For DonorsFor Applicants

Holden William Bettis Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
$1,000
1 winner$1,000
Awarded
Application Deadline
Apr 10, 2024
Winners Announced
May 10, 2024
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior, undergraduate, or trade school student
State:
Alaska
Age:
25 or younger

Holden William Bettis was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, and uncle who left his family too early.

Holden was selfless and always paid it forward, striving to help others in any way he possibly could. Holden was a passionate patriot and would have liked for his legacy to continue by helping other students in his state succeed and give back.

This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Holden William Bettis by supporting students in Alaska who are pursuing their dreams of a vocational or college education.

Any high school senior, undergraduate, or trade school resident of Alaska who is no older than 25 may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about yourself, why you chose your career path, and how you will use your career to help others.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published August 16, 2023
Essay Topic

Please tell us about yourself and your choice of career path. Why are you passionate about your choice? How will you continue to pay it forward and help others through your career?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Serenity Stamm
University of Alaska FairbanksKenai, AK
My name is Serenity Stamm. I was born in Palmer, Alaska, and currently live in Kenai, Alaska. Throughout my elementary school years, I was bullied mercilessly. Most of it was because I smelled bad, wore dirty clothes, and my hair was matted because it was never washed or brushed. I come from a very low-income household and now I am a single-person household as my parents have both abandoned me. I've had 4 jobs and am currently working at a grocery store as a produce clerk. Recently, I was accepted into college as a Pre-undeclared intended bachelor's student because my GPA isn't high enough to go straight into elementary education. My freshman year of high school was rough. Both of my grandpas had died, my friend died in an ATV crash, and both of my dogs were shot and killed. All of that on top of the pandemic made me lose almost all motivation to do anything. I would sit in my room in the dark on my phone for hours every day and talk to nobody. I told myself that there was no point in life if it was going to be this cruel. Then, in my sophomore year of high school, when everything started to get better, I had a sudden burst of motivation. I told myself I wasn't going to let myself fail the same way my parents did. Neither of my parents has a job and haven’t had a job for as long as I can remember. I want to make something of myself and give myself a chance at a better future. My grades still weren't as good as I was trying to pick up the slack on top of doing 4 credit recovery classes from the year before, but they were improving immensely. It was all thanks to my teachers and the way they treated me and motivated me to be the best version of myself. The one thing that has kept me going throughout my life is my teachers and the way they treated me like everyone else despite the obvious differences. They always knew I had potential and never doubted me even when I was failing. I believe that GPAs should not reflect the way we view people's intelligence. I know that I have the drive to make my dreams a reality. I want to change the lives of kids the same way my teachers changed mine.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 10, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 10, 2024.

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