Edward Zapatka, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Edward Zapatka, Jr. was a beloved friend who grew up in a foster home and sadly passed away in 2021. He attended a small college in Ohio, was a singer and acted in many plays there. He was also the Homecoming King in his senior year and was beloved by the entire student body.
Foster kids often face many challenges in life, with childhood traumas and a lack of a support system having long-term effects even in adulthood. Many children age out of foster care after high school, which can lead to them having a hard time financially and emotionally. With no encouragement or assistance, it can be difficult to pursue higher education and build the skills and qualifications necessary to create a better future.
This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Edward Zapatka, Jr. by encouraging students with foster experience to go after their goals.
Any high school senior or undergraduate student who has a background in foster care may apply for this scholarship opportunity.
To apply, tell us a personal story from your time in foster care, whether this story is happy, funny, sad, or otherwise!
Tell us a personal story from your time in foster care. This story can be funny, happy, sad, unique, etc. It's up to you!
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FAQ
The application deadline is Jul 18, 2025. Winners will be announced on Aug 18, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Aug 18, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.