 words)

Using a degree in engineering, I hope to work on improving sustainability and efficiency in the aerospace industry by creating cheaper, safer, and more environmentally-conscious options.

Recently, Pratt and Whitney designed an engine that is 16% more efficient and will release 3600 less metric tons per airplane per year. Excitingly, it also greatly reduces the noise footprint of an airplane. Innovations like these will allow the aerospace industry to evolve and improve while reducing negative environmental impact. I hope to work at the forefront of this innovation, pushing the boundaries of improved engine performance and efficiency.

Last semester, I started working in the Experimental and Computational Convection Laboratory on campus to learn more about turbines. Some current projects in the lab involve new turbine cooling techniques and additive manufactured heat exchangers. Throughout the course of my undergraduate career, I hope to learn more about the barriers facing improved engine and turbine efficiency. Following undergraduate, I plan to attend graduate school to gain a deeper knowledge of these topics. Following graduate school, I may go into industry working on turbines and jet engines. Due to beginning research early, I believe graduate school is an attainable educational goal.

The potential ability to make a difference in the environmental impact of the aerospace industry is exciting. To accomplish this, I know studying Mechanical Engineering will give me the skills necessary to fulfill my career goals.

Both of these scholarship essay examples use specific details to highlight the writer’s strengths, experiences, and accolades. In reading these winning scholarship essay examples, we get a sense of who the writer is both as a person and as a student.

Scholarship Essay Sample about “Why I deserve the scholarship”

Another scholarship essay prompt you may come across is “why I deserve this scholarship.” A good scholarship essay clearly highlights why you deserve to win the scholarship and provides evidence to support your argument.

Below, you’ll find scholarship essay samples about why I deserve the scholarship. You can use these as a guide to help you tackle your own scholarship essays.

Here’s the first of our scholarship essay examples, which was used for the Park Scholarship:

The Park Scholarship is an investment in the potential of young people. It prepares scholars to make lifelong contributions to communities, states, nations, and the world. Tell us a story that illustrates your potential to make these lifelong contributions. (What have you done that should compel us to invest in you?) (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Park scholarship essay example.

Coming from a Venezuelan family, I have always been able to connect with total strangers through Spanish. Whether I’m eating at a restaurant or volunteering, I am constantly stumbling upon other Spanish speakers. The ability to converse in their language allows me to bond with them in a way I couldn’t in English, something I do not take for granted.

Because of my experience, I believe that learning a foreign language is an incredibly important skill. Being able to speak in a second language allows a person to understand another community and reach out to people within that community. Additionally, speaking a second language assists in appreciating other cultures. This appreciation is important for fostering open-mindedness, something America as a whole struggles with today.

In my school district, foreign language classes are not offered until late middle school. Once in high school, many students drop the class. In addition, those who stay in the class often find that the classes provide little more than a basic understanding of the language and then become discouraged in their learning. On a larger scale, this issue affects America as a whole. Second language programs often come second in terms of funding and planning and are not encouraged as rigorously as other academic courses. As a result, many Americans are ignorant to the benefits of bilingualism and are unable to understand the viewpoint of those who are multilingual.

After my freshman year of high school, my frustration with my community’s lack of priority for second language learning culminated in my desire to take some sort of action to promote foreign language education. In my sophomore year, a classmate and I created and ran an introductory Spanish program, Spanish in the Spring, at my local library for young children in the district. I spent hours at home creating lesson plans, activities, themes, and advertisements for the program. I placed heavy emphasis on cultural aspects and the importance of the Spanish language in America and the world as a whole.

My purpose for this program was to introduce children at a young age to learning a foreign language, so their desire to learn would continue throughout their life. Through the program, I was also able to share my belief of the importance of learning a second language with the children, as well as their parents. After the final day of the program, I was thrilled when one parent mentioned their desire to learn a foreign language program themself. I felt that if I made an impact on one person or family, the entire program was worthwhile.

Unfortunately, this past spring I was unable to continue the Spanish in the Spring program due to library scheduling restraints. However, I hopefully plan to offer the program again this spring with some changes that will improve and expand the experience. One of these changes will include the immersion of parents into the experience to encourage foreign language education as a family activity.

While this program was only offered once, the impact was immeasurable, for the children, for the cause of foreign language education, and for me.

This is another scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. In it, the writer clearly and directly answers the prompt—that is, they highlight their potential to make a lifelong impact on members of their community.

Ready for another scholarship essay example? Here’s the next one:

How will a ScholarSHPE impact your life and education? (200 Words)

Shpe scholarship essay example.

Receiving a ScholarSHPE will give me the gift of time and opportunities. My parents are unable to support me financially throughout college due to large amounts of accrued debt. A ScholarSHPE will reduce my financial stress and allow me to improve my overall health as a result. It will also prevent the need to work several hours a week at a part-time job to pay for tuition, books, and living expenses, which will limit what I can do academically and outside of class. A ScholarSHPE will allow me to spend more time on research pursuits, engineering extracurriculars, volunteer work, and school work, instead of long hours at a part-time job.

This essay sample is fairly straightforward. In it, the writer follows a clear scholarship essay format, explicitly answering the prompt.

UC Berkeley Scholarships essay examples

Let’s look at some school-specific merit scholarship essay examples.

At the University of California – Berkeley , students can apply for a variety of merit scholarships. These scholarships can help offset the cost of UC Berkeley tuition.

Below, we’ve included various scholarship essay examples for the UC Berkeley scholarships. These UC Berkeley scholarships can help students cover their college tuition costs. This can make the UC Berkeley tuition less of a barrier for students hoping to attend.

You’ll find a variety of UC Berkeley scholarships that can help you afford UC Berkeley tuition. Available UC Berkeley scholarships include:

Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship
Fiat Lux Scholarship
Middle Class Scholarship
Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship

These are just a few ways to cover the cost of UC Berkeley tuition. UC Berkeley students also receive more than $10 million per year in outside scholarships to cover college tuition costs. If you are interested in exploring non-UC Berkeley scholarships, check out this list of outside scholarship resources .

To help you get started, check out our winning UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples. The authors of these scholarship essay examples about financial need all won money to help cover their UC Berkeley tuition.

UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples

I am grateful to realize how fortunate I am today. All the loved ones around me and their acts of kindness have given me such a great life. I also realize the sacrifices that those around me have had to give up in order for me to succeed. It is because of this that I have realized what “paying it forward” truly means. I have been given the opportunity to make an impact in my community and I have fully taken advantage of this opportunity. I have been a volunteer for the Buddyball Sports Organization, which is a non-profit sports organization dedicated to providing the opportunity for children with developmental disabilities to play sports.

Growing up, watching and playing sports has been one of my greatest pleasures of life, so teaching these less fortunate kids has been something I have enjoyed doing every single weekend. On top of this, I am also both a volunteer at the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps and the Nyack Hospital. With the desire to pursue a career in the medical field, volunteering at these places has given me a great idea of what my career could look like in the near future. While all of these volunteer activities have had a significant impact on me, little did I know that this summer would truly make a lasting difference in my life.

This past summer, my family decided to go on a vacation to India to visit my relatives. This was the first time in my life that I was going to India and this was only because my grandmother came down with Parkinson’s disease and was extremely sick. Little did I know at that time that my visit to India would be a life-changing experience. Never could have I imagined such a filthy village. Everywhere I looked, there was garbage and to make matters worse, no one seemed to do anything to try to ameliorate the repugnant image of my home country.

While I realized on my flight home that I was not going to be able to make a difference and help my community back in India, there was nothing stopping me from doing so right here in Rockland County, New York. When I was told that I would have the opportunity to help organize and direct “Make a Difference Rockland,” I joyfully accepted! Make a Difference Rockland is a free public meet and greet for all local non-profits and other government agencies in an attempt to promote different community service opportunities within the public. By gathering all the local non-profit organizations and giving them a chance to present themselves, people learn more about all of the local community service opportunities that are available to them. This way, the community will be able to recruit volunteers and will not have to suffer through calamitous conditions.

As one of the people in charge of organizing, it was my responsibility to adequately contact, invite and help prepare for hundreds of people. Once I gathered their contact information, I had to ask each one of these places if they would be interested in joining the fair. If interested, I had to also prepare a table for them to present themselves at the fair. The feeling of bringing all of these community service groups together brought me a feeling of happiness that I will never forget.

The best scholarship essays will teach the reader about who the writer is, what they care about, and why they deserve a scholarship. The essay above does just that—it highlights the writer’s background and describes how they give back to their community.

Next, let’s dig into a few more scholarship essay examples.

If you’re interested in more descriptive essay examples, keep reading.

Reading a ton of winning scholarship essay examples is a great way to pick up on what makes them winners. Over time, you’ll start to notice how the details, tone, and flow all work together to tell a story.

Below, you’ll find a few more scholarship essay examples. Our first one is from the NC Parks Scholarship. Here’s the prompt:

What do you do to serve your community? Why do you do the service that you do? What impact have you made? What challenges or insights have your service contributions given you? (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Community-focused scholarship essay example #1.

“What are the boys like in high school?” “Is it easy to get a boyfriend?” Sighing, the other frustrated leaders and I look at each other as we read the questions posed by the younger girls. Every year at Girls’ Night Out (GNO), a program that introduces and prepares eighth-grade girls for high school, the girls question the leaders about relationships and dating ad nauseum, irritating other leaders to the point of ignoring the questions.

Giving each question a careful and deliberate answer is often difficult, but instead of disregarding the issue, I try to offer my most sincere and honest advice. Originally, when I began as a group leader in the program I would give the same response, “You shouldn’t worry about boys. Instead, enjoy your friends, and do things you enjoy.” While that advice is true, it is often not the answer that will satisfy the girls. Through many years in the program, I have learned that advice is not “one size fits all”; it must be individualized to the person’s needs. Now, when faced with a question about dating, I respond with more questions before giving “words of wisdom”.

Many times I am able to understand the perspective of the middle school student, allowing me to give advice accordingly. Supplying proper advice about sensitive topics is one of the most impactful parts of GNO. As a role model and positive influence for the girls, I largely impact their ideas and perception of the environment when entering high school. In addition to teaching the students valuable lessons, volunteering at GNO has taught me that various perspectives may present themselves identically. To better understand those around me, it is important that I look beyond the surface for the other person’s viewpoint.

Beyond understanding other viewpoints from GNO, I have learned from other service that understanding a person’s situation is essential for providing exceptional assistance. Through Key Club, I volunteer many times a year at the local food pantry. As a volunteer, I help the recipients “shop” at the small grocery store using a point system. The process takes up a lot of time because shoppers do not always know what they want. Originally I thought this was a poor design. I believed it would be much more efficient to just hand out the food rather than giving out points and shopping with the food pantry recipients.

Upon expressing my opinion to one of the adult food pantry staff, he explained to me that the grocery store aspect of the store taught the recipients life skills. Additionally, by giving them autonomy over what food they “bought”, they retained a sort of independence, an important skill to have if they find themselves above the income level required to use the food pantry.

The next time I volunteered I took note of the skills presented. Budgeting of points, deciding whether or not they needed something, determining the quality of the fruit, and decision-making of choosing extra food or toiletries, were all skills that those above the poverty line have ingrained. For those who have been using food pantries and other assistance for prolonged periods of time, these skills are not so natural. As a result, teaching the people means after they no longer need the services of the food pantry, they have valuable skills necessary for their independence.

From this experience, I learned an important lesson: helping people is not just giving them what they need at the moment, but understanding what they will need in the future and providing that as well. After realizing this, I emphasize the abilities that the food pantry teaches whenever I dedicate my time. By doing that, I am positively affecting the development of those skills.

When reflecting on the various ways I have served my community, one thing stands out to me: I always understand another viewpoint or gain a new perspective afterwards. For me, the ability to look at something from different angles is an unparalleled talent, and one of the most important skills a person can have.

Describe your volunteer or community experience with SHPE or other organizations and any internships you have held. (250 Words)

Community-focused scholarship essay example #2.

In SHPE, I have been involved in planning the Penn State College of Engineering STEP-UP (Student Transition Engineering Program at University Park) Program as a chair. The STEP-UP program helps students from Penn State branch campuses smoothly transition to the University Park campus through a 3-day program in the spring. The program introduces them to engineering resources, other engineering students, and provides professional development. Due to COVID-19, this year it was held virtually.

Within the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Engineering Program, I have volunteered at different STEM events in the community for elementary school students. I am also currently serving as an Envoy (a mentorship and logistical position) for the Women in Engineering Program Orientation. Additionally, I participate in many of SWE’s service events, such as donating and collecting donations, cleaning up areas on and around campus, and visiting nursing homes.

On campus, I am also involved with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a group that does STEM outreach around Pennsylvania from the elementary school to high school level. EA goes virtually or in person to schools, does engineering presentations and activities, and answers questions.

Prior to COVID-19, I had secured an internship with Pratt and Whitney, however, they had to cancel their internship program. As a result, I was fortunate enough to obtain a Process Quality Engineering internship at Brentwood Industries for summer 2020.

Both of these scholarship essay examples highlight how the writers have given back to their communities. These winning scholarship essay examples highlight the writers’ strengths. In doing so, they highlight why these writers deserve help with college tuition costs.

Reflecting on scholarship essay format

As important as the content of your essay is, your scholarship essay format is equally important. As you write, be sure to adhere to the scholarship essay format guidelines provided to you.

However, there are some things all of the best scholarship essays have in common. Here are some general tips, tricks, and outlines to help you in your own writing process.

Three scholarship essay writing tips:

Word counts are hard to adhere to, but the other applicants must adhere to them, too. Make sure every word counts.
When you write a solid essay, you can repurpose some of your key points, including specific anecdotes and details, in other scholarship applications.
Writing a good essay helps you solidify who you are and what you want. This sets you up for success in the scholarship application process and beyond.

Three essential elements to include in your essay:

State your goals. Scholarship committees are investing in your future and your potential. To take a chance on you, they need to know your plan and what you want to do with your award.
Establish an implicit or explicit link between your goals and the scholarship you are applying for. Describe to the committee how the specific scholarship will help you attain your goals. Give them a tangible reason as to why you deserve their investment.
Share your story. Use personal details about your experiences that highlight your identity and objectives. How have you pursued your goals and prepared for your future? How will the scholarship help you going forward? Get personal and be honest.

Storytelling in your essay

Some of the best scholarship essays utilize good storytelling strategies. You should share the details of your personal story in a narrative, using a logical order. Remember, telling personal details about yourself and your goals does not mean simply restating your resume!

By the end of the essay, the scholarship committee should have an in-depth sense of why you applied. You should reveal:

When and how you arrived at your future goals
Your motivations to accomplish these objectives
What traits or skills you have developed along the way
The meaningful experiences that drive you to your goals
Any personal challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them
What has shaped you and your worldview

These details humanize you and show your complexity as a person and an applicant. It’s helpful to use anecdotes and personal experiences to give life to facts and details about yourself. Sharing real-life experiences will help make your essay more interesting and more fun to read.

Creating your scholarship essay format

Once you have thought about what you want to say, start thinking about your scholarship essay format. You may start by making a list of what your reader may be interested in:

How you spend your time
Your accomplishments
What your passions are, etc.

Start by brainstorming everything you may want to include in your essay. Then, think about whether the stories you include support your arguments. Ask yourself, “What did I learn?” or “How did this get me closer to my goals?”. These reflections help the reader connect to your purpose for writing.

Make sure to organize your thoughts in a narrative order. However, there isn’t just one way to write an essay. So, don’t limit yourself to one version of your story. You may find yourself writing multiple drafts before you get to your final scholarship essay format.

Editing and proofreading your essay

When you think you have finished, be sure to proofread and edit to ensure it’s ready to be submitted. Check that you’ve adhered to all the scholarship essay format guidelines (like the word count).

Reviewing also includes getting input from others! An outside reader’s opinion can help you confirm your essay effectively communicates your ideas.

Tips for scholarship essays

You may notice some similarities between the scholarship essay examples about yourself we’ve provided. That’s because the authors of the best scholarship essays all use similar strategies to make their essays great.

Here are 5 tips from U.S. News to help you make all of your scholarship essays stand out:

Tips for writing stand-out scholarship essays

1. get personal and be specific.

The best scholarship essays will share an authentic story with impactful details. The key is to be yourself and not shy away from personal details. The more the committee gets to know about you, the more likely they are to invest in your future. You want your essay to offer a genuine, in-depth look into who you are as a person.

2. Tell a story

Your essay should be more than a collection of facts—it should tell a story. That means having a solid introduction that grabs the reader’s attention from the very start. Then, you should include a logical flow of experiences or details. By the end of your essay, you want your reader to have learned something valuable about you.

3. Tailor the scholarship essay to the prompt

Some of your scholarship essay prompts may be similar across different scholarship applications. However, it’s important that your essay is specific to each prompt and answers the question entirely. While you can repurpose an essay you’ve already written as inspiration or a starting point, be extra attentive when doing so.

4. Don’t tailor yourself to the reader

Many students fall into the trap of telling a story they think scholarship foundation committees want to hear. Instead, stay true to yourself as you craft your scholarship application essays. Don’t tell your reader what you think they want to hear—just tell them who you are.

5. Follow directions

This final tip may arguably be the most important. Above all else, students should follow instructions. This means adhering to the scholarship essay format guidelines and word count. It also means answering the essay prompt in its entirety. Application readers can be easily frustrated by a student’s failure to follow directions. This could reflect poorly on you and your essay in the long run.

Use these tips to guide you as you approach the scholarship essay format.

Scholarship Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

We hope our roundup of scholarship essay examples has shown you how to approach your scholarship applications. With rising college costs, scholarships should be a part of your college financial planning process. Take the time to do your own scholarship search based on your specific interests. You can find plenty of scholarships to apply to on scholarships websites and college financial aid pages. There are many different scholarships websites to help you with your search.

Save this guide

Feel free to save this guide and review our scholarship essay examples about yourself and about financial need. You can always look back on our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship when writing your own essay.

Start with an outline that organizes your thoughts. Then, make sure your essay is clear and concise. Be original and honest, and include personal details and anecdotes when appropriate. State why you deserve to win the scholarship. Then, support your claim in a way that makes a scholarship committee invested in your future.

