Norton "Adapt and Overcome" Scholarship
Braiden Norton is a beloved son who grew up in an intense hospital environment due to significant medical conditions.
As if being diagnosed with a brainstem tumor at the age of 1, subsequently undergoing 3 brain surgeries as well as many intense treatments wasn’t enough, Braiden was also diagnosed with a very rare condition that causes spontaneous paralyzation several years later. He lives and deals with this condition now on a daily basis, yet does his best not to let it determine his path in life. He is now nineteen years old and is a Freshman Cadet at Massachusetts Maritime Academy despite the challenges he faces.
While completing dozens of scholarship applications, Braiden and his father realized that the majority of funding opportunities were focused on grades, extracurricular activities, and community service. These factors are all understandable. However, for students like Braiden, simply showing up to school can be a daily challenge that is itself deserving of recognition. “Adapt and Overcome,” was a phrase taught to his father upon entering the US. Navy that would become a crucial motivator for the duo as Braiden fought to manage his conditions in order to remain in school.
This scholarship seeks to honor the positive attitude and perseverance of Braiden by helping students who have faced similar challenges stay committed to their schooling.
Any high school student who resides on the South Coast of Massachusetts may apply for this scholarship if they’ve faced circumstances that make it difficult to show up to school with a sense of an “Adapt and Overcome” mentality.
To apply, tell us about the obstacles you have faced that make it difficult to pursue your education and what you focus on in order to push through these challenges.
What circumstances have made simply "showing up" to school a challenge for you? What did you have to focus on in order to adapt and overcome these circumstances?
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FAQ
The application deadline is Jun 27, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jul 27, 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 Jul 27, 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.