Scholarship Award Process:

1) Final candidates will be selected 1 week after the application deadline.

2) All scholarship recipients will be honored by receiving a certificate of award.

3) Scholarship monies will be distributed to the student's college/university account pending the following:

A) Proof of enrollment in college via the college administration department.

B) Proof of grade point average of 2.5 or better was obtained.

4) Scholarships awards are for a maximum of $500.00 USD.

ABOUT US:

The "Courage to Grow Scholarship" was created to help students realize their college dreams.

We don't want the college dreams and plans of so many young men and women to get lost in the financial shuffle. It takes a lot of determination and courage to forge ahead when sometimes it would be easier to give up.

With the "Courage to Grow Scholarship" we strive to help students achieve their higher education goals. By taking away some of the concerns such as "how will I pay for college", students can concentrate on their education and focus on the task at hand.

Today's economy is hard enough on a family, it is our desire to ease some of the financial burden that a college education can put on individuals and their families.

Seeing my mother come home exhausted every day from her job, she never once forgot to remind me that if I did not want to live a life like hers, then I needed to always persevere and go to school. My mother, only having a sixth grade education and living with her two young children in a gang infested community where violence prevailed, was able to take on both roles of father and mother and slowly make men out of her boys. Seeing her struggle as the years went by and situations worsening, with her getting injured at work and being laid off due to her pain, and my father suddenly stop giving child support, my mother never once let her kids see her cry and would once again never forget to mention in Spanish “Nunca paras de ir a la escuela” meaning never stop going to school. One might say that growing up this way might be too difficult and not adequate for children; however, I argue that this upbringing has only made me stronger as an individual and given me a different perspective on how to view the world around me. I have kept my mother’s words clear in my head this whole way and feel as though this scholarship could help with the huge burden of being able to help pay for school. I hope that with this money I can continue mine and my mother’s dream of continuing in my education.

Joe Magana
Los Angeles, CA

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous contribution towards my college fund. When I received that call to inform me that I was the December winner, I was beyond ecstatic. You have helped me build the foundation to my college future and for that I am grateful.

I come from a low income family of three: my father, my brother, and myself. Coming from such a difficult background, a divorce, a runaway mother, and living with a single parent, I've been driven to succeed at each and every single obstacle life throws my way. A major goal I've always had was to go to a great college and make for myself what my parents could not achieve. I've always wanted to study pre-med and biochemistry because I have ambitions of becoming a doctor someday. Thank you so much for helping me with these integral first steps towards reaching my goal!

Your contribution has been a great blessing not just to me, but for my family as well. It brings them joy to see that one of us can accomplish receiving a scholarship with hard work, not to mention prayer on the side. It also encourages me to keep applying for more scholarships without that haunting feeling of doubt in myself.

You've given me not only a kind donation to my college fund, but you've also given me the encouragement I needed to keep on working towards my goal.

Sincerely,
Jeidy Navarro

I awaken abruptly in the middle of the night lying next to my brother and my mother in a bed made for one. As I lay there, sweat trickling down my forehead I angrily, bitterly try to think of a single thing in my young life that’s worth fighting for. Poverty, low self-esteem, confusion and public schools have always been a part of my life. I’ve always believed that if you’re not doing something good you can’t complain about something being wrong. Experiencing days with the lights turned off due to lack of payment, nights without food and weeks in confusion has strengthened my desire to go to college so that I will never have to feel like this again for as long as I live. I took a class called judicial systems, where I studied law and dealt with cases concerning domestic violence, robbery, theft and murder. As I watched the same court worthy cases happen on a daily basis in my own neighborhood, it hit me like the summer’s heat on the back of my neck, if I wanted to see change I would have to be it. I decided to become a police officer. My passion for justice and a successful life pushes me every day. My granddad always told me, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. There are moments in life when you know you have crossed a bridge and you know your old life is over. College is my bridge.

Alexandria Carter

High School Senior

Oppression is like a tree which has been spreading its influence throughout America. Its branches reach far and wide; its trunk becomes ever more invincible with each generation living under its shadow. My passion for serving people in urban settings was aroused during my second missions trip to Chicago. Through ministering to the homeless, working alongside prior inmates, and volunteering at a Hispanic Boy’s and Girl’s Club, I encountered firsthand the unjust, broken lives of countless individuals. The trip’s influence was deeply personal, and it drastically altered my future plans. It is now my priority in life to write about urban living and to positively reshape the prominent stereotypes regarding the urban setting. I aspire to pursue a college education in the field of writing. The discoveries I will make and the insight I will gain while attending a university will tremendously benefit my writing. My dream couples my love of the pen with my volunteer experiences in Chicago, Mexico, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. I feel passionate about setting things right in this world, one small act at a time, not for my own benefit, but for the welfare of others. The intricacy of the problems plaguing people in cities is astounding. My plans include living in a poverty-stricken community to root out injustice, such as alcoholism, abuse, and gang violence. It is my career goal to chop down the limbs of oppression’s tree by utilizing my writing talents to expose these urban issues to the public.

