Forge2Gether Bridging Cultural Differences Scholarship
There is so much division in modern society, and the art of meaningfully engaging in the face of differences is being lost with the rise of artificial intelligence. Forge2gether is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission of strengthening the world and its social fabric by learning how to truly connect with others and bridge divides.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the workforce and the world, but a machine cannot feel, reach across differences, or bridge between cultural divides. There is a beautiful advantage to being human, but real connection still requires intention and effort.
This scholarship seeks to inspire students and equip them with the interpersonal skills they need to bridge the gap of differences and talk with those they disagree with.
Any high school student who is interested in human connection and meaningful engagement may apply for this scholarship opportunity.
To apply, engage in a conversation with someone who holds different beliefs or comes from a different background than you in-person or on Zoom, and explain how this discussion impacted you. Additionally, upload a photo or a selfie of you and the person you interviewed.
1. Seek out a meaningful conversation with someone whose background, culture, generation, beliefs, or point of view is very different from your own. In your essay, explore what surprised you, what assumptions were challenged, and how your thinking shifted, deepened, or stayed the same. What did you come to understand about how people’s cultural backgrounds and experiences shape the way they see the world?
Before you apply, we strongly recommend completing our free 20-minute "Cross Cultural Toolkit" designed specifically for this scholarship: https://forms.gle/EAtezKuut248SAuCA
The Toolkit walks you through how to have a meaningful conversation, how to ask better questions, and how to handle disagreement without shutting down. The strongest essays will usually come from students who have completed the toolkit and used these skills in order to process, question, and integrate a new perspective.
2. Type out the following: "I certify that I personally conducted the live interview described in my essay, and I confirm that the submitted photograph is an authentic, unedited image of me and the actual person I interviewed. I have read and agree to the Official Contest Rules. I certify this essay is my original, unpublished work, and it was not generated using Artificial Intelligence."
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FAQ
The application deadline is Sep 9, 2026. Winners will be announced on Oct 8, 2026.
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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 Oct 8, 2026. 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.
