scholarship applications

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025

So You Want to Apply for Our Scholarship?

Applying for scholarships can feel daunting, especially when there is a project that is required. From deciding what project to do, planning and executing the project, then documenting everything and filling out the application, it can be a lot! I reached out to some of our previous scholarship recipients to get their input— after all, who better to ask then people who have been through the process themselves?!

Here’s what they had to say!

What are some things you learned about organization and planning during the process of completing your project?

I learned that successful organization starts with listening. Understanding the unique needs of immigrant ESOL students helped me prioritize goals and structure activities that truly mattered. Planning required flexibility, some events needed to be adjusted based on language barriers or transportation challenges. I also realized the power of breaking the project into phases and involving others made everything more manageable and impactful.

I learned how important it is to think about all the steps of the process before starting, so issues are minimized. Many projects don’t get completed because of issues that happen along the way so I made sure to think about problems that might occur and find ways to mitigate them before they happened. Have a clear general plan before starting your project and you should be set.

I also learned that planning can be improved upon along the process. I did my project for 2 years and I was able to see the more difficult parts from the first year and change my process to be improved.

Also as a general note: keep track of the whole process. My memory is bad so I made sure to take notes and pictures and that really helped me so I could continue the project each year. Also it helps to have those stats and photos when applying for this scholarship to really demonstrate your impact.

If you could go back and do anything differently with your project, what would you do?

I would stop over-planning. I wanted every detail to be perfect before taking the first step, which slowed down momentum early on. If I could go back, I’d embrace progress over perfection and start sooner even if the plan wasn’t flawless. I’ve learned that action creates clarity, and sometimes the best ideas come once you’re already in motion. That shift in mindset helped me grow as a leader and made the project more responsive to real needs.

I would find a way to implement new high schoolers to take over for the future. The project was really great for the community and I really wish I was able to pass it onto someone else so it continues each year. I moved for school and I can only help the project when I come home now. I plan to find someone to take it over soon though because my community still really needs it.

Applying for a scholarship can feel intimidating. What advice would you give to someone who is doing a project and planning to apply for the Build A Better Future Scholarship?

Start by connecting your project to your personal values. Applying to this scholarship isn’t just about what you did but it’s about why it mattered to you and how it made a difference. Keep notes and pictures during your project to capture moments of growth, challenge, and impact. When it’s time to apply, those reflections will help you write with authenticity and more confidence.

My biggest advice is to apply!!!! Even if you think your project is small, if it is making an impact, it is not small. You are actively helping the community and it never hurts to apply for a scholarship. I thought I had no chance of getting scholarships but I still applied to this one and it has really helped with my schooling, so please apply. I promise it’s worth it 🙂

Do you have any other words of advice or encouragement to this year’s seniors as they work on projects and work toward applying for our scholarship?

Don’t wait for perfection and start with passion. Your project doesn’t have to change the world overnight. What matters is that it reflects your heart and your effort. Stay consistent, ask for help when needed, and remember that small actions can lead to big change. You’re building something meaningful, even if it doesn’t feel huge at first.

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself during the project and application process?

Trust the process. There will be moments of doubt, but they’re part of the journey. Stay focused on who you’re helping and let that guide your decisions. When it comes to the application, don’t overthink it. Speak from the heart and let your story shine through.

What great advice! It’s appreciate these previous winners sharing their thoughts and experiences with us. I hope these wise words can help you as you plan and carry out your projects in preparation for applying for our scholarship! We can’t wait to see the amazing things this year’s applicants do!

May 24, 2023May 22, 2023

Scholarship Reminder! The Scholarship is DUE

Scholarship reminder! The scholarship is DUE! There are four more days (from the time this was posted) until all applications need to be finished and submitted. Our application closes May 28, 2023, 11:59 pm MST.

Our submission form is closed down and does not take submissions after the deadline has passed, so get your application in before this time. Each year we have one or two individuals that send us an email letting us know that they were working on their final submission but didn’t get it in on time, and ask if they can still submit. Sadly, the answer is always no. To be fair to everyone, we set a deadline and hold true to this deadline.

So gather all of your work and get everything submitted!

Our email is also always open to any questions you may have or guidance needed during the process, even after your project has been submitted.

You can see more about the scholarship requirements by downloading our checklist here.

