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Bold Joy Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Bold.org
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
May 16, 2022
Winners Announced
Jun 16, 2022
Education Level
Any
Share

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort,” -Franklin D. Roosevelt.

It’s no secret that joy and happiness can be difficult to maintain at times. The stress and difficulty of daily life can make it easy to focus on the negatives. Changing your mindset and seeking out joy whenever possible can make all the difference.

This scholarship seeks to encourage students to find joy in their lives and appreciate the little things. 

Any high school, undergraduate, or graduate student may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

To apply, tell us what joy means to you and how you try to find joy in your life.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Essay Scholarships
Published February 15, 2022
$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
May 16, 2022
Winners Announced
Jun 16, 2022
Education Level
Any
Share
Essay Topic

Tell us about what joy means to you and how you seek out joy in your life.

150–300 words

Winners and Finalists

June 2022

Winners
Collin Fletcher
New York University
San Ramon, CA
Finalists
Khouri Evans
Mission Bay High
San Diego, CA
Gene Davenport
Regina Caeli Academy
Fort Worth, TX
Kevyn Arce
Hialeah Gardens Senior High School
Hialeah Gardens, FL
faith nail
The University of Alabama
Chilton County, AL
Destinee Harris
John Carroll University
Berea, OH
Derek Dodson
Klein High School
Spring, TX
Toby Smith
Rochester Institute of Technology
Tonawanda, NY

February 2022

Winners
Ayodele Aina
Texas A&M University- College Station
Atascocita, TX
Finalists
Veronica Fish
Mira Costa High
Hermosa Beach, CA
Emily Smith
Wake Technical Community College
Wilsons Mills, NC
Meghan Hamilton
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
Solsberry, IN
Brian Miranda Carrillo
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Chelsea, MA
Carolyn Huff
El Dorado Springs High
Clinton, MO

Winning Application

Collin Fletcher
New York UniversitySan Ramon, CA
As a person on the autism spectrum, I’ve always experienced emotions a little differently. As a kid, I was never quite sure how to tell how I was feeling. I understood the textbook definition of most emotions (happy feels good, sad makes you feel like crying), but identifying them in real life was more difficult. I had one emotion that felt like standing on my tippy toes and looking straight down with my arms extended at my sides and all of my fingers outstretched. I now know that that is how I experience the feeling of joy. In my daily life, I feel as though I have an invisible compass inside guiding me toward the “right” thing: whatever will bring me the most joy during or after completing it. That doesn’t mean I’ll always choose fun over work; I make an effort to manage my time efficiently. But it does mean that I’ll be able to pick out which of my to-do list tasks should come first, middle, and last, according to how I’ll feel after completing them. So even if I’m working on something seemingly boring, I know I’m going to get joy out of doing it a particular way. When I don’t have chores or work tasks to get done, I often find joy just by sitting on the landing of the staircase in my house. I like to watch the peaceful stillness that happens in the empty room below. The light dances on the rug, and sneaky little particles of dust pirouette through the air, illuminated by sunbeams. Sure, doing bigger things like playing a game or going to the movies can be fun. But more often than not, I find more joy in the smallest and quietest of moments. I can always find joy in peace.
Ayodele Aina
Texas A&M University- College StationAtascocita, TX
I have a unique relationship with this word as it is the meaning of my name. My first name, Ayodele, which originates from the Yoruba people of Southern Nigeria, translates into English from the Yoruba language as meaning "joy has come home." Because of this aspect of myself, I have always had a calling to live up to the meaning of my name and spread positivity in my life as best as I can to everyone I interact with. Indeed, I do think that positivity has a lot to do with joy and being in a joyous state of mind. Joy for me is much deeper than the traditional stereotype just a feeling of elation or excitement. For me, it means engaging with people and concepts that help bring out something you are passionate about, something you enjoy doing, something that does not feel like work. In this regard, the ways I bring joy to my life can be found in a multitude of avenues, primarily in engineering, which helps bring out my passion for innovation, a process which I have had an affinity for since I was just a young boy. Career-wise, this passion is one that brings me joy as I feel like I am (or will be) making a difference with any of my innovations. For example, I will use this to propel my post-college career forward and then be able to serve as an example for my younger peers in my hometown, particularly African-Americans whose goals are to work in my field of study. This important aspect of my life and my character is what will truly make me live up to the meaning of my name, as once I gain the ability to change lives for the better, then joy will truly be coming home.

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 May 16, 2022. Winners will be announced on Jun 16, 2022.

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 Jun 16, 2022. 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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