Our Scholarships
Investing in Youth.
Intertwined with our Program’s virtual conference sessions and real-life, student-led creative reports into grassroots organizing, students have the opportunity to access the National Social Justice Education Scholarship.
High school students across the United States in eligible regions can apply for the Scholarship, dedicated to promoting a lifelong commitment to social justice, resourcing students in need, and bridging partnerships and youth engagement in local grassroots work as the backbone of movements for liberation.
Historical Photograph: James Baldwin at the Selma March in Alabama, in support of black voting rights, 1965.
Two Scholarships
will be awarded in each of the Hawaii, South, and East Central regions: One $1,200 prize and one $600 prize, per region.
Four scholarships
will be awarded in EACH OF the nORTHEAST and WEST regions: Two $1,200 prizes and two $600 prizes, per region.
$12,000+ available
$12,000+ available
*Each Scholarship winner will also be provided a spot into our nationwide network and participate in Our virtual program. Learn more here and below.
Regions are not necessarily confined to the name of the region. To find out what region you are in, please visit our region listings.
Applications are due dECEMBER 15, 2024 at 11:59PM PST.
Eligibility
Be A freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior living in the U.S. and ATTENDING PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.
SCHOLARS MUST be attending public high school at the time of application (Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12) and be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, DACA recipient, and/or have other eligibility for a SSN. Students must have proof of enrollment AT THEIR INSTITUTION AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. Our goal is to expand our scholarship offerings in later years and continue to grow our accessibility.
Reside and attend school in a scholarship-available region.
Find your region here.
Have DEMONSTRATED SCHOLARSHIP need.
sCHOLARS WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN ON THE APPLICATION THEIR NEED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP, INCLUDING BASIC QUESTIONS ON WHAT THEY INTEND TO USE THE FUNDING FOR, BE IT TO DEFRAY STUDENT EXPENSES SUCH AS BOOKS, EXAM FEES, COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES, OR FUTURE COLLEGE TUITION, OTHER LIVING EXPENSES, OR TO INITIATE PERSONAL PROJECTS RELATED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AS WELL AS OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVES THEM TO THE SCHOLARSHIP AND PROGRAM.
cOMMIT TO ATTENDING SCHOLARS PROGRAM SESSIONS, IF SELECTED.
sESSION DATES ARE ONCE A MONTH AND VIRTUAL FOR THE NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF STUDENTS SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP. Selected scholarship recipients will be expected to participate in the program.
uPCOMING program SESSION DATES CAN BE FOUND HERE. sESSIONS ARE TYPICALLY 1.5 TO 2 HOURS, VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORM.
cOMMIT TO LEARNING fROM, ENGAGING IN, AND SHARING ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IF SELECTED, AND PRODUCE A CREATIVE REPORT BY THE END OF THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
EACH SCHOLAR WILL SPEND DEDICATED, SELF-GUIDED TIME LEARNING FROM, INTERVIEWING, PARTICIPATING IN, AND CONTRIBUTING, IN FLEXIBILE CAPACITY, TO ONE OR MORE CHOSEN SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THEIR CITY OR STATE THROUGHOUT VARIOUS MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM, PRODUCING A CREATIVE REPORT TO SHARE OUT AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
sCHOLARS CAN CHOOSE THEIR OWN LOCAL ORGANIZATION(s) ABOUT WHICH THEY WILL DEVELOP THEIR REPORT AND RESEARCH, OR SELECT FROM A LIST PROVIDED BY THE nsjecs pROGRAM. tHE FINAL REPORT CAN BE DELIVERED THROUGH NEARLY ANY CREATIVE MEANS, INCLUDING WRITTEN, SPOKEN, LIVE PANEL/TALK-SHOW, ART PIECE, DOCUMENTARY OR “VLOG”, VIDEO INTERVIEWS, PHOTO JOURNAL, SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION, OR A COMBINATION OF MULTIPLE FORMATS OR OTHER IDEAS. aLL SCHOLARS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TOWARDS THE END OF THE PROGRAM, AND WILL HAVE THEIR WORK SPOTLIGHTED ACROSS OUR NATIONWIDE COALITION OF STUDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ACTIVISTS.
uPON NOTIFICATION OF THE SELECTED SCHOLARS, EACH SCHOLAR WILL RECEIVE RESOURCES TO HELP GUIDE OUTREACH TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, COLLABORATION AND CONVERSATION WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND IDEAS AND AREAS OF COVERAGE FOR THE FINAL REPORT.
Apply Today
⋆
Apply Today ⋆
FAQs
Is there a GPA or test score requirement?
There is no GPA or test score requirement to apply to this scholarship.
How can scholarship prizes be used?
There are no restrictions on what the scholarship can be used for, but we strongly advise that students use the money to defray the cost of college applications, textbook or exam costs, and other educational priorities, as well as to support with any essential living expenses. Money can also be used to help students initiate their own changemaking projects or fund their own passions aligning with social justice. Applicants will have the opportunity to explain their intent.
How will Applications be reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed by region. Each region has a set number of available scholarships and program openings. Applicants can be selected for a $600 award or $1,200 award.
Who reviews the scholarship applications?
The National Social Justice Education Scholarship will be reviewed by a committee of changemakers from across the country, all of whom are part of the National Social Justice Education Coaliton and will meet and engage with selected scholars throughout the program.
While we would love to accept and support as many students as possible, our current resources only allow for a limited number of available scholarships and program openings. We encourage all students to tell their stories and what social justice, community, and lifelong liberating learning means in their lives, and hope to further expand our funding availability and program in later years.