Kelsey May

High School Student

     Over the past year, I have made a turnaround in my life.  Uncertainty concerning my future after college contributed to a steady academic decline freshman through sophomore years at UCLA.  But after a trip to Colombia to learn about my heritage and speak with relatives in medicine, it all turned around. It became clear to me that microbiology research was my calling.  Since then, I have maintained high scores and committed to a research lab.  I am set on majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and minoring in Spanish.  My career goal is to attain a Ph.D. in Microbiology or Virology.  A challenge to these goals is paying for education.  My parents and I have buried ourselves in bank and school loans that will keep us burdened well into the future.  The Courage to Grow Scholarship would relieve some of this weight.  I have committed to my community through several projects.  I was involved in the club Invisible Children, which sought to raise awareness and fundraise to provide schools for children in war-torn Northern Uganda.  I felt the need to give the children of Northern Uganda a stronger voice in America.  I left this project to focus on improving my grades during sophomore year.  Now that my life has stabilized, I will be joining a new project focused on tutoring children of inner Los Angeles schools.  I believe that I should be awarded due to my academic improvement, clarity in academic goals, and commitment to my community.

 

Michael Gomez

UCLA

I want college to shed a light of inspiration in the darkness of my uncertainty. The only long-term goal I have ever been certain of is to avoid waking up one day, in college or already graduated, to find that I dislike the life I am living. I want my education to provide the foundation that I need to live a convivial and propitious life that will give me pride and ultimately benefit others.

As a high school senior, I am looking at colleges that will ensure a successful future and am applying for scholarships that will decrease lofty tuition costs. I am a dedicated High-honor Roll student involved in National Junior Classical League, National Honor Society, PEERs, show choir, and am a club officer for Teens 4 ProLife. National Honor Society requires substantial academic merit and encourages me to help my community any way that I can. I have volunteered for a Rockin' For Riley [Children's Hospital] fundraiser, helped my choir director from middle school run choir performances, volunteered child care and yard services, hosted and volunteered at show choir competitions, sung in my church's youth choir, and much more. Also, as a member of PEERs I advocate abstinence from drugs, sex, and alcohol at local middle schools.

However, even with extracurricular activities and a part-time job, tuition costs are still intimidating. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and expensive medical bills have caused painful debt. Money is not everything, but education is. This scholarship would help immensely.

Allison Borthwick

The majority of my life I felt alone. My family was less than stable, and I rarely knew where I would wake up in the morning. I faced abuse and separation from my brother and sister. I bounced around different places and lived with different people, ending up in the foster care system with my little brother. Without much support, I decided that inner strength would be all I could rely on.

During high school I learned that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. I was constantly being told that my future was dim and my options were limited. I refused to believe that your past must dictate your future. I continued to persevere knowing that true determination is rewarded. This is not to say that life was not difficult at times. Living in a strange home with little resources for continuing my education could be discouraging, but I would not give up. With my inner strength as a constant source of courage, I held my head high.

Now, as I shape my own future I know that my desire is to help others that feel alone. I want to be a counselor or guardian ad litem for children who are in the similar situations that I faced. I know that hope can be found in the darkest places with people who believe in you, and belief in yourself. I feel I should be awarded this scholarship because sometimes courage and a little hope is all you have.

Bailey Belanger
Auburn University

I want to be a teacher. That being said, I am going to one of the top (and most expensive) universities in the country to be a teacher. To be a GOOD teacher.

I've had a gift for teaching since I was a small child, when I often helped others to learn dance steps because I learned quickly, was patient, and had high hopes for people who did not have those hopes for themselves. I am an Irish dancer; I am a student; I am a teacher.

I do not dare to say that I deserve this scholarship more than anyone else, but I will admit that I desperately need it. My dream of becoming a great, inspiring, effective teacher may never come about without scholarships to help me pay for a good education. My father is unemployed, and has been for 7 months now. With my mother being our only source of income, feeding our family of 6 has become a daily struggle. Without scholarships, I may never inspire students.I may never change hundreds of young lives for the better.

My parents can only help me so much, and they have already sacrificed more than I could ever ask of anyone. I may not be the most deserving of this scholarship, but I need it. Thank you for holding this scholarship; even if I don't win, contests like these remain a source of hope for thousands of college students, including myself.

Maria Grekowicz
University of Michigan

The older I get, the smaller I become. What I mean by this is, as time passes by and I mature, I become further and further in awe at this enormity of this world. With the number of opportunities and possibilities there are out there, trying to pick out the best one would be like trying to find the best shell on a beach. Not only are there too many to count but there is also all of the shells that you cannot see, buried under the sand and scattered in the distance, waiting to be found. It's unfathomable. With this knowledge, it is easy to make the mistake of limiting your view to what's right in front of you and on the surface, but you risk missing out on something truly amazing.

My point is that we should not be close-minded and miss out on all of the things life has to offer. Now I may not know exactly what my path is in this jungle we call life, but my compass is open and I know the direction that I am heading down. It may not be the easiest or the safest path but I have the two tools that I would need to brave it: the will to continue even when I want to give up and the belief in myself that I can and will reach the end of this path and that I deserve what waits for me at the end of it.