Scholarship Essay Examples

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"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

Scholarship Essay Example Promising Pathways Hearing Impairment Scholarship
Scholarship Essay Example Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship
Scholarship Essay Example Keri Sohlman Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Essay Example Chronic Boss Scholarship

Tips for Writing Scholarship Essays

Frequently asked questions.

Scholarship essays provide the scholarship committee with an opportunity to get to know the applicant better and learn about their academic and personal achievements , as well as their goals and aspirations . A well-written scholarship essay can make the difference between being awarded a scholarship or not . One way to give yourself an edge on scholarship applications is by closely studying winning scholarship essay examples .

Scholarship essay examples give you a better understanding of the qualities scholarship essay readers look for in outstanding applicants . Reading scholarship essay examples can help you understand the tone of voice of winning scholarship essays, the kinds of stories that resonate with scholarship committee members, and the quality of writing that wins scholarship awards.

You can easily browse hundreds of winning scholarship essay examples on Bold.org through our scholarship search engine . Simply filter the status of scholarships for "awarded." To view scholarship winners' essays for a particular award, scroll down to the bottom of the page. As a platform dedicated to helping students find and apply for scholarships, Bold.org has created a list of tips for writing winning essays with outstanding scholarship essay examples from past winners.

Don't forget to create a free Bold.org profile to view more eloquent scholarship essays and apply to scholarships that can help you page for college.

Take the time to analyze essay prompts before you begin writing scholarship essays.

Scholarship Essay Example 1: Promising Pathways Hearing Impairment Scholarship

Eligibility : "Any student who wears a hearing aid or cochlear implant to assist with hearing and is pursuing higher education (including technical programs, two-year college degrees, and four-year college degrees) may apply, although low-income students are preferred ."
The Prompt : "Tell us what you're studying in school , the obstacles you've overcome while attending school with hearing impairment, and what your plans and goals are after you finish your degree."
The Winning Essay : Ashley Harvey, Worcester State University
Key Takeaways: Ashley wrote an outstanding scholarship essay detailing her experience of being hard of hearing and how her disabled identity has empowered her to advocate for herself.
Ashley effectively demonstrates her passion for English and creative writing and how these interests have influenced her career goals to work as an editor or in the publishing industry.
Ashley addresses all aspects of the essay prompt .
Ashley's own voice as a writer and storyteller is apparent in the scholarship essay. It doesn't feel like anyone could have written the essay - only Ashley could tell her story like this!
Ashley uses examples to show, not tell .
She talks about the ableism she encountered when she first became hard of hearing and how the COVID-19 pandemic specifically impacted her experience.
She also describes the aspects of English she loves and her involvement in the English department and creative writing as a playwright.
Ashley's essay is well-structured . Every paragraph has a main idea, and it is easy for the reader to follow along.

Excerpt : "Becoming hard of hearing during September of my sophomore year of high school was a difficult transition. It made it difficult to be a student; I could not hear the teacher during lessons or my classmates during group work. This also impacted me socially , as I could not hear my friends while at lunch to participate in the conversation. During this time, I grew more anxious, as I would miss a lot of information during spoken communication. The onset of the pandemic did not help, as it made it impossible to lipread , which I came to rely on heavily. Dealing with ableism has also provided its own challenge; the invasive questions from strangers, infantilization, and “corrections” regarding disability from non-disabled people got old quickly .

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While the transition was difficult, I am now stronger and proud of my hearing loss . I got some assistive technology and accommodations, being my hearing aid and FM system at school. I grew the courage to advocate for myself and tell my friends, teachers, and classmates how best to communicate with me . Admittedly, it is still difficult to be hard of hearing in a hearing world; I still can't hear the oven alarm from the next room over and mix up the first sounds of words. However, I would not change my hearing loss, as it is now a part of myself that I find pride in . With these valuable skills that my hearing loss has taught me, I feel that I can conquer any new challenge that I come across throughout the rest of my life."

Scholarship opportunities are available for high school students and current undergraduate students.

Scholarship Essay Example 2: Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship

Eligibility : Black, Latinx, Native, queer, and women high school seniors who are planning to pursue a college degree in computer science , electrical engineering, or data science
The Prompt : "What area of tech are you interested in studying and why? Tell us about a problem you hope to solve through your future education and career in tech."
The Winning Essay : Shanice Handley, Barlett High School
Key Takeaways : Shanice's essay beautifully ties together their experiences with a lack of representation for Black women on social media and their motivation to create their website Awujo Resources , a self-described "hub to act on the issues people care about."
Shanice's essay is centered around a main idea or thesis : the lack of representation of Black women on social media growing up and the anger and hopelessness they felt witnessing police brutality pushed them to use code and design to further social change.
Shanice's essay follows a chronological timeline , from their experiences growing up as a young Black girl to an emergent college student studying computer science and graphic design .
Shanice's essay is descriptive without extraneous information . There's no "fluff" that is irrelevant to the story they are trying to tell.
Shanice's essay thoroughly explains the importance of their achievement in creating the website Awujo Resources, both for themselves personally and for their community .

Excerpt : "Over the years, I’ve felt hopeless. I turned on the news and saw protests and turmoil on my screen. I would sign petitions advocating for another young Black person killed by the police and repost the powerful words of activists but nothing seemed to do any good other than educating my peers . I needed something to channel the anger and hopelessness I felt while experiencing this injustice occurring in our country . So I turned to code and design… My website, Awujo Resources, became a hub to act on the issues people care about. From reproductive health to voting rights, I highlighted the hard-hitting issues affecting people across America and the world. This website showed me how technology could inspire people to spark change. This website ultimately showed me how human-computer interaction can include underrepresented groups and the issues plaguing us ."

Excellent scholarship essays demonstrate strong writing skills while telling a personal story.

Scholarship Essay Example 3: Keri Sohlman Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility : high school seniors in New Jersey who are passionate about mental health and/or education
The Prompt : "Tell us about your inspiration to enter the mental health or education profession and how your career will help others."
The Winning Essay : Caelyn Stahl, Montclair High School
Key Takeaways : Caelyn's essay beautifully connects their passion for working with children and education to their experiences as a neurodivergent student with mental health struggles . Overall, readers get a sense of the deep peace and fulfillment Caelyn feels when teaching children, which motivates them to pursue a career as an art teacher .
Caelyn uses descriptive language to explain the emotional and bodily feelings they experience while working with children as a Taekwon-do instructor.
Caelyn's voice peeks through when she describes herself as someone with a "funky brain." She uses this phrase again at the end of the essay to create a sense of finality: "art education is the intersection of all my passions: art, working with children, and advocacy for people with 'funky' brains like me."
Caelyn puts a positive spin on challenging experiences, like living with ADHD and mental health issues or working with children on bad days.

Excerpt : "However, I also understand how difficult teaching can be. Children aren’t happy all the time; sometimes, they need extra support and care. They don’t always behave and don’t always listen. Sometimes, there will be rough days. Even on those difficult days at the Taekwondo school, when students aren’t listening, when I am frustrated and tired, I still feel joyful. It is an honor to be the one to help kids learn and grow, especially on hard days. It is exciting to problem-solve and come up with new ways to teach that are more engaging. When students aren’t listening, it is often simply because they are under-stimulated and can't focus, so I create new ways to reach them. It’s exhilarating when I find a method that works, a method that turns those rough days into ones of learning and growth. I am interested in pursuing education because I love kids, on the good days and the bad. I am interested in art education because art turns the bad days into good. I know this from experience."

You can read a winning essay by scrolling to the bottom of a scholarship page that has already been awarded on Bold.org.

Scholarship Essay Example 4: Chronic Boss Scholarship

Eligibility : women with autoimmune disorders who have an entrepreneurial spirit
The Prompt : "Explain how living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who you are and how you have transformed your struggle into your strength."
The Winning Essay : Rachel Osias, Marlboro High School
Key Takeaways : Rachel shares how their diagnosis and experience living with Graves' disease motivated them to help others through fundraising .
Rachel sticks to the essay prompt ; their essay fully addresses both aspects of the question: living with autoimmune disease and how they "transformed their struggle into their strength."
Rachel provides detailed examples of her fundraising campaigns and the entrepreneurial skills she put into action in each campaign.
Rachel describes how her autoimmune and entrepreneurial journey culminated in a TEDx event, demonstrating that they continue expanding their reach and impact.
Rachel incorporates humor !

Excerpt: "Pretty soon, I married my business and philanthropic interests. I treated each fundraiser as an entrepreneurial venture, strategizing to increase revenues and cut costs, marketing on social media, and developing pitches for local companies . So far, I’ve created over twenty-one fundraising events, raising over $18,000 for twelve nonprofits. Each new project led to the next, and as I moved along, I was bringing people with me. My little team went door to door collecting art materials for the local hospital. By the time I started an initiative to work in a restaurant where all proceeds went to the local ASPCA, that group had grown to over twenty! Influencing others inspired me to create my own TEDx event . I enlisted a team of teen leaders, spearheaded a marketing campaign, and collaborated with TEDx officials to spread the surge of community action. The experience demonstrated that philanthropy isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about creating an infectious wave in your community so that others join the push for change."

Scholarship awards can help you attend college while reducing your reliance on financial aid and student loans.

Every scholarship committee seeks something different from its applicants. As a result, there isn't a single recipe for writing the perfect personal statement . However, there are some best practices for writing scholarship essays that can help you craft a polished essay and best represent who you are and why you deserve the scholarship . Here are a few tips and tricks to help you maximize your chances of winning a scholarship award:

Start Early

Writing a winning scholarship essay requires ample time and dedication. You'll want to give yourself enough time to go through every step of the writing process : brainstorming ideas, outlining, and writing several drafts. Starting essays earlier will give you time to review and edit your essay before submission. Ideally, you should give yourself enough time to receive feedback from teachers and peers.

Understand the Prompt

One of the most important aspects of writing scholarship essays is ensuring you understand the prompt before you start writing. Identify the key points of the essay prompt and be sure to address them in your essay.

Highlight Your Accomplishments and Qualities

The scholarship essay readers want to know what sets you apart from other applicants. Take the time to reflect on your accomplishments and qualities that make you a strong candidate for a scholarship. Be specific and include concrete examples to illustrate your points and college plans . Talk about how you've overcome personal failures and significant obstacles and how these experiences have made you who you are today.

Proofread and Edit

Before you submit your essay, make sure to proofread and edit thoroughly. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure your essay flows logically and coherently. Have someone else read your essay and provide feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes or areas that need improvement that you may have overlooked.

How do you start a scholarship essay?

Your introduction is the first impression you will make on the scholarship committee, so it's crucial to make it count. Grab their attention with a compelling opening sentence that sets the tone for the rest of your essay. Your introduction should also clearly state your goals and why you are applying for the scholarship.

What kinds of scholarships are available?

Scholarships are available for students with high academic performance , leadership skills , and/or community service . Scholarships also exist for students with unique identities and experiences, such as students of color , disabled students , or students from specific geographic locations. Other scholarships target students with specific career goals , such as aspirations to work in the tech industry , healthcare , or education .

You can begin applying for scholarships now that you've reviewed these sample scholarship essays ! Check out more blog posts like this on our Bold.org blog to learn more about scholarships for high school seniors and college students .

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How to win scholarships

Going merry scholarship winners give tips & share their essays, dozens of students win scholarships on going merry every week..

Here are just some of our scholarship winners. Get inspired by their award-winning essays and videos. You never know... we might just be featuring you next!

MEET THE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Check out these winning scholarship essay examples..

Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez

Won $40,000

"I honestly had

an amazing experience with Going Merry."

Nana Aba Turkson

Won $20,000

Video Prompt:

Show us what you’ve done or created to better a community or the world.

Scholarship tips

"Always apply!!! Better to apply than to wonder. R ejection and 'no' does not mean that it will be the answer for this next application. You are awesome. Keep going. A pply."

Gabby DeMott

Won $10,000

Essay Topic:

Event that sparked personal growth and new understanding.

Winning Essay Excerpt:

"...Never have I felt so accepted while being an outsider, so proud of a country that isn't even mine, so part of something I didn't really belong to..."

Pablo Castro Won $10,000

Personal Statement:

"My name is Pablo Castro. I am a deaf college student at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technology Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). My passion is aiming at the Graphic Design major in RIT. I am always looking forward to gaining my experiences and pieces of knowledge from somewhere or someone."

Show and tell us about an amazing moment.

Swati Prashar Won $1 ,0 00

Swati Prashar

Scholarship tip

Be persistent and honest, and see how you can serve others while building on your uniqueness.

Michelle Marie Charles

Event that sparked personal growth and new understanding.

"...The inhumane feeling of not being able to defend yourself from typical stereotypes because the fear of losing your job outweighs your dignity, is a sign of discrimination..."

Juanita del Rosario Mejia Gutierrez

Make a hilarious, gorgeous, or heartbreaking video, worthy of breaking the internet.

Video description

A little sneak peek into the eccentric world that exists inside my mind. Enjoy!

Lizet Yoselin Cano Rodriguez

Scholarship

Going Merry No Essay Scholarship

"Simply don’t give up, share your story, do what will make you happy, and apply to as many scholarships as humanly possible."

Jordane Torres Won $250

Scholarship tip:

"I would recommend Going Merry to other students because it offers a variety of scholarships that students can apply for."

Violetta & Jess

Who is the best friend ever, and why?

About the video:

"Even if we hadn’t won, I still would have wanted to make [my friend Jess] something she could watch when she was having a bad day and needed a reminder that she is important and loved."

Yaah Adwere-Boamah

Challenges or barriers you had to work to overcome.

"...I was raised knowing that I was a unique Ghanaian-American woman who could achieve anything, and I wasn’t going to let the words of others tell me otherwise..."

Elizabeth Contreras

Career goals and aspirations

Essay Excerpt

"I am majoring in kinesiology to become a physical therapist. I want to pursue my dream job and be able to buy my parents a house..."

John Flowers

What realization sparked personal growth in you?

"...People use the saying, “the sky is the limit”, but it isn’t. The sky is limitless. I don’t want to stop chasing my goals when I reach the sky. I want to reach for the stars and everything above..."

Mariam Ibanaz

Scholarship Quote:

"As a scholarship recipient, I encourage all students to apply relentlessly in order to explore the multitude of opportunities at hand, afforded to the community by many generous companies."

Daniel Gill

Why are you the Most Unique?

"By teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion through puppetry, I feel that I am making a difference..."

Zachary Ocegueda

Houghton Kearney Elementary Alumni Scholarship

"Don’t be afraid to just go for it. Believe in yourself."

Chloë Divers

Briefly share with us how you have been involved with the community and what impact this has had on your life.

"Community is one of the most important things in the world to me. I value supporting people, and I personally believe we as a whole do not do enough to maintain meaningful relationships..."

Going Merry School/Skills Info - Profile Completeness Scholarship

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High Schools in America

Yaah's winning scholarship essay

My immigrant parents embedded our Ghanaian culture throughout my upbringing, and because of this, I never lost sight of my identity, culture, and roots.

While growing up as a Ghanaian-American in a predominantly white town, I often felt isolated and uncomfortable in many places. I was the only black person on the cross country team for three years, and other team members along with students would make racist jokes about black people and running. Sometimes, students would say that I am “too eloquent” or “too smart” for a black girl, or my teachers would make racist comments about black people in class that made me feel uncomfortable, especially when all the students stared at me after such comments in class.

The constant negative comments about Africans and African-Americans in particular diminished my self-esteem and self-confidence. I was often afraid to speak up and ask questions in class, because I was fearful of what others might think of me. The cyclic feeling of doubt never left me.

Finally , I was tired of it. I refused to be stuck in a place of fear and doubt at the expense of my goals, so I reevaluated myself. I remembered the words that were instilled in me--”Don’t lose sight of your identity and culture.” I was raised knowing that I was a unique Ghanaian-American woman who could achieve anything, and I wasn’t going to let the words of others tell me otherwise. I contributed more to my class discussions by asking and answering questions, and became the only black board member in four clubs on campus.

Throughout my high school experience, I have tackled more challenges by staying true to myself, and using people’s doubtful perceptions of me as a catalyst to do greater things. Although the obstacles seemed insurmountable at first, I am proud that I was able to overcome them and successfully complete my education. I am sorry to have gone through such unpleasant experiences. However, they have made me a strong person and prepared me to deal with the realities of the world we live in.

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Gabby's winning scholarship essay

There were only a few minutes to go and our eyes were glued to screen. On the edge of our seats, clutching whoever happened to be next to us, we watched as the referee blew his whistle and the German players took their free kick. The ball was hit with precision and skill; it flew up over the Swedish players, past their goalie, and was caught safely in the back of the opposing team’s net. We all jumped up and screamed, a mixture of German and English, of excitement and relief, of pride and anticipation. We stood, enraptured, for the last several minutes of the game as Germany kept its 2-1 lead over Sweden. The horde of us, Germans and Americans alike, hugged and cheered and made our way out onto the balcony, where we chanted “Deutschland! Deutschland! Deutschland!” for the whole village, the whole country, the whole world to hear.

Never have I felt so accepted while being an outsider, so proud of a country that isn't even mine, so part of something I didn't really belong to. My German friends didn't care that we were from different countries; they didn't care that we would only be staying for three weeks. They accepted us into their homes and their daily lives, their traditions and their celebrations. In watching that World Cup game, it didn't matter that we were from different places; we were all cheering for the same team.

The acceptance I felt in Germany extended beyond that living room. I came to the country on a three week exchange with ten other students from my school. We each stayed with host families and attended the Wildermuth Gymnasium, which was surprisingly accommodating to a gaggle of loud American teenagers. The teachers were friendly and welcoming, the students treated us like ordinary peers, and even the people I interacted with in public were understanding.

Before coming to Germany I feared judgment based on my level of the language (which is nowhere near as good as the German students’ English) and American politics. It was intimidating to be in a country with limited knowledge of the language and the customs, even though everyone was welcoming. People did ask myself and the other students about the US’s political climate, but no one blamed us for it. They recognized that we were outsiders, that the place we came from had flaws, and they accepted us anyway.

Since that trip, I’ve found myself trying to provide that acceptance to people in my own country. For example, I work at a canoe livery and we receive a lot of visitors with limited English. Some of my coworkers will avoid such customers because they don’t want to take the time to explain things, to exercise patience with someone who may not understand them. If people had done this to me in Germany, my time there would have been much less enjoyable; in fact, I would have been offended.

