Vernardo Book Scholarship
Education is one of the most impactful opportunities a student can have, offering the ability to transform one’s life.
However, the rising costs of college tuition and associated costs have made it difficult for students to enroll and complete their degrees, especially those from low-income backgrounds. The cost of textbooks alone can derail a student’s financial plan, not to mention the significant costs of housing, tuition, and supplies.
This scholarship seeks to support students who need financial assistance in order to rise above the barriers they face and thrive in higher education.
Any BIPOC high school senior in the Chicago Public School system who will be a first-generation college student at a four-year university may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they are from the South Side and if they are Pell Grant eligible due to financial status.
To apply, tell us why you want to attend college and what obstacles you have overcome in pursuit of this goal. You must have a picture on your profile to be eligible.
Why do you want to attend college, and what obstacles have you overcome to achieve this goal?
Explore All Kinds of Scholarships for All Kinds of Students
FAQ
The application deadline is Jun 2, 2026. Winners will be announced on Jul 2, 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 Jul 2, 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.