Alumni Scholarship
Alumni Scholarship Eligibility
- You must participate in the 2024-25 Winning Futures Years 4-7 program
- You must attend at least 70 percent of the sessions through April 2024.
- You must be enrolled in a continuing education program. This can include college, trade school, or other programs like apprenticeships and military training.
- You are NOT eligible if you have previously received an Alumni Scholarship. You may reapply if you did not win previously or if you won a Cupp-Hamilton Scholarship while in high school.
- There is no G.P.A. requirement
Winning Futures scholarships can be used for:
- Tuition payments at a community college or university
- Technical training
- Apprenticeship training
- Certificate programs
- Other related educational costs while enrolled in school
Note: This scholarship cannot be used to pay a student loan and is a one-time award (not an annual or recurring scholarship). This scholarship also cannot be used for graduate school (master's degree or higher).
Online Application
- Complete and submit all parts of the Alumni Scholarship application by January 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST.
- All submissions must be your original work, written in your own words, without plagiarism or help by generative AI/ChatGPT.
- Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Juding Process
- Essay Assessment: Judges will evaluate your essay based on:
- Quality
- Adherence to all essay requirements
- Responses to the questions - Interviews: Applicants whose essays score in the top tier will advance to an interview round in the Spring. Each finalist will participate in an interview.
Winners Notified
- Winners will be notified in May 2024.
To Receive the Scholarship Money
- If you win a scholarship, you must continue participating in Winning Futures throughout your continuing education to receive the scholarship funds.
Need Help or Have Questions?
- Contact Caitlynn at Caitlynn@WinningFutures.org.
Scholarship Questions
Reflect on a Time You Faced Failure and How You Responded (Minimum two paragraphs of at least 4-5 sentences each, may exceed). Think of a situation where you experienced failure. Describe what happened, how you felt, and what you learned from the experience. Focus on how you responded after the failure, what steps you took to recover, and how it influenced your growth. What did this experience teach you about resilience and adapting to challenges?
Where Do You See Yourself in One Year (Minimum 5 sentences, may exceed). Focus on your immediate future. What are the key milestones you aim to achieve in the next year? Discuss your educational progress, specific goals related to your studies, and how they align with your broader career aspirations. Identify potential obstacles you might face and outline concrete action steps to overcome them.
Detail Your Current Long-Term Career Goal and Why It Suits You (Minimum two paragraphs of at least 4-5 sentences each, may exceed). Concentrate specifically on your career aspirations. Explain the career path you're pursuing and why it resonates with your strengths and interests. Discuss the education, training, and experience required for this career, and how you plan to obtain them.
Envision Your Ideal Future (Minimum two paragraphs of at least 4-5 sentences each, may exceed). Imagine yourself ten years from now. Describe your career, life, and the impact you are making on your community or the world. What values and passions drive the choices you’ve made to reach this point? Why is this vision meaningful to you, and how will it guide your decisions in the coming years?
Imagine you're receiving the Winning Futures scholarship. Write a speech that you would give to say thank you (Minimum 5 sentences each, may exceed). Include the following points:
- Start by saying your name.
- You're currently attending [name of college, university, trade school, apprenticeship, or something else] and are what you are studying.
- You want to become a [your desired profession].
- Talk about what you have learned or how you've changed since you joined the program. Think about who you were back then and who you are now.
- Share your thoughts about your mentor. Explain how they've helped you and what you've learned from them.
- Take a moment to thank those who supported you along the way. This could be your teachers, mentor, Winning Futures program facilitator, family members, or anyone else you feel helped you.