So now when someone walks up to me at the livery and asks a question in English that isn’t perfect, I smile and welcome them. I take my time to make sure they understand, that they can have a good time, and that they feel accepted. It’s a small action, but I know firsthand that it can make a big impact, at my place of work and in the world.

Interview with Gabby

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Daniel's winning scholarship essay

As an Expressive Arts specialist, I use puppet play and the arts (with three to five-year-olds) to teach sharing, identifying and working with feelings, making friends, mindfulness, and asking for what you need in peaceful ways. Additionally, I perform developmentally appropriate puppet shows in classrooms about fairness, valuing difference (including differences in gender expression and skin tone), and peaceful conflict resolution. By teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion through puppetry, I feel that I am making a difference.

In this work, I have noticed an unexplained phenomenon. Educational puppetry is particularly effective in helping children with ASD develop social and communication skills. One girl with ASD in my school refused to follow the daily routine until a parrot puppet helped guide her through the transitions. Through puppet play, a boy with impulse control challenges learned to manage his feelings and stop hitting other children. One boy with Autism showed remarkable progress with puppet play. Now in Kindergarten, his ability to communicate and make friends makes his academic success possible. Teachers value this work; it reinforces the social and emotional teaching they practice daily. One teacher told me, “What you do with puppets and our kids is amazing. You need to share this work beyond our preschool.”

My goal is to support young children with Autism in public school settings develop the social-emotional skills they need for academic and personal success. I aim to accomplish this by creating and implementing evidence-based strategies that use puppets as intervention tools. A Masters and Credential in ECSE, and the Autism Spectrum Graduate Certificate program I will complete, are essential to broadening my impact. The program will provide me with the theoretical foundation, the student teaching experiences, the credentials, and the academic community required to work with children and families in public school settings. For example, as part of the ECSE Program Masters and Credential Roadmap, I am taking the Seminar in Educational Research course. I am learning how to conduct scholarly research, a fundamental skill in creating innovative approaches that work. I am eager to apply the knowledge and skills I learn at SFSU toward helping more children open doors to connection.

Additionally, I am learning leadership skills by volunteering for SFSU’s Early Childhood Special Education Conference. Most conference attendees are undergraduate students, interested in working with young children at-risk and with disabilities. As Co- Chair of the Presenter Committee, I am recruiting dynamic and engaging speakers who will lead workshops. I am eager to apply all of the knowledge and skills I learn at SFSU toward helping more children open doors to connection.

I am at a critical juncture in my path. Helping children who experience social disconnection integrate into their classrooms, is my passion. This scholarship will help me work toward a world where every child has access to education and all children know they belong.

Interview with Daniel

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Michelle's winning essay

I stood still, as I glanced over my shoulder in search for my mother, with hope that she would defend us, but instead, she did nothing. She continued to only do her work, as if though she was immune to this sort of harassment. Rage, yet confusion mixed together, came rushing down my body through my head to the end of my toes. I began to feel completely powerless, as I kept hearing how useless I was, my body was shaken to the slurred words of insults that were thrown in the air, with the harsh wind blowing hatred words into my arms, legs, and mind.

“Ever since these Mexicans began working here, everything is much slower here, they are just taking our jobs, bunch of good for nothing!”, desperately yelled a feminine voice.

It was at this exact instant, I knew my brothers were right, by saying once I obtain my first job, I will become more aware of the society issues we have in the world. But I wonder how could someone be so cruel to another person? At the time, her comment struck me, as I had never been exposed to this. What was this? I started to perceive the situation for what it really was, a person discriminating my fellow co- workers and I, for the indecisive color of our skin. I never felt ashamed of my culture or my parents, who like most came undocumented for the better sake of their family. Instead, I was prideful of my parents, for providing me with a stable house, to where I grew up in for the past seventeen years.

“HELLLLOOOOO??”, another voice shouted.

“They are Mexican, they only respond to hola!”, laughed the third lady back to her friend.

It was then, I could not handle the insults any longer, both my hands were trembling so quickly, that I placed the cup in my hand and onto the counter. I froze and thought to myself how all my life I was inexperienced, too closed-minded to realize that I portrayed the world to have acceptance of one-another, no matter the color of your skin; however it was just the opposite.

The inhumane feeling of not being able to defend yourself from typical stereotypes because the fear of losing your job outweighs your dignity, is a sign of discrimination. I never would wish upon anyone to experience the racism I have faced, but I can say that this has heavily changed my whole perspective on life. I wondered how many immigrants hide under the worst working conditions because they believe that having thick skin is part of the job. I started to become more humble and grateful for the life I have and so many wish to have. I started to write my English essays on immigration, I started to become the leader of my class discussions on immigration, this converted me to become a young leader to where I was not afraid to respectfully voice my mind.

My wish is to help guide undocumented people to obtain a job in a foreign country, and to fight for them to stay in the country. I dream of becoming the voice of immigration because I know they cannot stand up for themselves. Once I am an attorney, I will seek new opportunities to expand the help provided to immigrants. I will create programs that specifically target undocumented people to know their own voice and to educated themselves about the law. I understand how the majority of people do not have exposure or the knowledge to know that they can still manage to have a life in a foreign country, under the law. I know the long journey that lays ahead of them and know how difficult the process of transferring to undocumented to citizen is, but I want to be there so they know that they still have a choice.

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Elizabeth's winning essays

What are your educational plans as they relate to your career objectives and future goals?

Overall my parents are my inspiration and my motivation to keep working hard towards my educational and career plans. I make sure I have A’s and a good GPA. My other goal is to attend a CSU or a UC and get my bachelors degree first and then get my masters degree. I am majoring in kinesiology to become a physical therapist. I want to pursue my dream job and be able to buy my parents a house. That is my dream and I will work extra hard every day to accomplish this.

Tell us about yourself, your family, your interests, etc.

My name is Elizabeth Contreras, and I am currently a senior attending high school. I am eighteen years old and have three younger sisters. I am the oldest in my family and the first ever to attend college.

I love being involved in school by being in clubs. I am in Key Club which is an organization that does community service and I currently hold an officer position as an editor. FFA is another organization I am involved in; it helps students with public speaking skills and overall a person’s personal growth. I’ve done a lot of public speaking competitions which have taught me how to speak professionally in front of people and learned to memorize things in a short period of time. I have been a Greenhand officer my freshman year and an FFA Officer during my junior year. I also have a part-time job as a cashier in Merced Fruit Barn. I am a person who balances my duties in clubs, school, and work. I am a hardworking, caring, optimistic and most importantly very passionate about what I do.

My parents are farm workers who left their native country to come to California for us to have a better life. My parents work in the fields and is not easy because of the extremely hot weather. They are constantly moving which causes their body to become sore.

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John's winning scholarship essay

My parents were never given a shot at having an education beyond high school. They were never given a shot to show their full potential and make a difference in the world. They had to start life at an early age. I want to succeed in college for them and for me. I want them to be proud of me for doing a task that they weren’t able to do. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is those who learn from their mistakes who are successful. I am learning from their mistakes. Where they got stumped, I find a way to get over. Where they may have stumbled, I continue to run. I have to keep running for my goals in life. Even after reaching my goal I will continue to strive towards greatness. People use the saying, “the sky is the limit”, but it isn’t. The sky is limitless. I don’t want to stop chasing my goals when I reach the sky. I want to reach for the stars and everything above.

Being young and seeing my parents struggle is hard for me. It’s challenging seeing the people you love go through a hard time and you can’t do anything about it. I had to change my way of thinking. But then I realized I can do something about it. I can get good grades in school. I can take college level courses throughout high school. I can attend a 4-year university and earn my bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship. That was my thought process as a Freshman. Now being a Senior I turned those “I cans” into “I did”. I DID get good grades all through school. I DID take college level courses. I will be walking straight out of high school with 17 college credit hours. I recently have gotten accepted in The University of Missouri-Kansas City. I DID get into a 4-year university; and 4 years from now I want to be able to say I DID earn my bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship.

Nothing would make me happier than to be able to take care of my parents the way they have been taking care of my all my life; and nothing would make me better as a person than to be able to say I did this. I am setting an example for my younger siblings and for my teachers. My teachers being able to see my graduate will let them know that they’ve done well as a teacher, and as a person. I have bettered as a person, a son, and a student, and I am thankful to have been given opportunities that a lot of kids don’t have. I will not take this opportunity for granted.

Chloë's winning essays

Community is one of the most important things in the world to me. I value supporting people, and I personally believe we as a whole do not do enough to maintain meaningful relationships with our fellow humans. I believe that ‘hustle-culture’, and the hyper-independence of modern American culture has driven us apart in unforeseen ways. I believe in the value of interpersonal relationships. We should be able to lean on each other for physical, emotional, and resource support. Unfortunately, however, that is just not the world we live in–but I don’t think that means it can’t be.

As a kid, I really valued helping others. The joy I got from seeing others benefit from my contributions was the closest thing I ever got to feeling in control of the seeming constant crises in the world around me. I was a Girl Scout for about seven years. As a Girl Scout, I participated in countless volunteer efforts. For instance, I visited a nursing home on Christmas to keep residents with no family visitors company, I assisted unhoused populations struggling with food insecurity, and I participated in wildlife conservation efforts. Outside of my Girl Scouts involvement, I was also involved with things like an annual charity 5k, and an annual beach clean-up day growing up. Volunteering became a source of fulfillment for me in a world of constant stress and anxiety.

Over time my volunteer efforts have expanded. In 2020 I became involved with my home city’s brand new LGBT organization. Through my efforts I have been able to provide resources to queer community members, who are statistically at a higher risk of poverty and homelessness, especially in our post-pandemic world. I have been able to help organize community events such as an annual “queer hike.” I have also delved into the issues that affect many members of this community outside of their queer/trans experiences. This year I became certified to administer and distribute Narcan (Naloxone). Narcan is a medication that can temporarily reverse an overdose, allowing more time for emergency services to arrive. Members of the LGBT community struggle with mental and physical illness, including substance use disorder and chronic pain, at a considerably higher rate. It’s incredibly important to me to give struggling people in our community a chance to survive long enough to recover from the health conditions we so commonly struggle with, and they can’t do that if they lose their life to overdose. This cause is very near and dear to my heart.

I plan to continue volunteer efforts as much as possible in the future. The burden of singlehandedly funding my college education has absorbed most of my current time, but I believe in the power of hard work and think that eventually I’ll be able to jump back into volunteering. My future plans involve volunteering with The Trevor Project, and The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center Thrift Store. I hope to be able to continue supporting my community very soon, and your generous scholarship opportunity could assist me in getting there sooner. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Mensa Foundation Scholarship winners

The Mensa Education & Research Foundation and Mensa members are proud of their history of providing scholarships to selected essay winners.

Scholarship Winners

Kaylee Scott $1,000 January College Survey Scholarship February 2024 Here's what Kaylee had to say: I will be majoring in psychology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and this scholarship will go towards my tuition.
Jana Moseley $1,000 January Review Your Company Sweepstakes February 2024 Here's what Jana had to say: Putting it in Grandkids College Fund.
Kiera Hayes Jayne Marie x Niche $5,000 Scholarship January 2024 Here's what Kiera had to say: I will be using this award to help my educational costs.
Sedona Smith Madz x Niche $2,000 Scholarship January 2024 Here's what Sedona had to say: I will be going to college for Zoology and this scholarship will really help me afford my education.
Abigail Nguyen $1,000 December School Survey Sweepstakes January 2024 Here's what Abigail had to say: I will be majoring in Nursing this upcoming fall and I will be using this scholarship to help me pay for books and tuition!
Mika Phegley $2,000 December No Essay Scholarship January 2024 Here's what Mika had to say: I am Majoring in Film and Business, and I plan on using this to help with tuition costs!
Gloria Deschamps Rylie Booth $2,000 Scholarship December 2023 Here's what Gloria had to say: I will be graduating soon with a bachelor in Dietetics and this scholarship is going to help me finish off my semester with more resources, confidence and stability!
Lauren Richard $1,000 November Local Survey Sweepstakes December 2023 Here's what Lauren had to say: I am majoring in psychology with a concentration in addiction studies. My plan is to open a rehabilitation facility for those ages 14-21 who suffer from Substance Use Disorder.
Molli Alexander $1,000 November Graduate School Survey Scholarship December 2023 Here's what Molli had to say: I am currently attending graduate school for my MSW degree, and this scholarship will help me pay for my tuition this semester.
Christian Lucas $1,000 November Review Your Company Sweepstakes December 2023 Here's what Christian had to say: I will be using this scholarship to help pay my tuition. Thank you
Sabrina Lateefuddin $2,000 November No Essay Scholarship December 2023 Here's what Sabrina had to say: I will be using this money towards my tuition for Savannah College of Art and Design. I intend to major in illustration.
Dolores Williams $1,000 October Review Your Company Sweepstakes November 2023
Cassandra Cummins $1,000 October College Survey Scholarship November 2023 Here's what Cassandra had to say: I would love this to go towards my business degree. I'm unsure of where I want to go in business, probably finance. But every little bit will help me get closer to my goals. I plan to go to MSU after this year to finish up my degree. Thank you for this opportunity to climb ever higher towards my dream.
Samantha Smith $1,000 October School Survey Sweepstakes November 2023 Here's what Samantha had to say: I am going to college in the fall and this helps a lot with paying for tuition!
Alyssa Ko $1,000 October Local Survey Sweepstakes November 2023 Here's what Alyssa had to say: I will be majoring in Elementary Special Education and this scholarship will be towards my college tuition.
Thais Boyd Alana x Niche $2,000 Scholarship November 2023 Here's what Thais had to say: I’m so happy to be receiving this scholarship as it will help me get through spring semester, and I can focus more on my studies rather than working
Kylee Therese Torres $500 Christian College Scholarship November 2023 Here's what Kylee Therese had to say: I will be majoring in nursing in the fall of 2024 and this scholarship will aid my future studies, wherever the Lord calls me to pursue my academic career. It will help take some load of financial stress off so I can focus in this next stage of life.
Dorie Sanborn $1,000 September Graduate School Survey Scholarship October 2023 Here's what Dorie had to say: I am majoring in school counseling and mental health at Chaminade University of Honolulu. This scholarship will help me pay for my tuition for the next semester coming up in January.
Megan Honer-Woodruff $1,000 September College Survey Scholarship October 2023 Here's what Megan had to say: I'm majoring in Computer Science and this will help me pay for supplies!
Lillian Hubbs $1,000 September Local Survey Sweepstakes October 2023 Here's what Lillian had to say: I will use this to help pay for books for nursing school!

IWSH Scholarship Essay Contest

About the scholarship.

IWSH Scholarship Essay Contest recognizes and rewards, with college scholarships, students who submit outstanding essays related to the International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) or the plumbing industry.

Essay Required : Yes
Need-Based : No
Merit-Based : No
This competition is open to high school seniors and full-time students at accredited technical schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, and apprenticeship programs.
Applicants must submit an essay, of 800 to 1,600 words on a topic that changes annually but relates to the IWSH and/or the plumbing industry.
Country : US

2024 Essay Scholarship Competition Winners Announced!

We have officially announced the winners of our seventh annual essay scholarship competition. To see the winners and read their essay submissions, click here .

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FOR UNDERGRADUATES

Undergraduate Essay Competition
Sifting & Winnowing: The Wisconsin Undergraduate Journal of Law, Political Science and Public Policy

FOR GRADUATES

Postdoctoral Fellowship
First Book Manuscript Workshop

FOR FACULTY

Visiting Scholars
Manuscript Workshop

Graphic Design

Marketplace, “you can’t label people, but you can label products” essay & label design scholarship by sttark, the fall 2024 scholarship application is now open..

Application Period: May 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024

Congratulations to our Spring 2024 scholarship winner!

Helena nafziger.

Congratulations to Helena Nafziger for winning our Spring 2024 “You Can’t Label People, but You Can Label Products” Essay & Label Design Scholarship! We appreciate all of the great submissions from students who were willing to share their stories with us. Thank you to everyone who submitted an application this year!

A $3,000 Essay Scholarship for students who think outside of the box

Sttark is excited to award a $3,000 scholarship to a U.S. high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who can show us how products can be labeled but people can’t. We understand the harm in mislabeling and believe the best ideas begin with a fresh slate – without prejudices or preconceptions. For this reason, we want you to forget about any labels you’ve received in the past related to academics or talent. Tap into your innate originality and creativity through writing and design.

Essay Prompt “You can’t label people, but you can label products.”

You can use the following questions to spark your creativity, but you are not required to answer them.

● Has consumerism influenced the way we view people? ● Do people try to market themselves for acceptance? ● What effect do labels have on creativity? How might it differ between products and people? ● Is there a distinction between negative and positive labels? Is labeling yourself or another individual ever beneficial?

Write a 1000-word creative essay showing how you relate to this statement and why it matters. Additionally, design a label related to your essay topic that you would use for a product but not a person.

Eligibility & Requirements

If you’re an aspiring designer, manufacturer, engineer, artist, architect, or any other type of innovator, this essay scholarship is for you. The application is open to current high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students. Due to complexities with international funding, we will only consider submissions from U.S. citizens. You will need to provide proof of college acceptance or a current transcript for high school students. Undergraduate and graduate students will need to provide proof of attendance from their college or university at the time of submission. We’d love to know your future goals and why you deserve this scholarship, so we’re asking you to submit a brief biography of no more than 250 words with your application. In this bio, please specify your intended field of study and your current grade or degree level. We will not assess this bio in our submission evaluation, but it will help us better understand your vision.

We will not consider your submission if it does not include the following:

● A short bio with your intended field of study and education level ● Evidence of U.S. citizenship (valid US postal address) ● A 1,000-word essay ● An original label design We recommend checking out sites like Canva that allow you to design labels online for free. You can also check out our Product Labels page for inspiration.

● Proof of education : If chosen as the scholarship winner, we will request proof of education documents before sending the funds to your school. (examples: current transcript, student ID with current year, acceptance letter)

Your essay and label design will be evaluated by these five criteria:

1. Originality – overall uniqueness

2. Creativity – a blend of imagination and great ideas

3. Quality – superb execution

4. Competency – an evident eye for design and clear written communication

5. Connectedness – clear unity between the essay and label design

Only submit your own work. Plagiarism is the opposite of innovation, and we will eliminate any stolen work. This is a creative, not an academic essay, so you’re not required to include sources. However, if you do reference the work of another individual, please use a citation.

