Higher education should be accessible to everyone—regardless of religious background, family beliefs, or personal circumstances.

Within the Jehovah’s Witness faith, pursuing college or advanced education has traditionally been discouraged. For decades, members were advised to focus on religious work instead of academic or career goals, leading many to forgo opportunities for higher learning. Although the organization has recently softened its stance on higher education, this change stands in stark contrast to the long-standing culture that once strongly dissuaded members from pursuing college degrees. As a result, many former Witnesses still face the lingering effects of those earlier teachings—such as limited access to well-paying jobs that require degrees or certifications, minimal family support, and little guidance in navigating the road to higher education.

This scholarship seeks to support those who are choosing a new path forward in this world. It is dedicated to helping students who have left the Jehovah’s Witness faith and are now pursuing higher education as they build lives aligned with their own values and dreams.

Any high school senior, undergraduate, graduate student, or returning student may apply if they are a first-generation college student and formerly a Jehovah’s Witness. If you re not a former Jehovah’s Witness, DO NOT APPLY. Only former Jehovah’s Witnesses will be considered.

To apply, please write a short essay sharing your big and small goals for the future and how you plan to achieve them.

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Anonymous

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New Light: Illuminating Your Future Scholarship

Deadline: Jun 30, 2026