Henry and Cornelia Ritter Memorial Scholarship
Henry and Cornelia Ritter lived out the values of hard work, humility, and servant leadership raising their family while also helping others in their community.
Henry was a carpenter and his many descendants have pursued careers in various trades. The trades are a powerful pathway to economic independence, generational progress, and local impact. Not only do the trades allow individuals to earn a steady income and find career fulfillment, but they also allow them to serve, lead, and uplift their communities.
This scholarship seeks to help make education available to low-income students who wish to pursue a trades career and also serve their communities.
Any recently graduated or graduating high school senior from a low-income family who wants to enroll in an accredited vocational or trade school program may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have at least a 2.0 GPA and community service or volunteering experience. Applicants should also demonstrate leadership potential, empathy, involvement in family caregiving, part-time work, or other responsibilities that reflect character.
To apply, submit an essay or video telling us about your career goals, your inspiration for pursuing this field, and how you hope to give back. While an essay is acceptable, video responses are strongly encouraged. Please also submit a letter of recommendation from someone involved in the volunteering/community service activity you have participated in, such as a nonprofit employee, community service organizer, or community member.
What are your career goals within the trades, what inspired you to pursue this path, and how do you hope to give back to others in the future?
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FAQ
The application deadline is Aug 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on Sep 15, 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 Sep 15, 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.