Application for the Essay Scholarship

Important: When adding the shareable link to your PDF file within the application, ensure that it is shared publicly if using a service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Our team will need viewer access to your file to consider your submission. For questions about your application, please email [email protected]

Submission Deadlines

Application Opens: May 1, 2024 Application Closes: September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST Winner Announced: October 8, 2024.

The scholarship winner will be notified via email and featured on our scholarship page. Before receiving funds, the winner will be required to provide proof of acceptance to a college or university. Sttark will send all scholarship funds directly to the winner’s school.

About Sttark

We’re a creative and passionate team of experts at making products presentable. Our custom labels give a product’s story the chance to shine, and we hope to do the same for the next batch of designers, engineers, or entrepreneurs. Our purpose extends beyond labeling products. We believe that people are uniquely packaged, and labels can limit ingenuity. Giving is fundamental to our business, and we want to invest in young innovators at Sttark because we’re certain their success will lead to big ideas that bring a better future for everyone. For us, that’s an exciting possibility and a worthy investment. Be sure to check out our About page if you’d like to learn more about Sttark.

California, Texas students earn top prize in national civics education essay contest

Molly Justice Director of Communications & Online Media (757) 259-1564

Williamsburg, Va. (May 1, 2024) – California and Texas students have won top honors in the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) 2024 Civics Education Essay Contest.

Over the past decade, NCSC has challenged youth to reflect on civics education and the U.S. Constitution.

This year, students from across the country reflected on the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor's influence on civics education for American youth and her perspective on the importance of civic engagement by all citizens. Students addressed two age-appropriate questions about citizen participation in their communities and government.

NCSC President Mary McQueen said recognizing the late Supreme Court justice this year was especially fitting given Justice O’Connor’s passion for civics education.

"Justice O’Connor was deeply committed to educating the younger generation about democracy and the fundamental democratic principles that form our society,” McQueen said. “She believed civic participation beyond voting is vital to our democracy, and she urged citizens to become involved in their schools, neighborhoods, and communities."

The contest attracted 800 students from 48 states and the District of Columbia. Essays were scored based on the student's understanding of the topic, creativity, grammar, spelling, and style. The nine winners will receive cash prizes totaling $3,450.

The 2024 winners include:

High school (grades 9-12)

First place - Daniella Cuevas, California
Second place - Mattie Jane Carpenter, Georgia
Third place - Jacob Hertz, California

Middle school (grades 6-8)

First place - Sophia Ling, California
Second place - Ashley Wagner, Massachusetts
Third place - Anoushka Pandey, Maryland

Elementary school (grades 3-5)

First place - Nicholas Jakimier, Texas
Second place - Ana Cervantes, Kansas
Third place - Faith Yono, Michigan

To read the winning essays, visit ncsc.org/contest .

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Competitive Prize Contests 2024

The Lipson Program George Morey Richardson Latin Translation Prize Philo Sherman Bennett Prize in Political Science Owen D. Young Prize in International Relations Thomas G. Rosenmeyer Greek Translation Prize Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize in Poetry Roselyn Schneider Eisner Prizes Florence Mason Palmer Prize Ina Coolbirth Memorial Poetry Prize Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize Nicola de Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition Anne and Benjamin Goor Prize in Jewish Studies

The Prizes Program at UC Berkeley ( [email protected] ) is an important forum for rewarding creative expression and scholarly achievement by Berkeley’s finest students. Winners receive both recognition and a cash prize, which is coordinated with the winner’s financial aid package.

Below you will find all of Berkeley’s Prize contests. Please note the criteria of each contest before entering.

Note: Prize contest entries need to be submitted, via our online submission form before 4 p.m. on the contest deadline (listed on the chart below). See the General Rules for Competitive Prizes for complete submission information. Please click on the contest names below for specific details about each prize.

The Lipson Program

The Leslie Lipson Program at UC Berkeley is intended to encourage undergraduate students to study humanistic values and their practical application for individuals, societies, and states.

The program consists of the Lipson Essay Prize, the Lipson Scholarship, and the Lipson Research Grant.

Leslie Lipson Biography. The Leslie Lipson Program is endowed in memory of Professor Leslie Lipson, who taught political theory and comparative government at Berkeley for 33 years. As a professor, Lipson’s first love was the undergraduate curriculum, and undergraduate students twice selected him as the best teacher in the Department of Political Science. Berkeley honored Lipson in 1980 with the Berkeley Citation, for individuals of extraordinary achievement in their field who have given outstanding service to the campus. Lipson’s books include The Great Issues of Politics, which has been published in ten editions, translated into numerous foreign languages, and used in introductory political science courses across the country; and his seminal work, The Ethical Crises of Civilization, in which he analyzed the historical developments in world civilizations that have resulted in both better and worse ethical choices. “Humanistic values are the fundamental values of good and evil, right and wrong, just and unjust, as carried out by individuals and societies in service of or against humanity” (Leslie Lipson).

Lipson Essay Prize

The Leslie Lipson Scholarship and Prize Fund (“the Fund’) will assist deserving financially needy undergraduate students enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, and is open to students regardless of race, color, national origin, or religion. The Fund is dedicated to educating outstanding undergraduate students in humanistic values and to provide the means to conduct research concerning those values.

All recipients of Leslie Lipson Prize, Scholarship and Research Awards will be known as Leslie Lipson Scholars. Lipson Prize winners will receive a scholarship only if they are scholarship eligible and demonstrate financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office. The Fund will provide all or a portion of their need-based scholarship. Recipients of the scholarship may also be eligible for the Research Award to conduct research during the summer between their scholarship terms.

Candidates shall apply at the end of the fall semester of their freshman or sophomore years, and recipients will be selected by the end of the spring semester of the year in which they apply.

Successful candidates are awarded the Lipson Prize in spring and Lipson Scholarships will be awarded for their sophomore through senior years for those who apply as freshmen, and for the junior and senior years for those who apply as sophomores.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Lipson Essay Prize, students need to be eligible freshmen or sophomores and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (GPA). Students from any field of study are welcome to apply. Essays will be reviewed by the Lipson Committee, and the committee may award prizes for all Scholarship Winners.

Submissions need to be submitted via our online submission form by January 17th, 2025 at 4 PM.

2023-2024 Lipson Scholarship Program Essay Topics

Please choose one topic.

Currently it is often said that democracy in America is at a crossroads, in terms of its very ability to exist. Do you agree or disagree? What are the causes of such a disintegration, if indeed that is occurring?
As famously stated by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “You are entitled to your own opinions, but not to your own facts .” Has “red” and “blue” tribalism in current American culture now made it difficult, or even impossible, for people of different parties and persuasions to agree on what is reality or what is “true”?
Is America in danger of becoming an authoritarian state? Are American democratic institutions, as embodied by our three branches of government, strong enough to defeat peaceably an armed threat of civil war?
What response to terrorism is consistent with and upholds humanistic values?
Should there be any limits on political speech at universities? If you believe there should be limits, what would those be and how would they be enforced?
Explain the persistence of anti-semitism over the centuries and why there is a resurgence today.

Prize Amounts

A prize of $10,000 is awarded to students who submit winning essays on one of six topics related to humanistic values.

Essays shorter or longer than the recommended amount will not be disadvantaged by sole virtue of their length
12-point font; double-spaced with one-inch margins; numbered pages
Last 4 digits of your student identification (SID) number in top-right corner of every page
You may submit only one essay per calendar year
Your submissions need to be anonymous; please do not include your name

Please submit via our online submission form.

Competitive Prizes Online Submission

2023-24: Victoria Fan, "The Center Will Not Hold: The State of Democracy"; Sophia Martinez, "How Echo Chambers and Algorithms Have Led Americans Away from a Universal Truth"; Zoe Lodge, "Sense and Desensitivity: Polarization is Destroying the Fabric of American Political Culture"; Carmen Berry, "When Feelings Become Fact: Climate Change Denialism as a Symptom of Political Mistrust"; Grace Camperi, "In the Cave of Political Tribalism"; Connor Eubank, "State of Terror: The Ethical Cost of Legitimizing State Terrorism"; Alex Lewis Richter, " Countering Forever Wars: A Framework for Just & Unjust Counterterrorism Operations"; Alkis Loannis Toutziaridis, "Rights and Resistance: The Dual Front in Counter-Terrorism Strategy"; Viraj Roy Gupta, "Untangling the Hydra: Combatting the Many Faces of Anti-Semitism"; Guanjie Cheng, "A Historical Journey Through the Persistence of Anti-Semitism”; Chloe Sabrina Zitsow, " Money, Money, Money: How the Myth of Jews and Finances Drives Antisemitism"

2022-23: Peyton Koch, "The Democracy Camel: Has the Final Straw"; Irina Velitskaya, "The Consequences Are Clear: Social Media and the History of Human Innovation"; Agodi Okoroafor, "What do the Wealthiest 1% owe the 99%?"; Julia Gignac, "From Imperfect Progress by Unsatisfying Compromise"; Hy Nguyen, " An Invisible Hand plaguing our economy: The economics behind the Medical-Industrial Complex"; Ashley Kim, "BeReal… Let’s Be Real"; Keshwanth Babu Puligulla, "Agree to Disagree: An Examination of Political and Cultural Polarization"

2021-22: Madeleine (Maddi) Wong, "America MMXXII: The Return of Democracy- An Attack on De Jure and De Facto Democracy through the Jeopardization of Civil Rights"; Margaux Bauerlein,"Social Trust and Negative Liberty: Free to Be Me (and Suffer for It)"

2020–21: Stephan Dai, "Lies and Internet Posts, Evidence that Brandenburg’s Toast?"; Aleeza Adnan, Alxander Fung, Emma Gerson, Valmic Muking, "Culture Warn’t: The Imaginary War the 1% Wants us to Fight"; Vyoma Raman, Deborah Le-En Tan

2019–20: Evan Juan, "The Obligation of a Human Right to Health"; Aditya Varma, "American E(conomics) X(clusion) C(hurch) E(xpansion) P(rogress) T(echnology)-ionalism"; Max Zhang, "Sleeping at the Wheel"

2018–19: Hannah Herrick, "The Persistence of Racism through Colorblindness"; Vedant Kajaria, "A Consummate Relationship with Anarchy"; Karen Lee, "Condemned to Condemn"; Tara Madhav "American Democracy, Racism and the State of Exception"; Kathleen Navas, "Psychological Basis and Modern Impact of Racism on Society"; Wyatt Singh, "The Second Coming: A Century Later, W.B. Yeats' Words Are Still Relevant"; Sharon Marie Vaz, "Yeats' Spiritus Mundi and its Relevance to 2019"; Leo Zlimen, "Our Own Phantom World"

2017–18: David Olin, "The Spirit and the Machine", Nicholas Pingitore, "Wandering with Walden", Evan Schwartz, "Arguments for Disobeying Trump's order for a Preemptive Nuclear Strike: Echoes from the Nuremberg Tribunal", Talia Wenger, "How Artificial Intelligence Re-Ignites the Human Spirit"

2016–17: Alexander Casendio, "Is democracy in general, as a form of government, currently broken on an international basis?"; Daniel Rosenthal,"What are the reasons for the cultural and political polarizations in the U.S. and what is its impact on humanistic values. Is this only a national trend, or is it an issue internationally?"; Thomas Lee Kadie,"The Licensing of Right-Wing Populism"

2015–16: 1st prize: Liya Nahusenay, "Islamophobia: A Detrimental Misnomer"; Neel Somani, "Contemporary Stereotyping: Exploring the Seduction of Bias"; 2nd prize: Nina Djukic, "A Rare Drought Rain"; Suleman Khan, "The Government That Cried Wolf: Refugees and National Security"; Olivia Maigret. "The Complicity of Religion in Terrorism"

2014–15: Carter Bryce Keeling, "The People's Climate March"; Ismael Farooqui, "The Invisible Hand: The results of wealth accumulation in a democracy"; Joprdan Hyatt-Miller, "The Logic of Violence"; James Rosenberg, "Legal Accountability for Torture: Preserving a Nation of Rights and Values"; Zijing Song, "One Oligarchy, Under God"

2013–14: Elizabeth Carroll, "A Nation of Suspects: Modern Surveillance and the Right to Privacy"; Wenyan He, "The Bilateral Nature of Ethics in Economic Inequality"; Taylor Madigan, "A Rawlsian Approach to Economic Inequality"; Sharada Narayan, "The Politics of Political Ethics"; Zijing Song, "The State of Obama's Union"

2012–13: Pierre Bourbonnais, "No Excuses for Lying"; Apruva Govande, "Emotional Bridges through Empathy"; Adithyavairavan Murali, "War on Terror: The Great Game of Education, Economics and Human Dignity"; Seth Victor, "The Lies and Unethical Nature of the War on Terror"

2011–12: Adam Susaneck, "How Party Stratification Leads to Duopoly as Ideology Establishing Elections as a Script Creating Not Deadlock, Livelock!"

2010–11: Ayden Parish, "Fundamentalism, Church and State"; Timothy Borjian, "The Problems with American Exceptionalism"

2009–10: Jasmine L. Segall, "Ethical Implications of Anonymous Methods of Modern Warfare"; Spreeha Debchaudhury, "We the People: A Colorful Portrayal"

2008–09: Alexander Setzepfandt, "Optimism: Breaking Free from the Unethical Behavior of Others"; Anirudh Narla, "The Triumph of Grey: The Importance of Indeterminacy and Complexity in Black and White"

2007–08: Danielle Rathje, "Fair Trade and Global Responsibility"; Keith Browner Brown, "Factoring in Humanity: The Failure of Population Control"

2006–07: Andrina Tran, "Varieties of Morality: William James, Pragmatism and Freedom "

2005–06: Erica Mu, "Dismantling Torture: An Examination of the United States at a Political and Ethical Crossroads"; Jillian Marks, "Torture: An Analysis of Its Evils"; Alexander H. Lau, "Revealing Racial Bias: A Case for Affirmative Action"

2004–05: Jacqueline Nader "The Greatest Danger of Our Time"; Yanpei Chen, "Morality and Political Discourse"; Charles Lin, "Avoiding a Tragedy: Reconciling International Interests in the Atmospheric Commons"

2003–04: No award given

2002–03: Jennifer Greenburg, "Women's Participation in Post-Apartheid Reform"; Sebastian Petty, "Back to the Land: Institutional Forms of Community Supported Agriculture"; Tina Sang, "Chinese Household Registration System"

2001–02: Susan Tche, "Effects of the New World Economy on Post-Embargo Vietnam"

2000–01: Cynthia Houng, "Sustainable Development? Towards a New Synthesis of Environment Ethics and Philosophy"; Joseph Kim, "Does Absentee Voting Have Anti-Social Effects on Voters?"; Pha Lo, "The Hmong of Laos: Cultural Perspectives on Implementing a Global Agenda"

Lipson Scholarship

The Lipson Scholarship, established in 2001, is a need-based scholarship awarded up to a scholar’s full financial need per year and is only available to eligible students who submit winning essays for the Lipson Essay Prize.

To receive the Lipson Scholarship, students must win the Lipson Essay Prize and be a freshman or sophomore when they apply. The Lipson Scholarship will fund the costs of the scholars’ sophomore through senior years at UC Berkeley for those who apply as freshmen, and the costs of the scholars’ junior and senior years for those who apply as sophomores, based on their financial need as determined by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

Lipson Research Grant

The third component of the Lipson Program, which is optional, is the Lipson Research Grant (established in 2001).

Lipson Scholars who wish to do research in greater depth have the opportunity to apply for funds to support their own original research project. Scholars will undertake such projects during the summer. Scholars selected for the Lipson Research Grant will receive a $5,000 stipend for summer living expenses so that they may devote their time to their summer research project; an additional $250 will be awarded in the fall semester after the scholar submits a paper about his or her summer project. Lipson Research Grant recipients may decide to develop the paper further into an honors thesis, or even a graduate-level dissertation. Projects must relate to humanistic values and their implementation, and might, for example, address such topics as human rights issues, bio-ethics, the impact on developing societies of global capitalism, or environmental concerns in the 21st century. Students will receive further details about this research opportunity following their selection as Lipson Scholars. While the Lipson Research Grant is optional, it is an important part of the Lipson Program.

Previous Research Projects add Summer 2012 Ayden Parish: Prototype Theory and the Categorization of Autism Jasmine Segall: Microfinance: Interest Rates and Social Performance in the United States and Guatemala

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George Morey Richardson Latin Translation Prize

The Richardson Latin Translation Prize is open to all UC Berkeley students. A first-place prize and second-place prize are awarded for the best translation of classical English into Ciceronian Latin.

History of the Prize: The Richardson Latin Translation Prize was established through the will of George Morey Richardson of Berkeley, dated May 16, 1896: “I give and devise to The Regents of the University of California, two lots or parcels of land, situated in Highland Trust, Oakland Township, Alameda County, State of California, to expend the income there or from the proceeds thereof, when sold, for an annual prize known as the ‘Richardson Latin Translation Prize,’ to be awarded to undergraduates (later to include graduate students) of the University of California for the best translation of classical English into Ciceronian Latin.” The prize was established in 1896.

Please review the General Rules for Competitive Prizes .

Contest deadline is January 17th, 2025 at 4 PM.

