“I Matter” Scholarship

Funded by
The O’Neal Family
$2,160
2 winners, $1,080 each
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 8, 2024
Winners Announced
May 8, 2024
Education Level
High School
4
Contributions
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school student
Background:
Low-income and/or BIPOC
Education Level:
Background:
High school student
Low-income and/or BIPOC

Every student should have the opportunity to pursue higher education and the opportunities it unlocks. 

Unfortunately, many underserved students don’t receive the assistance they need to pursue higher learning, making it difficult or impossible for them to achieve their goals for the future. As college costs continue to rise, minority students and those from low-income families must be provided with the resources and funding they need to access higher education.

This scholarship seeks to support minority students and students with financial need so they can afford to pursue higher education.

Any low-income and/or BIPOC high school student may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

To apply, please write a short summary OR submit a video describing a time when you helped someone in need.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published January 7, 2024
$2,160
2 winners, $1,080 each
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 8, 2024
Winners Announced
May 8, 2024
Education Level
High School
4
Contributions
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

In 400-600 words, tell us about a time when you helped someone in need.

0–600 words

Winning Application

KENDALL ROWE
Hampton UniversityBowie, MD
Marina Hernandez
Rice High SchoolGarwood, TX
Growing up, I was always taught to help and be there for others. My parents were great examples in showing me that helping out was not only for the sake of other people but that it was also very rewarding for yourself. Just knowing you can better someone's life, even in a small way, is something that can have you feeling so fufilled. There were many times when I would see both of them go out of their way to assist others and they never expected anything in return. It inspired me to want to be just like them. My mom would tell me how it was always a wonderful feeling to be able to use what you have to help other people. When she said that, it stayed with me and made me wonder how I could do the same. I remember one year in school there was a classmate of mine who was having difficulty with their math work. I didn't live too far from them, so we decided to set up a time and day for me to help them work on it. Math is something a lot of people have trouble with, so I made sure to let them know that it was okay to ask for help and that I would do my best to help them understand the lesson. Once we began, I made sure to keep away all distractions, like electronics, so that way I could have 100% focus. I did my best to slowly explain the lesson and made sure to pause if they had any questions. After the first lesson was finished, I felt good about helping a classmate to be able to feel confident about their work. Once the grade came back on the paper, I was so ecstatic to find that they'd passed! We scheduled another study time and continued doing that anytime they felt they needed some extra clarity or assistance on an assignment. I'm so glad that I had an opportunity to help someone else. Being able to help someone is an amazing feeling. Not only is it rewarding, but you set a good example to others also. A few years later I saw that same classmate excelling at math and helping others with their assignments. They were in all of the honor classes and were even taking some college courses. It was truly an incredible experience.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 8, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 8, 2024.