Young Adults

• This award is open to Graduating High School Seniors, GED recipients, or college students ages 17 to 24 who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender or are the child of LGBT parents.
  
• Students planning to attend any post-secondary institution, i.e. public, private or proprietary institutions, are eligible to apply for Proud Scholars scholarships.
  
• Professional certification programs qualify for Proud Scholars scholarships.
  
• Proud Scholars scholarships are an annual award.
  
• Students, who wish to receive the scholarships in more than one year, must reapply each year by the March 1 deadline.
  
• Award criteria are based on the demonstration of leadership and community service involvement, academic credentials, personal essay or video essay, an individual interview, financial need, and personal and educational goals.
  
• Student must have maintained GPA greater than a 2.2 during their final two years in high school, with a final graduating GPA of 2.0 or greater.
  
• Student must plan to attend no later than the fall Semester/quarter following their high school graduation.
  
• Students who identify as a sexual minority or the child of LGBT parents are eligible to apply.
  
• Students must be between the ages of 17 – 24 (inclusive) by the first day of class of the year in which they receive the award.
  

 Adult Student Eligibility

•  Adults age 25 and older are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
  
• Adults Students planning to attend any post-secondary institution, i.e. public, private or proprietary institutions, are eligible to apply for Proud Scholars scholarships.
  
• Professional certification programs qualify for Proud Scholars scholarships.
  
• Adult Proud Scholars scholarships are an annual award.
  
• Adult students, who wish to receive the scholarships in more than one year, must reapply each year by the March 1 deadline.
  
• Adult students who identify as a sexual minority or the child of LGBT parents are eligible to apply.
  

 Student Guide

• All applications must be complete for consideration.
  
• The application submission window opens November 1 and closes March 1. Any incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Award criteria are based on the demonstration of leadership and community service involvement, academic credentials, personal essay or video essay, an individual interview, financial need and goals.
  
• Applicants must send the completed application form; three letters of recommendation: one from a relative, one from a teacher, and one from an adult community member, who is not a relative or teacher, who knows you.
  
• Finalists must participate in a scheduled individual interview.
  
• Student must demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship funds.
  
• Only one family member may participate per scholarship per year.
  
• Awards are given only to applicants approved by the scholarship review board based on the criteria above.
  

 Awarding Process

•  Awards are mailed to the school where the student is enrolled.
  
• Proud Scholar scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, and books.
  
• If the student drops below half time status, drops all their classes, or completely withdraws from the institution, funds must be returned to Proud Scholars after the school has met its Federal and State refund obligations, as per school determination.
  
• Because of the nature of the scholarship and the high costs associated with attending school, disbursement of the scholarship will be made directly to the school at the beginning of the first semester of enrollment.
  

 
General Proud Scholars Information

•  These scholarships are for undergraduate study only.
  
• In addition to progress emails, we will send out general updates and reminders periodically.
  
• There is not application fee for this scholarship.
  
• Students who advance to the next round of screening for a scholarship are always notified via email.
  
• Administrators or anyone affiliated with the scholarship process are not responsible for any technical issues that may affect the delivery of the scholarship content.
  
• Board members of the Proud Scholars organization, their immediate family members, and/or guardians are not eligible to apply for these scholarships.
  
• Decisions of the scholarship review board are final in all matters.
  

Scholarship Guidelines