2023-2024 George Morey Richardson Latin Translation English Passage

2023–24: No award given

2022–23: Claire Healy ($2,000)

2021–22: No award given

2020–21: 1st prize: Joshua Benjamins ($1,900)

2019–20: 1st prize: Daniel Squire ($1,000); 2nd prize: Joshua Benjamins ($800)

2018–19: 1st prize: Daniel Squire ($1,000); 2nd prize: Joshua Benjamin ($500)

2017–18: 1st prize: Daniel Squire ($1,500)

2016–17: 1st prize: Daniel Squire ($1,400)

2015–16: 1st prize: Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($1,000); 2nd prize: Daniel Squire ($400)

2014–15: 1st prize: Michael Zellman-Rohrer ($1,000); 2nd prize: Tom Recht ($500)

2013–14: 1st prize: Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($1,500)

2012–13: 1st prize: Jared Hudson and Michael Zellman-Rohrer ($750 each)

2011–12: 1st prize: Michael Zellman–Rohrer ($2,000)

2010–11: 1st prize: Jared Hudson ($1,500); 2nd prize: Thomas Hendrickson ($500)

2009–10: 1st prize: Jared Hudson ($2,000)

2008–09: 1st prize: Jared Hudson ($1,500); 2nd prize: Antonia Pham Young ($500)

2007–08: 1st prize: Jared Hudson and Boris Rodin ($1,000 each)

2006–07: 1st prize: Jared Hudson ($2,000)

2005–06: 1st prize: Wilson Shearin ($1,500); 2nd prize: Kurt Lampe ($500)

2004–05: 1st prize: Kurt Lampe ($2,000)

2003–04: 1st prize: William Michal Short ($1,500); 2nd prize: J. C. Geissmann ($500)

2002–03: 1st prize:William Short ($2,000) 2001–02: 1st prize: Jon Christopher Geissmann ($1,000)

2000–01: 1st prize: Dylan Sailor ($1,000)

1999–00: 1st prize: Dylan Sailor ($1,000); 2nd prize: Amir Baghdadchi ($500)

1998–99: 1st prize: Dylan Sailor ($500)

1997–98: 1st prize: Dylan Sailor ($500)

Philo Sherman Bennett Prize in Political Science

The Philo Sherman Bennett Prize in Political Science is awarded for the best essay encompassing some aspect of politics other than international relations.

The prize is open to both graduates and undergraduates.

History of the Prize: Philo Sherman Bennett’s 1905 will stated: “I give and bequeath to Wm. J. Bryan of Lincoln the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), in trust, however, to pay to twenty-five colleges or universities, to be selected by him, the sum of four hundred ($400.00) each, said sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to be invested by each college receiving the same and the annual proceeds used for a prize for the best essay discussing the principal of free government.” The Regents Minutes of August 8, 1905 recite the following: “Mr. Wm. Jennings Bryan informed the University that he was glad to leave the decision by the college authorities the details of the Bennett Essay Prize…”

Contest deadline is December 13th , 2024 at 4 PM.

2023–24: Alyssa Rene Heinze and Eero Samuel Arum ($1,500 each)

2022–23: Teoman Tecan ($2,500)

2021–22: Kristin Zuhone ($1,000)

2020–21: Joseph Rodriquez and Shterna Friedman ($2,500 each)

2019–20: Shterna Friedman and Julia Goddard ($2250 each)

2018–19: Shterna Friedman ($4500)

2017–18: Kristin Zuhone ($1000)

2016–17: No prize awarded

2015–16: Jeremy Cynamon ($1,000)

2014–15: Jeremy Cynamon ($1,000)

2013–14: Samuel Garrett Zeitlin ($1,000)

2012–13: Samuel Garrett Zeitlin ($1,000)

2011–12: Jeremy Pilaar ($1,000)

2010–11: Sang-Hwa Sara Lee and Alyssa Beltran ($500 each)

2009–10: Huan Gao and Mikhail Guttentag ($500 each)

2008–09: Daniel Katz ($1,000)

2007–08: Daniel Katz ($1,000 )

2006–07: Nan Zhang ($1,000)

2005–06: Caitlin Rose Fox-Hodess ($1,000)

2004–05: Caitlin Rose Fox-Hodess ($1,000)

2002–03: No award given

2001–02: Anthony Chen ($1,000)

2000–01: Tony Chen ($2,000)

1999–00: Robert S. Taylor ($1,500)

1998–99: Daniel Ho ($1,000)

1997–98: James Abrams ($1,000)

Owen D. Young Prize in International Relations

The Owen D. Young Prize in International Relations is awarded for the best essay dealing with some aspect of international relations.

A minimum of 4,000 words is required with a maximum word limit of 5,000 words. Open to undergraduates only.

History of the Prize: From the Regents’ Minutes of October 10, 1933: “Mr. Owen D. Young delivered the Charter Day Address in Berkeley on March 24, 1930, returned to the Regents his honorarium as such speaker and in addition donated the sum of $250. This was intended to be used for three prizes … to undergraduate students registered in the colleges at Berkeley … who offered the best three essays on the topic, ‘What can a college student do to further good understanding among the nations and thereby promote peace?’ Mr. Young, on June 2, 1931, [amended] the conditions of this … contest, [whereby] the remainder of his donation, to wit, $900, be set up as a permanent fund, the income therefrom to be devoted to an annual prize for the best essay on some aspect of international relations. The Committee on Prizes is authorized to change the topic of the essay from time to time as they may see fit to do so.” The Owen D. Young Prize was established in 1958.

2022–23: Caitlin Barotz ($800)

2021–22: Dil Sen ($1,400)

2 020–21: Francis (Siyuan) Chen and Kaitlyn Lombardo ($600 each)

2019–20: Rosemary Yin ($1,500)

2018–19: Will Alexander and Kevin Klyman ($700 each)

2017–18: 1st prize: Sarah O'Farrell ($700); 2nd prize: Justin DesRochers and Janani Mohan ($350 each)

2016–17: Suleman Khan ($1,000)

2015–16: Madison Chapman and William Michael Morrow ($750 each)

2014–15: Cameron Silverberg ($1,500)

2013–14: Caroline McCloskey ($1,500)

2012–13: Michelle Chern ($1,500)

2011–12: Maya Yizhaky ($1,500)

2010–11: Lauren Benichou ($1,500)

2009–10: Kenneth Tsang ($1,500)

2008–09: Timothy Barry ($1,500)

2007–08: No award given

2006–07: Ben Narodick ($1,200)

2005–06: Helen Hsueh ($1,200)

2004–05: No award given

2003–04: Miya Keren ($500)

2002–03: Jeff Lindemyer ($500)

2001–02: Albert Ofrecio ($500)

2000–01: No award given

1999–00: Daniel Ho ($500)

1998–99: Christopher Maier ($500)

1997–98: No entries received

Thomas G. Rosenmeyer Greek Translation Prize

The Thomas G. Rosenmeyer Greek Translation Prize is awarded to a graduate or undergraduate for the best translation of classical English into an appropriate classical Greek style.

Appropriate styles include those of Plato and of the classical Attic orators, but other styles appropriate to the content are not excluded, such as the style of Herodotus, or even verse composition. The selection will normally be formal English prose and will be 350 to 500 words in length.

History of the Prize: The Rosenmeyer Prize was established in 1995.

2023-2024 Thomas G. Rosenmeyer Greek Translation English Passage

2022–23: No award given

2021–22: No award given

2020–21: Joshua Benjamins ($750)

2019–20: Joshua Benjamins and Daniel Squire ($1,500 each)

2018–19: Daniel Squire ($2,500)

2017–18: Daniel Squire ($1,000)

2016–17: Daniel Squire ($1,400)

2015–16: Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($1,000)

2014–15: 1st prize: Tom Recht ($750); 2nd prize: Michael Zellman-Rohrer ($250)

2013–14: Tom Recht and Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($500 each)

2012–13: Tom Recht and Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($500 each)

2011–12: Tom Recht ($700); Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($300)

2010–11: Tom Recht and Michael Zellmann-Rohrer ($500 each)

2009–10: Tom Recht ($1,000)

2008–09: Boris Rodin ($750); Honorable Mention: Joel Street ($250)

2007–08: Nardini Pandey ($500)

2006–07: Boris Rodin Maslov ($500)

2005–06: Boris Rodin Maslov ($500)

2004–05: Boris Rodin ($500)

2003–04: William Michael Short ($500)

2002–03: Jon Christopher Geissmann ($500)

2001–02: W. H. Shearin ($500)

2000–01: Dylan Sailor ($500)

1999–00: Dylan Sailor ($500)

1998–99: Dylan Sailor ($500)

1997–98: Dylan Sailor ($500)

Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry

The Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry will be awarded for composition of the best original unpublished lyric poem. Each entrant may submit only one poem; the length should not exceed thirty lines. A lyric poem is a poem that sings. It is usually quite short. When the poem is read aloud, it should inspire and delight by its heartfelt thought and feeling and the beauty of its language.

History of the Prize

When Dorothy Rosenberg died, her husband, Professor Marvin Rosenberg, established a fund to award this prize in her name.

Contest deadline is December 13th , 2024

2023-24: Noah Warren, William James Davidson and Mary Mussman ($1,000 each)

2022-23: Emily Peng, Landon Kramer ($1,500 each)

2021-22: Mary Mussman ($1,500), Annabelle Lampson ($1,000) and John James ($1,000)

2020-21: Mary Wilson($2,000), John James ($1,500) and Mary Mussman ($1,200)

2019–20: Yujane Chen and Aurelia Cojocaru ($3000)

2018–19: Lydia Liu ($3000)

2017–18: Selden Cummings, Nina Djukic, Anthony Tucci-Berube, Claire Marie Stancek, Jennifer Lorden ($1040)

2016–17: Julie Lee, Kaisle Hill, Brianna Alleyne, Katrina Hall, undergraduate winners; Evan Klavon, graduate winner ($840 each)

2015–16: Alani Hicks-Bartlett ($1,000); Evan Bauer, Raj Bhargava, Ismael Farooqui, Carter Bryce Keeling, and Alan Xu ($800 each)

2014–15: Christopher Miller and Mary Wilson, graduate winners ($1,000 each); Lillian Berger, Andrew David King, and S. Carlota Salvador Megias, undergraduate winners ($1,000 each)

2013–14: Jane Gregory, graduate winner ($2,000); Andrew David King, undergraduate winner ($2,000)

2012–13: Rachel Trocchio, graduate winner ($850); Laura Ferris, Andrew David King, Larry Narron, and Claire Tuna, undergraduate winners ($850 each)

2011–12: Samuel Garrett Zeitlin, graduate winner ($2,400); Bryce Thronburg, undergraduate winner ($2,400)

2010–11: Jane Gregory, graduate winner ($1,600); Taylor Hickok and Kayla Krut, undergraduate winners ($1,600 each)

2009–10: Gillian Osborne, graduate winner ($1,000); 1st prize, undergraduate: Anna Reeser ($2,000), 2nd prize, undergraduate: Steven Lance ($1,500), 3rd prize, undergraduate: Emma Tome ($1,000), Honorable Mention: Teresa Jimenez ($500)

2008–09: Matthew Melnicki and Alani Hicks-Bartlett graduate winners ($2,000 each); 1st prize, undergraduate: Steven Lance ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Joe Cadora ($1,000)

2007–08: Kate Klonowski and Matthew Melnicki ($2,000 each)

2006–07: Colin Dingler, graduate winner ($2,000); James May, undergraduate winner ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Marisa Libbon

2005–06: Michael Nicholson and Elizabeth Young ($1,000 each); Honorable Mention: Diana Y. Chien

2004–05: Edgar Garcia ($500)

2003–04: Edgar Garcia ($200)

2002–03: Michael Heinrich ($200)

2001–02: Lily Dwyer ($100)

2000–01: Emily Beall ($100)

1999–00: Mandy Kahn ($100)

1998–99: Caetlin Benson-Allott ($100)

1997–98: Kimberly Johnson ($100)

Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition

The Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition is awarded for excellence of composition in poetry, story writing, drama, or another field of literary composition. Judging is based on excellence of composition. Open to all graduate and undergraduate students.

This fund was accepted by the Regents on August 13, 1929. The Corpus thereof, in the amount of $3,000, was, by Judge George E. Crothers, pursuant to an agreement dated October 13, 1921, between Judge Crothers and the late Maria Elizabeth Mills, transferred to Mrs. Mills for the support of a fellowship in music in Mills College. This agreement provided that upon the death of Mrs. Mills the fund should pass to the Regents to support the Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition at the University of California.

2023-24: Aleeza Adnan ($1,200), Ayesha Asad, Mina Choi and Maisie Wiltshire-Gordon ($600 each)

2022-22: Nina Djukic ($1,500), Sophia Egert-Smith, Mary Mussman ($750 each)

2021-22: Drew Kiser ($1,000); Ryan Lackey ($500)

2020–21: Jennifer Tamayo ($900); Ryan Lackey, Noah Warren, Nessa Ordukhani, Mary Mussman ($500 each)

2019–20: Lucy Eaton ($1,000); Mary Mussman, Noah Warren, Sabrina Jaszi ($650 each)

2018–19: Clara Jimenez, Mary Mussman, Tessa Rissacher, Noah Warren ($750 each)

2017–18: 1st Prize: Mary Wilson ($2000); 2nd Prize: Evan Bauer, Selden Cummings, Nina Djukic, Zachary Kiebach($800 each)

2016–17: 1st prize: Rosetta Young ($600); 2nd prize: Jesslyn Whittell ($400); 3rd prize: Shelby Gregg ($300); Finalists: Sheryl Barbera and Khamillah Zimmer ($250 each); Honorable Mention: Mary Wilson, Laura Ferris, Hannah Ling, Julia Apffel, Evan Bauer, Sean Dennison, and Balark Mallik ($100 each)

2015–16: 1st prize: Carter Bryce Keeling ($2,000); 2nd prize: Claire Marie Stancek ($1,000); 3rd prize: Rachel King ($1,000); Finalists: Roxanne Forbes, Griffin Morin-Tornheim, Leah Tyus, and Anthony Williams ($250 each)

2014–15: 1st prize: Andrew David ($2,500); 2nd prize: Stanford Shoor ($500); 3rd prize: Rachel Trocchio ($500); 4th prize: Mary Wilson ($500)

2013–14: 1st prize: Ismail Muhammad ($1,500); 2nd prize: Manjing Zhang ($1,000); 3rd prize: Jessica Cox ($750); 4th prize: Tara Fatemi ($500); 5th prize: Michael A. Shaw ($250)

2012–13: Allison Berke, Cora Bernard, Myles Parker Osborne, Kayla Krut, and Eli Wirtschafter ($800 each)

2011–12: 1st prize: Gabriel Thibodeau ($1,500); 2nd prize: Kayla Krut ($1,000); 3rd prize: Yi (Jenny) Xie and Zoe Pollak ($750 each)

2010–11: Kelsa Trom and Tom Recht ($150 each)

2009–10: Faith Gardner, Angelene Smith, David Krolikoski, and Natalie Tsang ($800 each)

2008–09: Mia You ($600); Angelene Smith, Jennifer Reimer, Thomas Gamburg and Natalie Tsang ($350 each)

2007–08: Joseph Cadora, Jude Dizon, Adrienne Johnson and Nalini Rae G Sareen ($250 each)

2006–07: Martine Charnow, Zachary Tomaszewski, and Sara Lahue ($300 each)

2005–06: Geoffrey Greer ($500); Joseph Scalici, Jacqueline Palhegy, Keleigh Friedrich, Trevor Adrian, Emi Ikkanda ($150 each)

2004–05: Jacqueline Palhegy ($500); Leslie MacMillan, Erica Kidder Jensen and Edgar Garcia ($150 each)

2003–04: 1st prize: Bernice Santiago and Katherine Willett ($350 each); 2nd prize: Brandelyn Castine ($200); 3rd prize: Roger Porter ($100)

2002–03: Winners for poetry: Ellen Samuels ($250), Rachel Teukolsky ($175), Laura Wetherington ($175); Winners for Prose: James Ramey ($250), Maria Elena Howard ($150)

2001–02: Jennifer Hasa and Soyoung Jung ($1,000 each)

2000–01: Jennifer Ahn and Karen Lee ($1,000 each)

1999–00: 1st prize: Azin Arefi-Anbarani and Matthew Gleeson ($900 each)

1998–99: 1st prize: Bruce Maritano, Benjamin Russack, Caleb Smith, Frank B. Wilderson III, and Lin Zou ($300 each)

1997–98: 1st prize: Jennifer Stroud ($500); 2nd prize: Asali Solomon ($300); 3rd prize: Bryce Maritano ($200); runner-up: Michael Holt and Yuval Sharon ($100 each)

1996–97: 1st prize: Caleb Smith ($400); 2nd prize: Anh Bui ($200); 3rd prize: Asali Solomon and Julia Cho ($175 each); 4th prize: Ola Metwally ($150)

1995–96: 1st prize: Judy Kemelman ($300); 2nd prize: Amy Graff and Karin Spirn ($250 each); 3rd prize: Viet Nguyen and Hamilton Tran ($200 each); 4th prize: Philip Huynh and Bryan Malessa ($150 each)

1994–95: 1st prize: Cynthia Lin ($500); 2nd prize: Elizabeth Scarboro and Karin Spirn ($350 each); 3rd prize: Lysley Tenorio, Lyn Dilorio, and Jack Wooster ($200 each); 4th prize: Cat Dale and Jessica Hahn ($100 each)

Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize in Poetry

The Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize in Poetry is awarded for the most outstanding single unpublished poem.

Both graduate and undergraduate students are free to write up to 26 lines in length, in any meter, and upon any subject. Up to four winners may be chosen at the judge’s discretion.

Yale University Professor Albert S. Cook, formerly on the UC Berkeley faculty, endowed this prize with $1,000. As noted in the August 10, 1909, minutes of the Regents of the University of California, Professor Cook specified that “it is highly desirable” that the prize be awarded “for a poem which reflects honor upon the University, when viewed in the light of the best precedents furnished by England and this country.” Professor Cook further specified that “the University shall be free at any time to reprint the poem as it may choose.”

