Jerome L. James “Rise” Creative Writing Scholarship
Creative writing is one of the most beautiful art forms in the world, responsible for stories that have stood the test of time and been passed down through centuries.
From short stories to novels to essays and beyond, writing is a unique form of expression that allows artists to explore their vulnerabilities, share imaginative ideas, and convey their emotions. Creative writing touches nearly every person through its significant impact on society.
This scholarship seeks to honor the life and legacy of Jerome L. James by supporting students looking to develop, expand, and unfold their creative expression through writing.
Any African American, male high school senior who has at least a 3.2 GPA may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they are pursuing a major in Creative Writing, English, Literary Arts, Language Arts, or Humanities.
To apply, tell us why creative writing and expression is vital to you, how writing has impacted your life, and how you see writing as a path to creating meaningful change and uplifting others.
Why are creative writing and expression vital to you?
How has writing impacted your life, and how do you see writing as a path to creating meaningful change and uplifting others?
Explore All Kinds of Scholarships for All Kinds of Students
FAQ
The application deadline is Jul 14, 2026. Winners will be announced on Aug 15, 2026.
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.
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 15, 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.