For more information on the scholarship, head here.

For our 2023 final submission link, head here.

A Positive Impact For Every Student in the School- What This Arizona Teen is Working Towards to Promote Inclusion

If you opened this article looking for an inspirational story, then you are absolutely in the right place. One of our scholarship applicants is working towards closing the gap between the special needs students and the neurotypical students at her school. She is putting together an inclusion carnival and working to raise funds so that the event can be free for those that attend. She writes,

“Living with a brother who is nonverbal and autistic I am more aware of the isolation of the millions with intellectual and developmental disabilities in my community. Although discrimination and bullying of children with special needs have decreased, there are still problems being faced with understanding the next step of inclusion. I am organizing an inclusion carnival where kids with special needs are able to come and be themselves and enjoy the carnival in a safe and loving environment. The Inclusion Carnival creates a safe space for kids with special needs and typically developing kids to interact and create lifelong friendships. In my community and many other communities, it is evident that there is not enough attention brought to the awareness of the growing community. It is important to me that these events take place so that we can grow to become more inclusive to all people, despite their abilities.”

“I have a brother with special needs and seeing peers go out of their way to include my brother brings tears to my eyes. I want to live in a world where this is done daily. I am working to raise all funds for the carnival so that it can be 100% free for the kids, it can get my peers involved in volunteering and raising money, and raise profit back to my school club chapter.”

Last we heard, the Inclusion Carnival is still on track and our applicant is working hard to pull this off and bring everyone together. We can’t wait to watch her find success!

August 30, 2022August 30, 2022

New Logo, Who Dis?

The time has come to unveil the new branding for our scholarship! As I stepped into the role of scholarship chair and content writer, I began noticing some variations in the way that those who came before me referred to the scholarship. The original name for our scholarship was the Design A Better Future scholarship (which I’m assuming came from the fact that the projects needs to be based on the design thinking cycle). But as the years went on, it also started being referred to as the Build A Better future scholarship and both titles started being used interchangeably.

In order to *hopefully* limit future confusion, I decided to update the scholarship logo and declare one title to be the official title from now on. The HGU scholarship will henceforth be known as the Build A Better Future scholarship. I felt as though using the verb “design” was too passive and wasn’t giving our applicants enough credit. Yes, they are using the design thinking cycle but they are also going above and beyond to bring their designs to life.

design a better future scholarship high school seniors

In addition to updating the logo and title, the website has been updated with all the information needed for our 2023 scholarship! I look forward to seeing how the next group of applicants works on building a better future for their communities. If you or anyone you know is a high school senior that will be graduating in 2023, you can find more information regarding the scholarship here and here. Please email scholarship@honorsgraduation.com with any questions. Good luck!

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022

Introducing Shoshana Folic: The 2022 Scholarship Top Recipient

This is part of a series of blog posts introducing you to our 2022 Build A Better Future scholarship recipients and their projects. We hope you will find their stories as inspiring as we do! For information on our scholarship, click here.

The final scholarship awardee I have for you is Shoshana Folic! Shoshana’s project, Wishing’ U Well, earned her our top spot; which means that in addition to her $10,000 scholarship, she was awarded a $5,000 grant to continue funding her project.

From a very young age, Shoshana began noticing a lack of resources made available to the special needs community. Even before she started Wishing’ U Well, she volunteered with the Best Buddies organization, which offered her valuable insight into the needs of the community and the issues they face. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it exacerbated the disparity and Shoshana knew she needed to do more. She started the Wishing’ U Well platform at the age of fifteen, using her skills as a STEM student to maximize the resources that she wanted to make available. To quote Shoshana directly,

“Wishing’ U Well is a free online platform that is focused on improving the mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being of those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Wishing’ U Well website is equipped with a multitude of different resources, sponsors, and social meetings between Florida high school volunteers and the special needs community.”

The website includes several sections, including workout tips and videos, basic nutrition information, coloring pages and playlists designed to encourage relaxation, mantras and affirmations, and–my personal favorite–the Fun With Friends program. Fun With Friends matches a special needs individual with a high school volunteer based on interests and hobbies and allows them to meet once a week via Zoom to talk, laugh, and bond with each other. Wishing’ U Well also hosts virtual group activities, such as drawing and cooking classes.