2023–24: Nina Alessandra Djukic ($1,200), Mary Mussman and Naima Karczmar ($500 each)

2022–23: Mary Mussman, Jessica Laser, and Andy Choi ($400 each)

2021–22: Annabelle Lampson ($800), John James, and Noah Warren ($600 each)

2020–21: Lamiya Gulamhusein, Dominique Salapare, Madelyn Peterson, and Max Kaisler ($625 each)

2019–20: Jennifer Tamayo, Max Kaisler, Lashon A. Daley and Noah Warren ($600 each)

2018–19: Mary Mussman, Mary Wilson, and Dylan Furcall ($800 each)

2017–18: Daniel Benjamin, Anthony Tucci-Berube ($1,100 each)

2016–17: Mary Wilson and Mary Mussman ($1,100 each)

2015–16: 1st prize: Rachel Trocchino ($1,400); 2nd prize: Nathaniel Dolton-Thornton ($700)

2014–15: 1st prize: Andy Nguy ($1,000); 2nd prize: Yaul Perez-Stable Husni ($600); 3rd prize: Alani Hicks Bartlett ($500)

2013–14: 1st prize: Jennifer Lorden, Clint Anderson, Lisa Levin, Michael Shaw ($500 each)

2012–13: 1st prize: Evan Klavon ($1,000); 2nd prize: Rachel Trocchio ($500); Honorable Mention: Andrew David King and Allison Yates ($250 each)

2011–12: Darius Carrick, Andrew David King, Pamela Glazier, and Vanessa Ing ($350 each)

2010–11: Laura Ferris, Kathryn Hindenlang, Tara Phillips, and Patricia Yen ($525 each)

2009–10: Joe Cadora, Ashley Lystne, Eamon O'Connor, and Gillian Osborne ($550 each)

2008–09: Natasha Arora, Pamela Krayenbuhl, Steven Lance, and Craig Perez ($500 each)

2007–08: Meredith Higgins and Clifford Mak ($150)

2006–07: Hillary Gravendyk, Jeremy Graves, Marisa Libbon, and Yosefa Raz ($300 each)

2005–06: Olivia Friedman ($300)

2004–05: Edgar Garcia, Dorian Gesler, and Shanyin Chang ($300 each)

2003–04: Ellen Samuels , Laura Wetherington, Christine Harrison, and Jessica Zychowicz ($300 each)

2002–03: Kimberly Johnson ($300)

2001–02: Sandra Lim, Marisa Libbon, Yasmin Golan, & Lynley Lys ($300 each)

2000–01: Emily Beall ($600), David Ruderman ($400), Jasmine Bina ($200)

1999–00: Julie Anderson, Ben Chaika, Elizabeth Hillman, and Kimberly Johnson ($300 each)

1998–99: 1st prize: Kimberly Johnson ($500); 2nd prize: Gibson Fay-LeBlanc ($500)

1997–98: 1st prize: Nadia Nurhussein ($300); runners-up: Emily Abendroth, Robyn Brooks, Delphine Hwang, and Padraig Riley ($150 each)

Roselyn Schneider Eisner Prizes

In 1963, Samuel Marks established an endowment of $250,000 for the advancement of the arts on the Berkeley campus, in memory of his stepdaughter, Roselyn Schneider Eisner, an artist and sculptor. The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Arts recommended the money be used to establish prizes in each of the Creative Arts.

Photo Imaging

The Eisner Prizes in Photo-Imaging are open to all UC Berkeley graduates and undergraduates of any major.

Contest deadlines vary. Please check the Prizes and Honors home page for this prize’s deadline.

Eisner Photo-Imaging Prize Rules add Please review the General Rules for Competitive Prizes . Additional rules for the Eisner Photo-Imaging Prize contest are listed below. Submission link: Competitive Prizes Submission You may submit 1 to 3 black-and-white or color images. Submissions must be anonymous. Include the last four digits of your student ID number on your file name and the total number of photographic images you're entering (e.g., "#1234 1 of 3," "#1234 2 of 3," "#1234 3 of 3"). Submissions may show either a body of work or 3 photos exploring 3 different themes. Judges will look for the artistic dimensions of the photos presented, including the creative uses of color ( tone values if you are showing black and white prints), lighting, graphic composition and framing .

Film and Video

The Eisner Prizes in Film and Video contest is open to both graduates and undergraduates in any department.

One to three films may be submitted, but the judges will only view up to 30 minutes of film for each applicant.

Contest deadlines vary. Please check the Prizes and Honors page for this prize’s deadline.

Eisner Film and Video Prize Rules add Please review the General Rules for Competitive Prizes . The Eisner Film and Video Prize contest also has additional rules listed below. Students can submit films as a Quicktime file on a flash/thumb drive or via a working URL on either Youtube or Vimeo. The applicant must make sure the URL is open and working, and that the thumb drive is both PC and MAC compatible You may submit 1 – 3 entries but are encouraged to submit only your best work. All film submissions must be in finished form, ready for public exhibition. Unfinished works or work-in-progress will not be considered. At least one submission must have been made during the period of your enrollment as a student on the Berkeley campus. Judges will not view more than 30 minutes of film or video. All submissions must be of the entire film, excerpts will not be accepted for consideration. To be eligible, you need to be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program for at least one regular semester of the academic year (not including Summer Sessions). Filing for a degree does not constitute enrollment for that academic year. Visiting students are not eligible to apply for prizes. A previous winner of this contest may not enter the following year. Film or video submissions must be labeled with the last four digits of the entrant's student ID (SID) number, the film's title, running time and the original format of the entry (16mm, VHS, URL, thumb drive file. etc.). Also, a brief (one paragraph, typewritten) film description should accompany the submission. The maker's name must not appear on the entry or on the film credits. The Prizes Office, 210 Sproul Hall, will hold film and video entries for pickup until mid-May.

The Eisner Prizes in Poetry and Prose contests are open to all UC Berkeley graduates and undergraduates in any department.

Prose submissions may include novels, plays, or a collection of short stories. Prose submissions should be a substantial body of work with a representative 20–30 pages earmarked. Poetry submissions should be a collection of poems with a minimum of 25 pages to a maximum of 40 pages. Entries must be paginated, stapled and include a table of contents and a title page. This contest may contain submissions that have won in other contests in previous years. However, entries to these contests must consist of a majority of new work not having previously won in any campus contest or simultaneously submitted elsewhere.

Contest deadlines vary. Please check the Prizes and Honors home page for this prize's deadline.

2023–24: Poetry: Andrew David King ($3,000), John James ($1,500) and Noah Warren ($1,500)

Prose: Andrew David King ($1,250) and Maisie Wiltshire-Gordon ($1,250)

2022–23: Poetry: Andrew David King ($3,000), Mary Mussman ($2,000) and Noah Warren ($1,000)

Prose: Landon Kramer ($2,000) and Andy Choi ($2,000)

2021–22: Poetry: Mary Mussman ($3,000), Noah Warren ($1,500) and John James ($1,500)

Prose: No Prizes awarded

2020–21: Poetry: Jennifer Tamayo ($5000)

2019–20: Poetry: Christian Nagler ($5000)

Prose: Elodie Townsend and Sabrina Jaszi ($2,500 each)

2018–19: Poetry: Dylan Cox and Mary Wilson ($5000 each)

Prose: No Prizes Awarded

2017–18: Poetry: Shonushka Sawant ($3000) and Daniel Benjamin ($2000)

Prose: Clair Marie Stancek and Zackary Kiebach ($2,500 each)

2016–17: Poetry: 1st prize: Sahvanna Mazon ($3,000); 2nd prize: Shonushka Sawant ($2,000)

Prose: Zackary Kiebach ($2,000)

2015–16: Poetry: 1st prize: David A. Hernandez ($3,000); 2nd prize: Nathaniel Dolton-Thornton ($2,000)

Prose: Emma Rosenbaum ($2,000)

2014–15: Poetry: Christopher Patrick Miller and Claire Marie Stancek ($2,500 each)

Prose: Andrew David King and Natasha Von Kaenel ($2,500 each)

2013–14: Poetry: Kristopher Kersey, Julia Tianjiao Wang, and David Vandeloo ($2,000 each);

Prose: Andrew David King ($4,000)

2012–13: Poetry: Rebecca Gaydos, Andrew David King, and Ryan Tucker ($2,000 each);

Prose: Kelly Clancy and Rosetta Young ($2,000 each)

2011–12: Poetry: Christopher P. Miller and Yosefa Raz ($3,000 each);

Prose: Brian J. Loo and Leila Mansouri ($2,000 each)

2010–11: Poetry: Rachel Beck, Jane Gregory, S Christopher Miller, and Swati Rana ($2,500 each);

Prose: No award given

2009–10: Poetry: Steven Lance, Gillian Osborne, and Lynn Xu ($2,000 each);

Prose: Nina Estreich and Danica Li ($2,000 each)

2008–09: Poetry: Gillian Osborne and Lijia Xie ($3,000 each);

Prose: 11 entries; Joe Cadora ($4,000)

2007–08: Poetry: Hillary Gravendyk and Chad Vogler ($5,000 each);

Prose: 4 entries; No award given

2006–07: Poetry: Elizabeth Marie Young and Margaret Ronda ($2,500 each);

Prose: Melissa Fall ($5,000)

2005–06: Poetry: Hilary Gravendyk Burrill ($6,000);

Prose: Elaine Castillo and Mark Massoud ($2,000 each)

2004–05: Poetry: Margaret Ronda and Tung-Hui Hu ($2,500 each);

Prose: 1st prize: Neil Colin Satterlund ($3,000); 2nd prize: Katherine Ann Willett ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Dorothy Couchman

2003–04: Poetry: 1st prize: Jennifer Scappetone ($3,000); 2nd prize: Lynn Ziyu Xu ($2,000);

Prose: 1st prize: Elaine Castillo ($2,500); 2nd prize: Ellen Samuels ($2,500)

2002–03: Poetry: Timothy Wood, Julie Carr, and Warren Liu ($2,000 each);

Prose: Elaine Castillo and Frank B. Wildersn III ($2,000 each)

2001–02: Poetry: Jessica Fisher ($3,000) and Anne Walker ($2,000);

Prose: Yekaterina Kosova ($3,000) and Lucia Facone ($2,000)

2000–01: Poetry: 1st prize: Brian Glaser ($3,000); 2nd prize: Jennifer Scappettone ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Ellen Samuels;

Prose: 1st prize: Ann Simon ($3,000); 2nd prize: Yuval Sharon ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Jose Alaniz

1999–00: Poetry: Jessica Fisher, Nadia Nurhussein, and Anne F. Walker ($1,400 each);

Prose: Jose Alaniz and Karen A. Lee ($1,400 each)

1998–99: Poetry: Kim Johnson and Roxana Popescu ($2,333 each);

Prose: Damion Searls ($2,333)

1997–98: Poetry: Ola Metwally, Mathew Struthers, and Karen An-Hwei Lee ($2,333 each);

Prose: Chris Minter ($2,333)

Florence Mason Palmer Prize

The Florence Mason Palmer Memorial Prize is awarded for the best essay of up to 5,000 words dealing with some aspect of international relations.

Open to women undergraduates only.

Established in 1958.

2023–24: Catherine Regan and Sabreen Nuru ($2,500 each)

2022–23: Caitlin Barotz ($3,000)

2020–21: 1st prize: Kaitlyn Lombardo 2nd prize: Jordan Webb ($3,000 each) ; Honorable Mention: Nawal Seedat and Tara Madhav ($1,500 each)

2019–20: 1st prize: Esther Smith ($4000); Honorable Mention: Nicole Mendoza and Tara Madhav ($2000 each)

2018–19: 1st prize: Sarah Sheets ($4000); 2nd prize: Adriana Weiss and Negeen Khandel ($1000 each)

2017–18: 1st prize: Sarah O'Farrell ($1000); 2nd prize: Lily Greenberg Call and Janani Mohan ($600 each)

2016–17: Zijing Song ($750)

2015–16: Shruthi Gopal ($1,000)

2014–15: 1st prize: Simrit Dhillon ($750); 2nd prize: Mikaela Rear and Lucy Song ($500 each)

2013–14: 1st prize: Tali Gires and Melody Alemansour ($750 each); 2nd prize: Rebecca Moon and Carina Tai ($500 each)

2012–13: Naomi Egel ($2,500)

2011–12: 1st prize: Jamie Andreson ($2,500); 2nd prize: Maya Yizhaky ($1,500); 3rd prize: Sara Lee ($1,000)

2010–11: No award given

2009–10: 3rd prize only: Ryan Cohen ($500)

2008–09: 1st prize: Roushani Mansoor, Sarah Weiner, and Lauren Powell ($1,500 each)

2006–07: 1st prize: Hasina Badani ($2,000)

2005–06: 1st prize: Elizabeth Mattiuzzi and Julia Gin ($2,500 each)

2004–05: 1st prize: Nancy Si-Ming Liu ($3,000); 2nd prize: Gabriela Maguire ($2,000)

2003–04: 1st prize: Henluen Wang ($300); 2nd prize: Deepa D. Shah ($200)

2002–03: 1st prize: Kristina Kempkey ($300); 2nd prize: Lily Bradley ($200)

2001–02: 1st prize: Whitney Ward ($500)

1999–00: 1st prize: Aeryn Seto ($2,300)

1998–99: 1st prize: Arianne Chernock ($1,000)

1997–98: 2nd prize only: Kathleen Mikulis ($800)

Ina Coolbrith Memorial Poetry Prize

The Ina Coolbrith Memorial Poetry Prize is awarded for the best unpublished poem or group of poems by an undergraduate student at University of California campuses, University of the Pacific, Mills College, Stanford University, Santa Clara University, and St. Mary’s College.

Each participating school may submit three entries to UC Berkeley to compete in the overall contest. For information regarding the submission instructions for other campuses, read Information for Other Participating Campuses below.

On March 18, 1933, a fund of $1,000 contributed by various donors was offered to the Regents for a poetry prize in memory of Ina Coolbrith, Poet Laureate of the State of California. The Ina Coolbrith Memorial Fund was accepted by the Regents on May 11, 1933.

Please review the General Rules for Competitive Prizes (for Berkeley students).

Ina Donna Coolbrith (1841–1928)

Born Josephine Donna Smith, oldest daughter of Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, in Nauvoo, Illinois, March 10, 1841, she entered California through the Beckwourth Pass in a covered wagon train in 1852. Her first poems were published in the Los Angeles Times in 1854. After a brief and tragic marriage at 17, and the death of her child, she moved in the 1860s to San Francisco, where she worked as a journalist on the Overland Monthly . Later she was librarian of the Mechanics Institute Library and the Bohemian Club library, and was the first librarian of the Oakland Public Library. She lost her San Francisco home and all her possessions in the earthquake and fire of 1906. Through the generosity of the best-known California writers of the day, another home was built on Russian Hill, where she lived until the infirmities of age led her to share the home of her niece in Berkeley in 1923. She died there on February 29, 1928.

Ina Coolbrith received many honors, including Poet Laureate of the State of California. She was the first person asked to write a Commencement Ode for the University of California and the first woman member of San Francisco's Bohemian Club. In 1924, Mills College awarded her an honorary Master of Arts degree; as a young woman she had attended Mills, known at the time as Benicia College for Women. On the day of her funeral the Legislature adjourned in her memory and afterward named a 7,900-foot peak near Beckwourth Pass "Mount Ina Coolbrith."

Ina Coolbrith corresponded with Tennyson, Whittier, Longfellow, and Lowell, and was close friends with Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Gertrude Atherton, Joaquin Miller, Charles Warren Stoddard, and William Keith. Jack London called her his "literary mother." Isadora Duncan recalled in her memoirs "the beauty and fire of the poet's eyes."

At the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 she was appointed President of the Congress of Authors and Journalists. At the Exposition a formal presentation of a laurel wreath was made to her by Dr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of the University of California, and the Board of Regents, with the title "loved, laurel-crowned poet of California."

Some of Ina Coolbrith's most powerful poems were written after her 80th birthday. Her published works include A Perfect Day and Other Poems , Songs from the Golden Gate , and the posthumously published Wings of Sunset .

Each participating campus may submit three entries selected from submissions on their campus. An entry may be a single poem or a group of poems. While the judging to select the overall contest winners rotates from campus to campus, each campus must first forward its entries to UC Berkeley by the contest deadline. The overall contest judge will receive the entries from Berkeley in early February and will be asked to select the contest winners by early March.

The poems need to be typewritten. Include the following information in the upper-right corner of each manuscript:

The last four digits of the student’s campus identification number

The name of the contest

Write entrant information on a separate sheet and include the following:

Local address

Permanent address

Phone number

Email address

Last four digits of student’s campus identification number

Contest name

Title of poem(s)

Since manuscripts cannot be returned and may go astray in the mail, please retain a duplicate.

Winning manuscripts are filed in the University Archives at the Bancroft Library on the UC Berkeley campus.

