We are a mere 10 days away from the deadline for our Build A Better Future Scholarship applications! We are eager to read submissions, and have enjoyed reading those that have come in already. As we get closer to the submission deadline, I’ve been sharing some application tips and reminders so your final submission can be as perfect as possible. You can see the last few reminders here, here, and here.
Today’s tip is to make sure you proofread your application before you hit that ‘submit’ button. Read over your application several times. Have someone else look it over– sometimes a fresh pair of eyes will catch errors that you might miss.
Make sure you are checking your application for the following things:
Spelling errors
Capitalization errors
Missed punctuation or unnecessary punctuation
Flow- be sure your paragraphs flow well, make sense, and are cohesive
Correct grammar
Email addresses and phone numbers are entered correctly
All photo and video links or uploads are viewable by outside sources
Answer the questions and prompts thoroughly, but make sure you don’t go over the allotted word count
Sentence structure– fix any run on sentences or incomplete sentences
Take the time to make your application reflect your hard work. Don’t rush through it. Will a misplaced comma or period disqualify you? No. Will a couple of misspelled words eliminate you from the running? No. But– applications that are polished and proofread do stand out, and we do notice the extra effort you’ve put in to make your submission as perfect as it can be. You’ve done so much work on your project already, so don’t skimp on the application!
As a reminder, final submissions are due no later than Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm, MST.
It’s time for this week’s scholarship tip! Can you believe we are a little more than two weeks away from the application deadline?! Now is the time to make sure you’ve got all the little details worked out, including collecting the necessary contact information we ask for on the application. We not only need your contact information, but also that of a few other important people. Prior to sitting down to fill out your application, make sure you have gathered the following information:
Your name and email address
The name and phone number of your current high school
The name of your high school’s registrar or secretary AND their email address
The name of your mentor, as well as their title (teacher, counselor, etc.), phone number AND email address
Your mentor must be someone who is directly involved with your project. That will look different for every project, but is typically a teacher, counselor, club advisor, religious leader, community member, and so forth. It should be someone who has helped you directly with the progress of your project. Usually a mentor is someone who is there to bounce ideas off of, guide you, provide resources and knowledge, and so on.
Please make sure that all names are spelled correctly and that phone numbers and email addresses are accurate. We ask for your high school and registrar’s information so that we can verify you are indeed a graduating senior. We ask you to provide your mentor’s contact information so that we can check the validity of your project and learn more about you and the project from their perspective.
We are so excited to learn all about the amazing projects you have been working on and the incredible ways you have impacted your community!
It’s time for your weekly scholarship application tip! Last week, I encouraged applicants to document all the phases of their project through photos and videos. This week, we will cover what to do once you have all of your photos and videos and you are ready to fill out your application, and the specific requirements that must be met for video and photo submissions.
Since we can’t physically meet with every single applicant to see their project in action, we need you to SHOW us your work in the form of photos and videos. Both video and photos are required to be considered as a scholarship winner. Below, I have included the specific requirements and guidelines for both photo and video submission. The requirements listed below are exactly what you will find on the application.
Video Requirements:
2-5 minutes Must be edited to include:
Examples of your work in action (photos, video clips, etc.)
A few words directly from you regarding your project (can be voice-over)
Include 1-3 brief interviews with people you worked with as you carried out your project
Must address the following questions: – What would you improve with more time? – What new skills or concepts have you acquired? – What have you learned about yourself based on the experience?
***IMPORTANT*** Please make sure your video is viewable. Please check the share settings before submitting it. You can choose to upload a link to a Google Drive folder containing your video OR you can upload or link a YouTube video you made.
Photo Requirements:
We would love to see evidence of your project and work! Photos could include, but are not limited to: pictures of brochures/handouts/advertisements you created to go with your project, pictures of your physical prototype, if applicable, and pictures of you in action– giving a presentation, working with your community, building your project, etc. You are the magic behind your project– take pride in it and document yourself making a difference, then share it with us!
Please share photos of publish-able image quality of your work. A minimum of 5 photos is required, but more is encouraged.
Failure to upload images will result in disqualification. Uploading images directly or providing a link to a Google Drive folder of photos is acceptable. Providing photos in a video slideshow, PDF page, PowerPoint, social media account, or any other non-publishable way will result in disqualification.
Please make sure that you have made your photos and video viewable. We can’t see them if you are the only one with access to them. We’d hate for you to put in so much time and energy to carry out your project and type up your application, only to forget to check the share settings on your files. Such a small misstep could lead to disqualification, so please triple check that your files are viewable.
Attention all graduating seniors! If you are planning on applying for our Build A Better Future Scholarship, this is for you! The final deadline is exactly one month from today! Final applications are due by 11:59 pm MST on Monday, April 13, 2026. Once a week until then, I will be sharing some tips and reminders for you to consider as you get ready to submit your final application.
As you put your project into motion, don’t forget to document your process through pictures and videos! Take pictures of you in action, working on your project. If you have volunteers helping you, snap some pictures of them as they work. If you host any kind of meeting, presentation, workshop, or class, have someone take a short video of you as you do your thing. If your project includes collecting donations of items, don’t forget to take some pictures of the donations that come in. Then, remember to take a picture of you at the place where the donations are being taken. If you think you’ll want a picture of something, take the picture!
One of the requirements for the final application is that you include a minimum of 5-10 pictures of your project in action. We also have a requirement for a short 3-5 minute video to be included with your application. You can certainly put some of your pictures in your video, but we also require that pictures be submitted separately as well. You can find the requirements for the video in our Scholarship Checklist, which can be found at the bottom of this page.
