Kara Lea Hillier Scholarship Award
Kara Lea Hillier was a 1989 graduate of Gates-Chili High School in Rochester, New York.
Kara was about to embark on her dream of becoming a teacher when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Sadly, she never got to see through her teaching ambition or the others that awaited her in life as she eventually lost her battle, but not without demonstrating grace in her struggle.
This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Kara Lea Hillier by supporting students from her alma mater as they prepare to pursue higher education.
Any high school senior at Gates-Chili High School may apply for this scholarship opportunity, but students interested in education are preferred. Applicants must also exhibit the grace Kara embodied in a struggle either medically, financially, or emotionally or they must have provided assistance to someone who has endured such struggles.
To apply, provide your responses to the questions posed in the essay prompt below.
1.) Please describe yourself, feeling free to elaborate on any of the hobbies, extracurricular activities, or community service activities listed on your profile.
2.) Why are you passionate about the field you have chosen to pursue, and how do you plan to inspire others through your career?
Optional:
3.) If you or a loved one has experienced a medical struggle/diagnosis, feel free to share how you coped or how you assisted a friend or family member through the struggle.
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FAQ
The application deadline is Apr 13, 2026. Winners will be announced on Apr 30, 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 Apr 30, 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.