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NYT Connections Fan Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Bold.org
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jul 1, 2025
Winners Announced
Jul 31, 2025
Education Level
Any
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The New York Times' "Connections" puzzles have become a beloved pastime for many, challenging players to think critically and make unique connections between seemingly unrelated words. The satisfaction of uncovering these connections has made the game a favorite among puzzle enthusiasts.

In celebration of this engaging and thought-provoking game, we are thrilled to introduce the "Connections Fan Scholarship." This scholarship is designed for fans of The New York Times' "Connections" puzzles who have a passion for problem-solving and creativity.

This $500 scholarship is open to any student at any education level with any GPA. The only requirement? You must enjoy creating and solving puzzles!

To apply, create your own "Connections" puzzle inspired by The New York Times. Divide a 4x4 grid of sixteen words into four groups of four, each belonging to a specific category. Name each category and explain your reasoning behind the groupings. Be creative and thoughtful in your puzzle design, showcasing your love for this unique game.

We are excited to see the inventive puzzles from "Connections" fans and celebrate the creativity that the game inspires. Apply now and share your unique puzzle with us!

Note: This scholarship is an independent scholarship created by Bold.org and is not endorsed by or affiliated with The New York Times or any associated entities.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Essay Scholarships$500 Scholarships
Published July 24, 2024
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jul 1, 2025
Winners Announced
Jul 31, 2025
Education Level
Any
Share
Essay Topic

Create your own Connections puzzle inspired by The New York Times! Divide a 4x4 grid of sixteen words into four groups of four, each belonging to a specific category. Name each category and explain your reasoning behind the groupings.

200–600 words

Winners and Finalists

July 2025

Winners
Anna Deaton
University of Georgia
Winder, GA
Finalists
Arielle George
Valencia College
Kissimmee, FL
Sade Williams
Rochester Institute of Technology
Newark, DE
Greta Jambard
East Granby High School
East Granby, CT
Nettie Rattray
George Washington University
East Hampton, NY

Winning Application

Anna Deaton
University of GeorgiaWinder, GA
Jonah Luke John Elijah Black Silver Lock Gold Elena Lexi Tyler Mason Andre Vader Jericho Diamond Category 1; Bible Characters Category 2; Wrestling Names Category 3; Words followed by “smith” Category 4; Vampire Diaries Characters I chose these particular categories as they each highlight an area of my life in which I am passionate. Category one, Bible Characters, is representative of my faith, and the importance that it holds within my life. I am a firm believer that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and thus knowing the story of God is very important to me. Next, category two being words followed by “smith” reflects my hunger for knowledge. The history of the name Smith in the United States is often tied back to these much older trades, and this history, as well as many other facets of academia, are incredibly intriguing to me. Lastly, category three being Vampire Diaries Characters and category four being Wrestling names are both reflective of the importance of family in my life. This is because my father grew up watching and enjoying wrestling, and is quite knowledgeable about the subject, while me and my mother both love The Vampire Diaries, and often frequent Covington, GA in order to observe the places where the show was filmed. Further, each of these categories was selected for its ability to blend seamlessly in one or more words with the other present categories. It was my hope in creating this puzzle that a certain air of difficulty would be found, and false groupings would run rampant throughout the puzzle, encouraging solid thorough thought and a sense of accomplishment in completing the puzzle. Some false groupings which I would imagine might appear include the following: - Luke, Vader, Black, Silver - Jonah, Luke, John, Jericho - Diamond, Gold, Silver, Black - Andre, Tyler, Mason, Jonah These red herrings and false groups only continue to increase when one considers the number of partial groups which can be found within the puzzle that make complete and total sense. I hope that my puzzle creation has conveyed my sense of intrigue and wonder when it comes to the world of puzzles and knowledge, and that my categories help reflect my values as a person.

Explore All Kinds of Scholarships for All Kinds of Students

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FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jul 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jul 31, 2025.

How will scholarship application information be used?

Your privacy is a top priority on the Bold.org platform, and you can find our privacy policy in full here. You may opt out of communications from Bold.org at any time, and unless we’ve first notified you and gotten your consent, you’ll never receive communication from any third parties related to personal information you give us.

What is the scholarship award?

Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.

When will the scholarship winner be chosen? How will they be notified?

The winner will be publicly announced on Jul 31, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.

How will the scholarship award be paid?

Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.

How will my scholarship application be verified?

Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.

How should I get in touch with questions?

If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.

Does the scholarship have terms and conditions?

Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.

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