Beyond meeting the requirements for the final submission, having picture and video documentation of your project will provide you with lifelong mementos of the time you spent serving your community, and that is a priceless reminder of time well spent.
If you are a graduating senior, work with seniors, or know a senior who will be graduating in 2026, this information is for you!
Every year in May, Honors Graduation awards five $10,000 scholarships to deserving graduating seniors. Though May is still six months away, now is the time for students to be working on their projects for the scholarship application. Our scholarship is awarded based on community improvement projects, and these kinds of projects typically take several months or more to plan and carry out. We encourage all kinds of projects and look forward to seeing the amazing things that are happening in our communities.
Below are the links and information you will need to apply for our scholarship. We’d love if you could spread the word and share our scholarship information with any graduating seniors you may know!
This link will take you to our information page, where you can read about our Build A Better Scholarship, including rules, eligibility requirements, and deadline dates.
If you would like to read over some frequently asked questions, you can click here.
Having a hard time coming up with a project idea? Browse through the work of our previous winners here to get a feel for what kinds of projects have been successful.
We welcome any questions you may have about our scholarship program! Please contact us at scholarship@honorsgraduation.com and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
Ahh, college: for many, it’s the starting place of living out the American dream. A place where “adulting” truly begins, goals are achieved, and degrees are earned. A place where many young adults go to to really figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Unfortunately, it’s also, for many, a place where debt is incurred. College dreams can quickly come crashing down as students face the reality of ramen noodles, mac & cheese, and plasma donations. The cost of attending college is no joke.
It’s no secret that the cost of tuition has increased over the years, sometimes inflating faster and steeper than the cost of living. This means that student debt is rising, and it’s hard to keep up. The average yearly tuition for college in the 1960s hovered around $250 for a public college. Today, yearly tuition for a public college averages over $10,000. Yikes! Talk about an increase!
Even though the price is steep, colleges are still attracting students who are eager to learn and prepare for their future. Of the thousands of students enrolled in colleges across the country, there is a very small percentage that can pay for their tuition, books, fees, and living expenses from their own bank accounts. Because of this, students must rely on outside sources for funding.
The world of financial aid can be a bit overwhelming to navigate. Today I’ll break it down and explain the different kinds of aid that are available to students who need help paying for college expenses. We’ll group them into two categories: those that require repayment and those that don’t.
Financial Aid- Repayment Required
Loans: A student loan is money borrowed for the purpose of paying for the costs of attending college. Loans must be repaid, and typically include interest. Most student loans do not require payback to begin until after the student has graduated or otherwise stopped attending the college. Many loans meant for students have an option to do income-based repayment plans, where the monthly payment amount is determined by how much money the student is bringing in each month.
Some loans will offer loan forgiveness if the student obtains a job in a specific career and maintains employment for a set period of time, while also making payments toward their loan balance during the duration of the years of work set by their loan terms.
Financial Aid- No Repayment Required
Grants: Grants are most often based on financial need. The most common type of grant is a PELL Grant, offered by the government. Students qualify for this kind of grant if they fill out the necessary forms and are found to have the greatest financial need. There are usually stipulations attached to the grant, such as maintaining a certain GPA, attendance requirements, and so on. Students can apply for federal grants by filling out the FAFSA form that can be found here.
Grants can also come through other government agencies such as Department of Workforce Services, State Offices of Rehabilitation, and Veteran’s Affairs Office of Education and Employment. Funds that come from these agencies are typically reserved for persons with disabilities or some other hardship that would otherwise prevent them from attending school and finding meaningful employment. Funding for tuition through these avenues would need to be obtained via working with a vocational counselor at each specific agency.
Scholarships: This type of financial aid does not have to be repaid, and is awarded to students based on various things. Scholarships can be given for just about anything, as long as there is a supporting person, group, or company that is awarding the funds. For example, our scholarship, the Honors Graduation Build A Better Future Scholarship is awarded to five outstanding high school seniors who design, plan, and execute a project that betters their community. Other scholarships are awarded for athletic prowess, while others are given for academic achievement. Others are awarded for writing an essay about why the number “5” is the best number, having red hair, writing an essay telling which superhero you’d want to change places with for a day and why, creating an award-winning greeting card design, or even writing an essay that makes the judges laugh. Simply put, there are scholarships for every kind of person out there— you just have to be willing to put in the work to find it!
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If college seems out of reach for you because of your financial situation, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that you qualify for PELL grants, loans, or obscure scholarships. If you are truly committed to making college your reality, don’t be afraid to put in some work and make it happen! You won’t regret it, and the experiences you have and the things you learn will shape you into an amazing person who will do amazing things!
Attention all graduating seniors! Every year, Honors Graduation awards five seniors each with a $10,000 scholarship. Applicants must design and work on a community improvement project, using our checklist as a guide.
In previous years, we have seen some incredible projects, and we’re certain our 2026 applicants will do amazing things as well! If you need some inspiration or want to read more about our previous winners’ projects, you can find all of that by clicking here.
If you would like to read more about our scholarship, you can find all the details here. You can also find all of the application links, FAQs, and other details on this page.
For your reference, the deadlines are as follows:
Optional Strategy Feedback Form- due by March 9, 2026 Final Submission Form- due by April 13, 2026 Winners will be chosen by May 4, 2026
If you are a senior, you know a senior, or you teach/work with seniors, please spread the word! Share this blog post, and follow us on social media for updates and tips!