When it first launched, Wishing U’ Well only had five members in the special needs community, but has now reached over 850 special needs members from 17 different countries. They have also had over 100 high school students volunteer for the Fun With Friends program. Shoshana is actually trying to encourage more special needs members to join this community, as they have more volunteers than they know what to do with.

Moving forward, Shoshana would like to build up her network of sponsors and content creators to spread the word, increase special needs engagement, and supply even more resources. If you are (or know) someone who might be interested in sponsoring, promoting, or creating content for the Wishing’ U Well organization, you can send an email to shoshana.wishinguwell@gmail.com. Sponsors can be anyone from businesses, non-profits, sports teams, and social media influencers.

Likewise, if you know someone in the special needs community who you think could benefit from the resources provided by the Wishing’ U Well organization (hint: that’s everyone!), or if you would like additional information, please visit the official website: https://www.wishinguwell.org/

Wishing’ U Well can also be found on the following social media sites:

Instagram: wishing.u.well

Facebook: Wishing’ U Well

Twitter: @Wishinguwell_

A big congratulations to Shoshana for winning the top spot and a huge round of applause for her and all the work she has done in providing resources to the special needs community.

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022

Introducing Brooklyn Conrad: A 2022 Scholarship Winner

Up next on our scholarship winner docket is Brooklyn Conrad! Brooklyn has been a member of her local 4-H since the fourth grade, which provided her with countless service opportunities. Some of those opportunities included gathering donations for her community food shelf. She began noticing that most of the food being donated was highly processed and it opened her eyes to the lack of fresh and healthy foods available to those in need.

And thus, the “Feeding Growing Minds for a Healthy Future” campaign was born.

Brooklyn began meeting with local and county government officials, stakeholders, and community members and explaining the importance of making healthier food choices available to those in need. Through her own research, she learned how to make garden beds from IBC totes and wire cattle fencing. With the help of master gardeners and the food shelf coordinators, she received instruction on what produce was most in-demand and which plants would be best for her garden.

In May of 2021, she was ready to get to work. Brooklyn was able to use her 4-H connection to assemble a group of volunteers and together, they planted a variety of vegetables. She watered the garden throughout the summer, and by July, there were vegetables ready to be harvested and donated to the food shelf. She continued nurturing her project and at the time of her application in May of this year, they had already prepped and planted the gardens for another season of fresh produce.

By partnering with her 4-H chapter, she made certain that her food shelf will continue to receive healthier food alternatives. She has been teaching current 4-H members how to maintain the garden and she connected them with a master gardener for additional expertise. Moving forward, Brooklyn hopes to share her project with other counties and is actively gathering resources and materials to help them start their own food shelf gardens. She also wants to set up a system where community members can donate extra produce from their own gardens to local food shelves, ensuring that an even greater variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are going to those who need them instead of going to waste.

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022

Introducing Mia Gregory: A 2022 Scholarship Winner

It’s time to introduce another scholarship awardee! When Mia Gregory was in the 8th grade, she really began noticing the homeless community in her neighborhood. Instead of feeling sorry for them, she decided to take action. She explained the motivation behind her project as follows:

“I knew that I could never solve homelessness directly, but to me, it was more about making them feel loved despite their hard situations. I didn’t like the awkwardness of turning your head from them as if they weren’t human. I wanted them to know that I saw them and that they deserved care.”

And love them she did.

Pass It On bags became Mia’s way to serve the displaced people in her area. Each bag contains food, water, hygiene products, socks, and a pamphlet to connect them to a church organization that provides shelter for the homeless. All throughout high school, she kept a bag or two in her car to hand out to those who needed them. She wrote down her thoughts and feelings about what she was seeing and shared it with her peers. Her words encouraged others to donate supplies and many decided to keep bags of their own to pass out.

Mia has also started connecting with local churches and organizations to raise more awareness for her project; ensuring that bags are still being created and shared after she leaves for school. She is hoping that once word gets out, more donations will come in and more people will be inspired to pass out bags and interact with those who are so often ignored. She will be attending Lipscomb University and is already researching the area and brainstorming ways to network with the university’s mission program to establish Pass It On bags within the Nashville community.

“It’s time to take action, love them anyway, and pass it on.”