Year 3 (12th Grade) Or Community High School

Cupp-Hamilton Scholarship

Eligibility

• You must be a participant in the 2025-26 Winning Futures Year 3 (12^TH grade) program at Cass Technical High School, Communication and Media Arts High School, Harper Woods High School, Pontiac Academy for Excellence, or Warren Mott High School, OR a current Winning Futures student at Community High School.
• You must have at least 70 percent Winning Futures attendance through April 2026.
• You must be in good standing with your school (passing your classes, on track to graduate, and not suspended).
• There is no G.P.A. requirement.
• This is a one-time award (not an annual or recurring scholarship)

Scholarship 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

This scholarship can not be used for:

• Graduate school (master’s degree or higher)
• To pay a student loan

Online Application

• Complete and submit all parts of the Cupp-Hamilton Scholarship application by January 8, 2026, 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 or similar.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

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Judging Process

• Essay Assessment:  Judges will evaluate your essay based on:
  - Quality
  - Adherence to all essay requirements
  - Responses to the questions
• Interviews:  After submitting your essay, you will receive a link to complete a virtual interview. The link will include instructions on how to use the platform. All applicants must complete a virtual interview to be considered for the scholarship. 

Winners Notified

• Winners will be notified in May 2026

Need Help or Have Questions

• Contact Tiffany at Tiffany@WinningFutures.org

Here are the essay questions you will be asked when completing the application:

Talk About Your Strengths and Weaknesses (Minimum five sentences, but you can write more). What are your two biggest strengths, and how have they helped you in school or in life? Give an example of when you used these strengths to solve a problem. Also, think about one weakness you have and explain how you will try to get better at it this year.

Set an Academic Goal for This School Year (Minimum five sentences, but you can write more). Pick one specific academic goal you want to reach this school year. For example, improving your English grade from a C to a B-, passing all of your classes, improving your math grade from a B to an A, etc. Using the SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) write out your goal. Write at least five steps you will take to meet this goal. Include deadlines and any help or tools you’ll need. Finally, why is this goal important? think about how reaching this goal will help you do better in school and achieve your future goals.

Fully Describe Your Continuing Education Plan (whether college, trade school, certification, apprenticeship, or military service) and What You Plan To Study (Minimum five sentences, but you can write more).  Explain why you have chosen this type of education path and degree including any experiences that helped you decide. Think about the challenges you may face along the way, such as academic, financial, or personal difficulties. How do you plan to overcome these challenges, and what support or strategies will help you stay on track?

Describe Your Current Long-Term Career Goal (Minimum three paragraphs of 4-5 sentences each, but you can write more). What is the career you are most interested in, and why do you like it? Talk about why you are a good fit for this career and how your skills fit with the typical job responsibilities.

Imagine you're receiving the Winning Futures scholarship. Write a speech that you would give to say thank you (Minimum five sentences, but you can write more). Include the following points:

• Start by saying your name.
• Tell us the school you attend and your grade level
• Tell us about your career goals
• Talk about what you have learned or how you've changed since you joined the program. Think about how you were back then and how 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.

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