Entries may be sent to:

Coordinator, Committee on Prizes

Undergraduate Scholarships, Prizes, and Honors

210 Sproul Hall #1964

University of California

Berkeley, CA 94720

[email protected]

(5l0) 642-6888

2021–22: No prize given

2020–21: No prize given

2019–20: 1st prize: Anthony DiCarlo, UC Davis ($600); 2nd prize: Jessica Pham, UCLA ($400); 3rd prize: Rhiannon Wilson, UCLA ($100); Honorable Mention : Jona Peters, Mills College

2018–19: 1st prize: Maia Vicek, Miles College ($1250); Honorable Mentions: Avery Ardent, UC San Diego ($250); Amanda Vong, UC Santa Cruz ($250); Cu Fleshman, UC Irvine ($250)

2017–18: 1st prize: Riley O'Connell, Santa Clara University ($500); 2nd prize: Steffi Pressesky, UC Santa Cruz ($250); 3rd prize Monica Pereles, UC Merced ($250)

2016–17: Serena Balk, UC San Diego; Delphine Candland, UCLA; Kevin Alexander Perez, UC Santa Cruz ($300 each)

2015–16: 1st prize: Nathaniel Dolton-Thornton, UC Berkeley ($500); 2nd prize: Conor MacKenzie Kelly, UC Santa Cruz ($300); 3rd prize: Taelor Ramos, Mills College ($200)

2014–15: 1st prize: Christian Gella, UC San Diego ($1,100); 2nd prize: Katherine Duckworth, Mills College, Antony Fangary, UC Davis, Michelle Felmlee-Gartner, St. Mary's College, and Nilufal Karimi, UC San Diego ($100 each)

2013–14: 1st prize: Claire Bresnahan, Mills College, and Terry Taplin, St. Mary's College ($200 each); 2nd prize: Zoe Goldstein, UCLA, and Olivia Mertz, Mills College ($150 each); 3rd prize: Sabrina Barreto, Santa Clara University, Andrew David King, UC Berkeley, and Desmond Vanderfin, St. Mary's College ($100 each)

2012–13: 1st prize: Jacquelin Balderrama, UC Riverside ($400); 2nd prize: Laura Isabella Sylvan, Santa Clara University ($300); 3rd prize: Sabrina Barreto, Santa Clara University, Molly LaFleur, UC Santa Cruz; and Jacob Minasian, St. Mary's College ($100 each)

2011–12: 1st prize: John Liles, UCSD ($300); 2nd prize: Danni Gorden, UC Berkeley, and Ainsley Kelly, Santa Clara University ($200 each); 3rd prize: Andrew David King, UC Berkeley, Gabriel Malikian, UCLA, April Peletta, UCLA, and Kevin Zambrano, UCSB ($75 each)

2010–11: 1st prize: Nathan McClain, UCLA ($400); 2nd prize: Todd McClintock, UC Davis ($300); 3rd prize: Lynn Wang, UC Irvine and Kazumi Chin, UC Riverside, ($150 each); UC Berkeley winners: Kathryn Hindenlang and Christine Deakers

2009–10: 1st prize: Wesley Holtermann, UCSB ($400); 2nd prize: Katrina Kaplan, UC Berkeley, and Briony Gylgayton, UC Davis ($150) each; 3rd prize: Angela Eun Ji Koh, UCI, Isabelle Avila, UC Merced, and Jared Sandusky-Alford, UC Berkeley, ($100 each)

2008–09: 1st prize: Steven Lance, UC Berkeley ($400); 2nd prize: Esteban Ismael Alvarado, UC Riverside, and Marianna Tekosky, UCLA ($200 each); 3rd prize: Eden Orlando, UCSC, and Kevin Eldridge, UC Riverside, ($100 each)

2007–08: 1st prize: Katie Quarles, UCSC ($300); 2nd R. XiXi Hu, UCLA ($200)

2006–07: Julia Jackson, Mills College ($500)

2005–06: Athena Nilssen, UCLA and Crystal Reed, UCSB ($200 each); Honorable Mention: Renee K. Nelson, UCSC ($100)

2004–05: 1st prize: Jennifer Liou, UCI ($250); 2nd prize: Neil Ferron, Santa Clara University ($150); 3rd prize: Laura Mattingly, UCSC ($100)

2003–04: 1st prize: Jamie Michele Gill, UC Davis, and Laura Wetherington, UC Berkeley ($150 each); 2nd prize: Olivia Friedman, UC Berkeley, and Tina Sohaili, UCI ($100 each)

2002–03: 1st prize: Amaranth Borsuk, UCLA ($300); 2nd prize: Christina Ross, UC Irvine ($200)

2001–02: 1st prize: Kristen Holden, UCSC ($250); 2nd prize: Pepper Luboff, UC Berkeley ($150); 3rd prize: Yasmin Golan, UC Berkeley ($100)

2000–01: 1st prize: Hannah Love, Mills College ($300), 2nd prize: Elsie Rivas, Santa Clara University ($200), Allyson Seal and John Cross, UCLA ($50 each)

1999–00: Francesca Hersh, UCSC, Maggi Michel, UCLA, Aeryn Seto, UC Berkeley, Virginia Whitney Weigand, UC Davis ($100 each)

1998–99: 1st prize: Gareth S. Lee, Santa Clara University, ($250); 2nd prize: Kristen Robertson, Mills College ($150); 3rd prize: Jasmine Donahaye, UC Berkeley ($100)

1997–98: 1st prize: Emma Marxer, Mills College ($150); 2nd prize: E. Tracy Grinnell, Mills College ($100); 3rd prize: Ronald Laran, UC Davis, Lisa Visendi, St. Mary's, and Shannon Welch, UCSC ($50 each); Honorable Mention: Laura-Marie Taylor, UCSB

Lili Fabili and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize

The Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize is awarded for the best essays of 500 words or fewer on a topic chosen by the Committee on Prizes.

The contest is open to students, faculty, and staff of the UC Berkeley campus of the University of California. Prizes awarded to faculty and staff are paid through the Berkeley payroll system and taxes are taken out of the disbursement.

Chat GPT: savior or curse?

In a letter dated April 13, 1970, Eric Hoffer wrote to the Regents of the University of California: "I intend to give to the Berkeley campus of the University of California at least $10,000 in July 1970. The income of the fund shall be devoted to providing an annual prize or prizes for 500-word essays written by students, faculty, or staff at the Berkeley campus of the University. The sole criteria for the prizes shall be originality of thought and excellence in writing. This fund shall be known as the Lili Fabilli and Eric Hoffer Essay Prize." Hoffer felt very strongly that every idea could be expressed in a few words. Hoffer's own remarks follow:

2023–24: Ryan Lackey ($3,000), Annie Foo ($2,000) and Mary Mussman ($1,000)

2022–23: 1st prize: Ryan Lackey ($3,000); 2nd prize: Bryan Jones ($2,000); 3rd prize: Andrew Kiser ($1,000)

2021–22: 1st prize: Ryan Lackey and Mary Mussman ($3000 each); 2nd prize: ($2000)

2020–21: 1st prize: Alex Brostoff ($3000); 2nd prize: Alysu Liu ($2000); 3rd prize: Michael Papias ($1000); 4th prize: Drew Kiser, Landon Iannamico and Roshonda Walker ($500 each)

2019–20: 1st Prize: Rebecca Brunner and Marcelo Garzo ($2000 each); 2nd Prize: Jordan Diac Depasquale and Bryan K Jones ($1000 each); 3rd Prize: Luisa M. Giulianetti, Ryan Lackey, Isaac Engelberg and Laura Marostica ($500 each)

Topic: Confidence Without Attitude

2018–19: 1st prize: Elliott Lewis ($1000 each); Sourabh Harihar, Justin Hudak, Tara Madhav, Max Stevenson, Charlie Tidmarsh ($600 each); 3rd prize: Lily Call, Evan Cui, Rudraveer Vinay Reddy ($200 each)

Topic: The End of Civil Discourse?

2017–18: 1st prize: Katherine Beniger, Alexandra Maloney, JaVonte Morris-Wilson, David Olin, Jack Sadler ($700 each); 2nd prize: Maggie Mead, Ishani Joshi ($300 each); 3rd prize: Evan Bauer, Irina Popescu, Hideyasu Kurose, Rudraveer Reddy ($225 each)

Topic: Is Free Speech Free?

2016–17: 1st prize: Maura Nolan, Evan Bauer, Luis Edward Tenorio, Noah Whiteman ($650 each); 2nd prize: Kristina Chan, Ariana Lightner, Brit Moller, Irina Popescu, Michele Rabkin ($250 each); 3rd prize: Bryan Jones, William McGregor, Carter Keeling ($100 each)

Topic: Advice to the new Chancellor

2015–16: Evan Bauer, Eric Dasmalchi, Natya Dharmosetio, Paige M. Johnson, Mihir Joshi, Pawanjot Kaur, Peiting Carrie Li, William McGregor (staff), Phillip Merlo, and Sharada Narayan ($500)

Topic: A Public University

2014–15: Alexandra Kopel, Bruno Mikanowski, and Carolyn Winter/ Staff ($1,500 each)

Topic: Carillon Ringing

2013–14: Andrew David King and Ramona del Pozo ($1,000 each)

Topic: What I Don't Know

2012–13: 51 entries; Lindsay Bergstrom (staff), Timothy Borjian, Pierre Bourbonnais, Kelly Clancy, Gail Ford (staff), and Leah Romm ($800 each)

Topic: Gravity

2011–12: Kathy Bradley (staff), Joe Homer, Alex Setzepfandt (staff), and Sara Thoi ($1,000 each)

Topic: Persuade Me

2010–11: 1st prize: Shareena Samson (staff) ($1,200); 2nd prize: Patricia Argueza, Jing "Jonathan" Wong, and Alina Xu ($600 each)

Topic: The End of Civility

2009–10: Bryan Jones (staff), Salman Qasim, and Viola Tang ($1,650 each)

Topic: Whose University?

2008–09: Linda Finch-Hicks (staff), Jacob Mikanowski, Kofi Boakye, and Jeremy Suizo ($750 each)

Topic: Rock, Paper, Scissors

2007–08: Joseph Cadora, Jacob Mikanowski, and Xialou Ning ($1,000 each)

Topic: In Defense of Sloth

2006–07: Samuel E. Pittman ($1,500) and Xiaolu Ning ($1,500)

Topic: Whatever You Say, Say Nothing

2005–06: Karen Sullivan, Jacqueline Palhegyi, and Zachary Gordon ($1,000 each)

Topic: Looking Forward to Looking Back

2004–05: Erin Cooper, Lawrence Ruth (staff), and Sandra Wulff (staff) ($1,000 each)

Topic: What I'd Really Like to Do Is...

2003–04: 1st prize: Casey Dominguez ($1,000); 2nd prize: Ken Prola ($750); 3rd prize: Ana Martinez ($500); 4th prize: Sarang Dalal and Michele Rabkin ($375 each)

Topic: What Were They Thinking?

2002–03: 1st prize: Ana Martinez and Michael Rancer (staff) ($750 each); 2nd prize: Julie Rodriguez (staff) and Carol Wood (staff) ($500 each)

Topic: Self-Deception: Benefits and Consequences

2001–02: Eric Walton, Joanne Sandstrom (staff), Joseph Kim, Nellie Haddad (staff) ($750 each); Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Tran, Carol Wood (staff), Lynley Lys, and Karen Lam

Topic: If Only

2000–01: Zack Rogow ($1,000); Ken Chen, Cassandra Dunn, Zachary Gordon, and Pat Soberanis ($800 each)

Topic: Are Books Dead?

1999–00: Casey Knudsen ($1,000); Amanda Cundiff, Eric McGhee, Serban Nacu, and Sissel Waage ($500 each)

Topic: Networks

1998–99: 1st prize: Kathryn Renee Albe, Paul Klein, Joanne Palamountain, Sissel Waage, and Zack Rogow ($500 each)

Topic: Brushstrokes

1997–98: 1st prize: Virginia Matzek ($1,250); 2nd prize: Dominic Ang ($750)

Topic: Where There Is Light . . .

1996–97: Kathy Gether

Topic: Hello 2000

1995–96: 1st prize: Anna Moore (staff) and Maureen Morley (staff) ($1,000 each)

Topic: Fired With Enthusiasm

1994–95: 1st prize: Chris Haight (staff) and Reed Evans ($1,000 each)

Topics: A Moment's Notice and How Beautiful

1993–94: 1st prize: Roberto Landazuri ($1,000); 2nd prize: Ingrid Zommers and Jim Lake (staff) ($500 each)

Topic: What's Next?

1992–93: 1st prize: Steve Tillis, Letitia Carper (staff), David Krogh (staff), and David Schweidel (staff) ($250 each)

Topic: What an Original Idea!

1991–92: 1st prize: Christopher Galvin and Steve Tillis ($700 each); 2nd place: Celia Carlson and William Corley ($300 each)

Topic: What a Century!

1990–91: 1st prize: Michael Ditmore; 2nd prize: Daniel Lee; 3rd prize: Shirley Hodgkinson and Ramah Commanday

Topic: The Sin of Cain

1989–90: 1st prize: Tim Edwards; 2nd prize: Paul Jaminet, David Krogh, and Joanne Sandstrom

Topic: The Thankful/The Thankless

1988–89: 1st prize: Ramah Commanday; 2nd prize: Kathy Newman and George Huang

Topic: Smoldering Embers

1987–88: 1st prize: John Nebrhass, Kathy Newman, Anthony Robinson-While, and William Webber

Topic: Presidential Campaigns

1986–87: 1st prize: John Hatton; 2nd prize: Dave Erickson and Stuart Wald

Topic: Hair Shirts

1985–86: 1st prize: Charlotte Redemann; 2nd prize: Doris Lynch

Topic: Patterns

1984–85: 1st prize: Kirin Narayan; 2nd prize: Benjamin Watson; Honorable Mention: Christie McCarthy (staff), Carol Pitts, and Helen Workman (staff)

Topic: Pets and Animals

1983–84: 1st prize: Debra Cooper; 2nd prize: Donald Green; Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Anderson, Ann Elliott, Christine Feldhorn, Andrew Lunt, Ellen Nakashima, Thomas Simmons, Alan Stephen, and Monica Zorovich

Topic: California

1982–83: 1st prize: Richard Reinhardt; 2nd prize: Susan E. Bailey

Topic: Trees

1981–82: 1st prize: Lizbeth L. Hasse; 2nd prize: Barry Taxman. Essay prizes without a topic awarded to: 1st prize: Professor David Littlejohn; 2nd prize: Matthew M. Neal; Honorable Mention: Joanne Sandstrom and Jeffrey Norris Klink

Topic: Our Most Over-Valued Institution

1980–81: Christopher Rayner and Jennifer L. Walden ($250 each)

Topic: Should California Be Split into Two States?

1979–80: Richard Ogar ($500)

Topic: Should Public Laws Regulate Private Vice?

1978–79: No award given

Topic: Where Should Humankind Go Next?

1977–78: Paul Chernoff ($500)

Topic: In What Additional Field Should a Nobel Prize Be Awarded?

1976–77: S.M. Blair ($500)

Topic: Should There Be Olympic Games in the Future?

1975–76: Jeffrey Lewis Gold ($500)

Topic: What Image or Figure Redefining and Symbolizing the American Dream Can We Offer in 1976?

1974–75: S.M. Blair ($500)

Topic: What Is the Place of Grade Winning in an Education?

1973–74: Ingrid Maidel Krohn ($500)

Topic: How Do We Change Our Attitudes in the Face of Diminishing Natural Resources?

1972–73: John Thomas Gage ($500)

Topic: Is Zero Population Growth an Invasion of Privacy or a Collective Necessity?

1971–72: Leslie Morris Golden ($500)

Topics: F.S.M., People's Park, and Cambodia: Whither the Direction and What Are the Functions of the Contemporary University?

1970–71: Bryan Louis Pfaffenberger ($500)

Topic: The Modern City: Survival or Suicide?

Nicola de Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition

The Nicola De Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition is awarded for the best original completed musical composition.

The prize competition is open to both graduate and undergraduate students of any major. The composition is required to be a piece composed during your matriculation at UC Berkeley. Submit a score and, if possible, a recording of the composition. For music that is not notated (such as fixed media pieces, improvised performances, and so on), submit a recording with a note about the work and why it is not notated. All entries will be judged blind—your name should not appear on recordings or scores.

The Nicola De Lorenzo Prize in Music Composition was established in 1958.

2023–24: Eda Er and Owen Klein ($1,500 each)

2022–23: Alfred Jimenez, Dionysius Nataraja, Owen Klein ($1,000 each)

2021–22: Andrew Harlan, Alfred Jimenez ($2,000 each), Leo W. Yang ($500)

2020 –21: No award given

2019–20: Hwa-Chan Yu, Maija Hynninen, James Stone, Curtis Dahn ($1125)

2018–19: Selim Goncu, James Stone, Clara Olivares, Jeremy Wexler, Maija Hynninen ($1000)

2017–18: Oren Boneh, Selim Goncu, Antonio Juan Marcos Cavazos, Trevor Van de Velde ($1000)

2016–17: 1st Prize: Lily Chen ($1,200); 2nd Prize: Scott Rubin,Selim Gonchu ($800); 3rd Prize: Kayla Cashetta ($700)

2015–16: 1st prize: Antonio Juan-Marcos Cavazos ($1,000); 2nd prize: Ursula Kwong-Brown, Jeremy Wexler, Hwa-Chan Yu, and Zhoushu Herakleitos Ziporyn ($500); 3rd prize: Kayla Cashetta, and Scott Rubin ($250)

2014–15: 1st prize: Amadeus Regucera ($2,500); 2nd prize: Lily Chen ($1,000)

2013–14: 1st prize: Lily Chen ($1,750); 2nd prize: Amadeus Regucera ($1,250); 3rd prize: Andrew V. Ly ($500)

2012–13: 1st prize: Matthew Schumaker ($3,000); 2nd prize: Thatchatham Silsupan ($1,000); 3rd prize: Jose Rafael Valle Gomes da Costa ($500)

2011–12: 1st prize: Javier Jimmy Lopez and Amadeus Regucera ($1,300 each); 2nd prize: Thatchatam Silsupan, Matthew Goodheart, and Sivan Eldar ($800 each)

2010–11: 1st prize: Javier Jimmy Lopez ($1,000); 2nd prize: David Coll, Robin Estrada, Jen Wang, Daniel Cullen ($750 each); 3rd prize: Nils Bultmann, Matt Schumaker ($500 each)

2009–10: 1st prize: Amadeus Regucera ($2,000); 2nd prize: Evelyn Ficarra and Heather Frasch ($1,200 each); 3rd prize: Gabrielle Angeles ($600)

2008–09: 1st prize: Matthew Goodheart ($2,000); 2nd prize Amadeus Regucera, David Coll and Robin Estrada ($1,000 each)

2007–08: 1st prize: Robert Yamasato and Heather Frasch ($2,000 each); 2nd prize: Jimmy Lopez ($1,000)

2006–07: 1st prize: Aaron Einbond, Robert Yamasato, and Mason Bates ($1,666 each)

2005–06: 1st prize: Mason Bates and Aaron Einbond ($2,500 each)

2004–05: 1st prize: Yiorgos Vassilandonakis and Mason Bates ($2,000 each); 2nd prize: Aaron Einbond ($1,000)

2003–04: 1st prize: Fernando Benadon ($750); 2nd prize: Jean Ahn, David Bithell and Brian Kane ($250 each)

2002–03: 1st prize: Reynold Tharp ($750) and Mason Bates ($750)

2001–02: 1st prize: Keeril Makan ($750); 2nd prize: Mason Bates, Brian Kane, and Philipp Blume ($250 each)

1999–00: 1st prize: Brian Current ($700); 2nd prize: Fernando Benadon, Dmitri Tymoczko, and Michael Zbyszyriski ($600 each)

1998–99: 1st prize: Fernando Benadon, Brian Current, Keeril Makan, and Dmitri Tymoczko ($500 each)

1997–98: 1st prize: Eitan Steinberg ($800); 2nd prize: Keeril Makan ($700); 3rd prize: Reynold Tharp ($500)

Anne and Benjamin Goor Prize in Jewish Studies

The Anne and Benjamin Goor Prize in Jewish Studies is awarded annually to two graduate and two undergraduate students for essays on research in any area of Jewish Studies.

Creative works are not eligible. The essays must have been written after the previous year’s submission deadline and must have been written while the authors are registered students in good standing at UC Berkeley. For those years in which one or more prizes are not awarded, the prize money shall be made available for prize augmentation or additional prizes in another year, as recommended by the judges. There may be no more than two winning submissions by a single student.

The Benjamin Goor Prize in Jewish Studies was established in 1977 in memory of Benjamin Goor by his wife, Anne, to support programs and research in Jewish Studies. In 2005, upon the occasion of Anne’s death, the prize was renamed the Anne and Benjamin Goor Prize in Jewish Studies. Anne and Benjamin Goor were an integral part of the Jewish community in Phoenix, during and after World War II. During the war, their home was a kosher Shabbat and Passover haven for servicemen stationed at nearby bases. Anne was active in synagogue activities, B’nai B’rith Women, and Hadassah, serving as chapter president. She received many awards for her contributions to these organizations.

The Goor Prize is administered by Center for Jewish Studies.

2021–22: Juliette Rosenthal, graduate winner and Meghana Kumar, undergraduate winner ($2,000)

2020–21: Oren Yirmiya, graduate winner ($1,500) and Wyatt Grauman, undergraduate winner ($1,500)

2019–20: Chloe Piazza, graduate winner and Walker Laughlin, undergraduate winner ($2,000)

2018–19: Yael Segalovits Eshel and Jennifer Stover-Kemp ($1,500); Gilad Barach, Sarah Goldwasser, and Andrew Kuznetsov ($1,000)

2017–18: Zachary Handler, Alexis Polevoi, Alan Elbaum, Sheer Ganor ($1,500)

2016–17: Balark Mallik, Jennifer Kemp, Danny Luzon, Simone Stirner ($1,000)

2015–16: Danny Luzon and Raphael Magarik, graduate winners ($1,000); Nathan Wexler, undergraduate winner ($1,000)

2014–15: Sheer Ganor and Danny Luzon, graduate winners ($2,000); no undergraduate winners selected

2013–14: Nicholas Baer and Anna Elena Torres, graduate winners ($1,000); Elijah Granet and Lisa Levin, undergraduate winners ($1,000)

2012–13: Noah Greenfied and Eyal Bassan, graduate winners ($1,000); no undergraduate winner selected

2011–12: Shira Wilkof and Celina Piser, graduate winners ($475); no undergraduate winner selected

2010–11: Alex Hendricks and Cameron McKee, undergraduate winners ($475); no graduate winner selected

2009–10: Yosefa Raz, graduate winner ($475); Judah Mirvish, undergraduate winner ($475)

2008–09: Zehavit Stern and Benjamin Wurgaft, graduate winners ($475); no undergraduate winner selected

2006–07: Noam Manor and Maya Barzilai, graduate winners ($475); Stephanie Robin Grossman, undergraduate winner ($475)

2005–06: Amos Bitzan and Samuel Thrope, graduate winners ($475); Rachel Wamsley, undergraduate winner ($475)

2004–05: Naomi Shulman, graduate winner; no undergraduate winner selected

2003–04: Lital Levy, graduate winner ($475); David Singer, undergraduate winner ($475)

2002–03: Benjamin Wurgaft and Lital Levy ($475)

2001–02: Rachel Havrelock, graduate winner ($475); Tara Sage Wilstein, undergraduate winner, ($475)

2000–01: Adriana Valencia, Lital Levy, and Lena Salameh shared $475 prize

1999–00: No award given

1998–99: Adriane B. Leveen and Lital Levy, graduate winners ($475); Jack Draper, undergraduate winner ($475)

1997–98: Gil Hochberg and Shachar Pinsker ($475)

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Student Podcast Challenge

Contest Website
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College Contest Rules
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Podcasting Resources
Students’ Podcast

College student explores rare mental health condition in award-winning podcast

Elissa Nadworny

Janet W. Lee

Professor Emily Sendin of Miami Dade College (L) presents Michael Vargas Arango (R) with the winner certificate from the NPR Podcast Challenge. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption

Professor Emily Sendin of Miami Dade College (L) presents Michael Vargas Arango (R) with the winner certificate from the NPR Podcast Challenge.

It's rare to get a first-person perspective on living with a condition called schizoaffective disorder. But Michael Vargas Arango, who was diagnosed as a teenager, wanted the world to know that it's not something to be afraid of.

"I'm not dangerous. I'm not crazy. And I'm not delusional," he says in his podcast, The Monsters We Create . "I'm just one more guy, with a mental health condition, living with it."

His emotional and deeply personal entry was chosen by our judges, from among 10 finalists . As the grand prize winner of this year's NPR College Podcast Challenge , he'll receive a $5,000 scholarship.

The idea for his podcast came after Vargas Arango told his girlfriend, Elizabeth Pella, about his schizoaffective disorder.

"Of course I had to tell her this is happening to me: I hear voices. I feel presences," says the 22-year-old international student at Miami Dade College in Florida. "This is who I am. I can't lie. I cannot lie."

It was a big deal for him to tell her. He was living in a foreign city, speaking his second language, far from his family back in Colombia, and Pella would be the first person outside of his family he'd told.

Here are our 10 best college podcasts in America

The conversation went well, and Pella was understanding, curious, and loving. But she had one request: Don't tell my friends.

She says she was worried that they would judge him and even judge her. "'Like, why are you dating this guy?' I was scared," she says, "and I wanted to protect him, too."

"I'm gonna show you how it is."

Vargas Arango, 22, is a second-year student at Miami Dade College, studying business and psychology. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption

Vargas Arango, 22, is a second-year student at Miami Dade College, studying business and psychology.

Pella's request didn't sit well with Vargas Arango. "You don't wanna know?" he recalls thinking, "I'm gonna show you how it is."

Now, he didn't just want to tell his girlfriend and her friends. He wanted to show everyone what it was like living in his head.

Using his own voice, interviews and layers of sound design, he crafted the podcast that won NPR's competition.

Vargas Arango's podcast starts with an exchange between himself and the voice in his head: "Why would you tell them I exist? They won't understand."

He responds, "You're giving me a headache. Can you shut up for a second?"

Then, Vargas Arango addresses the listener: "This is how I've been living my whole life. But you're probably wondering: What is this guy talking about? Who is he even talking to? Well, let me explain."

He explores what it's like to live with schizoaffective disorder, a chronic mental health condition where a person experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorders like depression. It's rare – Vargas Arango is among the 3 in 1,000 people who experience it.

"I hear voices but in another language that I just don't understand," he explains. "I sometimes hear my name being called multiple times."

Challenging misconceptions about schizoaffective disorder

Vargas Arango plays with sound effects and echoes in his podcast.

It's not always to illustrate his experience, he says. In some cases, it's a metaphor, where he uses distorted voice recordings as a "way to make fun of the prejudice that people have. Because they think that you're hearing these voices to try to go hurt someone," he says.

"That's not what I hear," he adds. "That's not how it works."

This openness is pretty radical for Vargas Arango. His family back in Colombia didn't really talk about mental health, and, as a kid, his schizoaffective disorder presented itself as "imaginary friends."

Vargas Arango shows his home recording setup in his Miami apartment. Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR hide caption

Vargas Arango shows his home recording setup in his Miami apartment.

"You can probably imagine what the reaction of my Colombian religious mother was," he says in the podcast. "She thought I could see a ghost or something. But no, I can't see ghosts. Sadly."

The diagnosis came when he was a teenager, from visits to psychiatrists and psychologists. That was followed by dark times, which included depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts as he struggled with his own preconceived notions around schizoaffective disorder and mental illness.

"I was one of those people that had this perspective of, 'these people are crazy, these people are dangerous, these people are delusional, you got to be away from them,'" he recalls.

Talking openly about his condition and his treatment – which includes medicine and therapy – and then winning the NPR contest has also helped his family, he says.

After NPR gave Vargas Arango the news, he calls his parents to tell them. Through tears, his mom, Olga Arango, tells him in Spanish that she's crying from joy, from happiness.

"She says she admires me," Vargas Arango translates.

His mom says hearing about his podcast and his success has changed her perception of mental illness: "I know that God gave me a really beautiful person, and everyday I tell him not to change."

Not changing, Michael says, is the biggest lesson he learned in telling his story. He says he's no longer scared to tell people who he really is.

"You need to be honest. You need to embrace who you are and what you're living with. Everyone's going through their own stuff."

Listen to Michael's podcast here .

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

student podcast challenge

IMAGES

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How to Write Winning Scholarship Essays
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COMMENTS

14 Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Thousands 2024
Scholarship Essay Example #5. Questbridge Finalist essay earning $3,000 in application waivers plus $3000 in local scholarships by Jordan Sanchez. Prompt: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
10 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples From Real Students
The Bill Browning Scholarship Essay by Gabby DeMott. Award Amount: $10,000. Essay prompt: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Why it was successful: Gabby DeMott shared her experiences with personal growth and overcoming fears in Germany.
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Why This Scholarship Essay Example Worked: 4. Going Merry Scholarship Success Story by Jesus Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez. Why This Scholarship Essay Example Worked: 5. Why College Is Important to Me by Nicole Kuznetsov. Why This Scholarship Essay Example Worked: 6. Financial Literacy for Hispanic Women by Rosaisha Ozoria.
16 Scholarship Essay Examples to Help You Win Scholarship
This scholarship essay serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering dedication I bring to achieving my goals. By delving into my personal story, passions, and commitment to making a difference, I aim to showcase why I am a deserving candidate for this scholarship.
Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money
1.3 Explore Different Styles to Find Your Voice. 1.4 See What Resonated with the Scholarship Committee. 2 The Scholarship System Winning Scholarship Essay Examples. 2.1 Winner #1: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay. 2.2 Winner #2: Plan beyond college essay. 2.3 Winner #3: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay.
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Scholarship essay examples about financial need, and more! We've included scholarship essay examples specific to schools, including UC Berkeley, as well as specific programs, like the SHPE scholarship. We'll also discuss the different types of scholarships you'll find on your scholarship search. Now, before we jump into our essay examples ...
How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)
The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading. Engage the reader by appealing to the senses. Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you. Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning.
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Enter to win $2,000 for college. A new winner is drawn each month. NO essay! Takes less than 2 minutes to enter. Enter $2,000 scholarship*. *No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2024.
Scholarship Essay Examples
To view scholarship winners' essays for a particular award, scroll down to the bottom of the page. As a platform dedicated to helping students find and apply for scholarships, Bold.org has created a list of tips for writing winning essays with outstanding scholarship essay examples from past winners.
How To Write A Winning Scholarship Essay (with example)
Take your time. For most people, it's not possible to write a stellar essay ten minutes before the application deadline. We recommend giving yourself a few hours to write the first draft of your scholarship essay. Ask a friend to read it over or just take some time away, then take another hour to proofread your essay, ideally the next day.
Top 64 Writing & Essay Scholarships in May 2024
Austin Peay State University Creative Writing Scholarships. The scholarships are open to undergraduate and incoming APSU students who email a 10-20 page manuscript of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction, to Lakota Withrow at [email protected]. Awards are for $600 or $1,200. The deadline to apply is March 18th.
How to win scholarships
Check out these winning scholarship essay examples. Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez. Won $40,000. "I honestly had. an amazing experience with Going Merry." WATCH VIDEO. SEE PROFILE & ESSAY. Nana Aba Turkson. Won $20,000.
How To Write A Winning Scholarship Essay
8 Tips to Write a Scholarship Essay. 1. Start Early. The sooner you start exploring scholarship opportunities, the more time you'll have to get organized. It's a common myth that you have to ...
How to Write a Scholarship Essay
Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count, and demonstrates the organization's values. If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships.
Winning Scholarship Essay Tips: Part I
2. Apply to 1-2 scholarships per week. At Fastweb, we have a saying: the more scholarships you apply to, the greater your chances of actually winning. With that, students should treat applying to scholarships like a part-time job. Put in a few hours a week to complete one or two scholarships applications. 3.
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Essay scholarships can give students a chance to sway the scholarship committee, even if they don't have the most impressive GPA or standardized test scores. ... Scholarship winners will also receive support from a Major League Baseball umpire and their family. How long are essay scholarships? Word requirements vary wildly depending on the ...
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Mensa Foundation Scholarship winners. The Mensa Education & Research Foundation and Mensa members are proud of their history of providing scholarships to selected essay winners. Use the selection boxes to view winners by year and category:
Scholarship Winners
Scholarship Winners. In 2023 alone, Niche offered more than $285,000 in scholarships. Search Niche Scholarships. Kaylee Scott. $1,000 January College Survey Scholarship. ... $2,000 December No Essay Scholarship. January 2024. Here's what Mika had to say: I am Majoring in Film and Business, and I plan on using this to help with tuition costs!
Winners
Our Scholarship Winners. Unigo offers Our Scholarships to help students of all ages pay for college. Since 2007, we've awarded over $765,000 in scholarships to students ages 13 and up throughout the United States. With our creative short essay questions and a different scholarship every month, applying for scholarships has never been more fun ...
IWSH Scholarship Essay Contest
This competition is open to high school seniors and full-time students at accredited technical schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, and apprenticeship programs. Applicants must submit an essay, of 800 to 1,600 words on a topic that changes annually but relates to the IWSH and/or the plumbing industry.
2024 Essay Scholarship Competition Winners Announced!
We have officially announced the winners of our seventh annual essay scholarship competition. To see the winners and read their essay submissions, click here. Share on: Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Linkedin Logo Email Icon
Labels Essay Scholarship by Sttark
A $4,000 Essay Scholarship for students who think outside of the box. Sttark is excited to award a $4,000 scholarship to a U.S. high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who can show us how products can be labeled but people can't. We understand the harm in mislabeling and believe the best ideas begin with a fresh slate ...
California, Texas students earn top prize in national civics education
The contest attracted 800 students from 48 states and the District of Columbia. Essays were scored based on the student's understanding of the topic, creativity, grammar, spelling, and style. The nine winners will receive cash totaling $3,450. The 2024 winners include: High school (grades 9-12) First place - Daniella Cuevas, California
Competitive Prize Contests 2024
To be eligible for the Lipson Essay Prize, students need to be eligible freshmen or sophomores and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average (GPA). Students from any field of study are welcome to apply. Essays will be reviewed by the Lipson Committee, and the committee may award prizes for all Scholarship Winners. Deadline
UAlbany Showcase 2024
The Writing & Critical Inquiry (WCI) Program holds a writing contest for current WCI students each semester to encourage independent thinking, collective reflection and meaningful engagement.. The program announced the writing contest winners for the academic year on Showcase Day. Fall 2023. Personal Inquiry Essay. Winner: Laurens Dunham, "Insert Fitting Title Here"
Scholarship Winners
Winner of the $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship. June 2023 "Earning this $10,000 scholarship will help fund my college goals... This award serves as a stepping stone towards achieving my dreams." Danielle Emretane. Winner of the $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship. June 2023. Anike Heller
Six Eskenazi students win FSF Scholarships: 2024: News: Eskenazi School
Graduating Merchandising student Tayler Gomez was the Eskenazi School's sixth 2024 FSF scholarship laureate, earning $7,500. For the 2024 competition, the FSF received 521 case study submissions from 60 FSF Member schools. 130 applicants from 49 schools were awarded FSF Scholarships, including 30 Virgil Abloh "Post-Modern" Scholarships.
2024 Student Essay Contest Winners
NISOD is proud to announce the winners of the 2021 Student Essay Contest! Each student author wrote about a faculty member, staff member, or administrator who encouraged him or her to complete a course, finish a semester, or graduate from college, and described how that encouragement helped him or her reach that goal.
A deeply personal narrative wins NPR's College Podcast Challenge : NPR
As the grand prize winner of this year's NPR College Podcast Challenge, he'll receive a $5,000 scholarship. The idea for his podcast came after Vargas Arango told his girlfriend, Elizabeth Pella ...
SRMC awards 2024 family scholarships
Each of these high school seniors received a $4,000 scholarship. The winning applications were selected based on an essay submission, grade point average and leadership and scholarship achievement.

10 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples From Real Students

Tips for Writing a Scholarship Essay

Carefully read the rules

Start early

Get to know the provider

Be professional

One last tip

Scholarship Essay Examples

North Coast Section Foundation Scholarship Essay by Christine Fung

The Bill Browning Scholarship Essay by Gabby DeMott

Life Happens Scholarship Essay by Emily Trader

Change a Life Foundation Scholarship Essay by Isabella Mendez-Figueroa

Giva Scholarship Essay by Joseph Lee

New York University College of Arts and Science Scholarship by Ana

The Fund for Education Abroad Rainbow Scholarship Essay by Steven Fisher

Women’s World Banking Founder’s Scholarship Essay by Rosaisha Ozoria

The Millennium Gates Last Dollar Scholarship Essay by Famyrah Lafortune

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Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Money

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Learn About Different Essay Prompts

Understand What’s Considered Unique and Compelling

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The Scholarship System Winning Scholarship Essay Examples

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Winner #2: Plan beyond college essay

Winner #3: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay

Winner #4: Plan beyond college essay

Winner #5: Special Attribute or Accomplishment Essay

Winner #6: Plan beyond college essay

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Scholarship Essay Examples

In this guide to Scholarship Essay Examples, you’ll find tips on how to write the best scholarship essay, as well as:

What is a scholarship essay?

Types of Scholarships

Here are a few different scholarship types you may come across in your scholarship search:

Merit-Based Scholarships

There are many merit-based scholarships available to help students afford college, including:

Finding scholarships

How do you write a scholarship essay?

Organization

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

How do you promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM on your campus or in your community? (300 words Max)

SHPE Scholarship essay example #1

Essay Example:

More scholarship essay examples

Scholarship Essay Sample about “Why I deserve the scholarship”

How will a ScholarSHPE impact your life and education? (200 Words)

UC Berkeley Scholarships essay examples

UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples

What do you do to serve your community? Why do you do the service that you do? What impact have you made? What challenges or insights have your service contributions given you? (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Describe your volunteer or community experience with SHPE or other organizations and any internships you have held. (250 Words)

Reflecting on scholarship essay format

Three scholarship essay writing tips:

Three essential elements to include in your essay:

Storytelling in your essay

Creating your scholarship essay format

Editing and proofreading your essay

Tips for scholarship essays

Tips for writing stand-out scholarship essays

2. Tell a story