Jodell Cox
University of Florida

Academic growth has never been a large obstacle. I was the valedictorian of my high school graduating class of about 400 students, have received the maximum score, on nine AP tests, and have maintained a 4.0 through my first semester at Washington State University toward a degree in Chemical Engineering.

Unfortunately, investing in education requires significant resources on top of time and dedication, resources that I am struggling to acquire. My sister, Rebecca, decided to attend graduate school at the same time as I started at WSU, my brother, Joshua, has autism and requires significant aid, and finally, my dad lost his job as a result of the recent economic downturn. These realities have forced a very difficult adjustment for my family over the last year. Even so, I have done my best to help my community rather than focus solely on money.

Over just the last school year I have coached a math team at one local middle school, tutored students at another middle school, helped high school students in danger of dropping out learn necessary math skills, and volunteered at an emergency crisis hot-line, all as part of an Americorps service contract. That is why scholarships such as this one are so vital in supporting me toward my simultaneous goal of receiving a great education and giving back to my community. I would greatly appreciate and honor the opportunity that this scholarship would give me continue aiding the community and myself. Thank you.

David Finkel
Washington State University

I want to be a licensed art therapist because I see a great need for creative counseling services for people suffering from loss, grief, and depression. I believe art therapy can be particularly effective for young people who might not benefit from talking about their experiences, but might grow and heal through making art. Both my father and sister died of cancer when I was young. I was able to process these difficult experiences with a therapist, and I also came to deeply respect the mental health profession.

My dream came true when I was admitted to Antioch University's Art Therapy program. I have a solid educational background with a BA from the Colorado College that prepares me for the rigors of graduate work. I am currently taking prerequisite coursework at Shoreline Community College. I support myself without financial assistance from family, and need scholarship funds and student loans to cover living costs while in graduate school. I am passionate about volunteering in Seattle. I tutor homeless teens working on their GED once a week at the Orion Center. I also co-organize an art club at the Secondary Bilingual Education Center where we aim to create an inviting environment for recently immigrated children to explore art materials and express themselves visually.

I am a committed student and contribute my love of the arts and positive mental health to the community. I have the added benefit of diverse life and work experiences that will make me an effective art therapist.

Rachel Duncan
Antioch University

Continuing my education will help me obtain a career and provide for my family. In addition to a career, acquiring my educational goals will give me a vehicle to use my talents to contribute to my community and society. I will use my failures and successes to improve the lives of others; so they might benefit from the trials and tribulations I have endured. This would ensure that my experiences were not in vain. I believe I can be a role model for young women who have faced or will face similar circumstances. I returned to school to provide my children with an example of "œreal" success because showing them is more powerful than telling them. I have three sons and in the African American community, education isn't deemed a priority for young men. The media has convinced young men that money equals success and if they desire success; they should be rappers or athletes. Success isn't easy or quick; it's hard work and sometimes a person fails, but one shouldn't be afraid of failure. When people are afraid of failure, then they are afraid to try. This limits success because success is working through failure. In short, success takes courage. Mickey Rooney once said, "œYou always pass failure on the way to success." This is a lesson that I have learned from life and a lesson I want my children to learn. I ask the committee to consider my future aspirations and not my past hardships in their decision.

Kanoi McMillion
Heald College

Growing up some of the common adjectives that would describe the men in my family would be alcoholics, drug abusers, mental illness, criminal backgrounds, and poverty. These words are normal in my eyes and are a way of life. The children in my family have had very few positive male role models to look up to. I have decided to break the trend of negative role models in my family because I know there is a better option for me. I understand that we live in a world of possibilities and those old familiar trends of negative role models in my family can and will be broken by me.

I plan to do something different and positive with my life and stop the mediocrity and start a new movement of excellence in the family. There is one man who I can say is a man of strength, who has a hard work ethic, lives with integrity, and took care of his family. This man is my grandfather and role model. He is the one who took care of us when our mother had to work and he is the one that taught us the value of a dollar. I believe one of the best decisions I can make is to attend college and get a good education so I can fulfill my role as the example of a positive black man not only for my family but for men who have been pre-determined to fail.

Tyler Seawood
High School Senior

Watching my daughter tie her shoestrings together in an attempt to lengthen them and my son putting cardboard between the sole of his shoe so his foot won't scrape against the asphalt, breaks my heart. I think of how selfish I am for wanting to finish my education and better myself so I can provide for my family. I think of how I should have done that when they were younger, or before I had them. I made a lot of thoughtless decisions in my life, though I do not regret them, I wish I would have listened to my parents. I struggle with my education, not because I am not intelligent enough to understand the curriculum but it is because of finances. My children need shoes, clothes, food, shelter and most of all me. I am always under-stress and focused on how I can clothe my babes or pay the car payment. One bill always suffers every month, they get paid but for once I would LOVE to have a month where I can give my all to my education and my children. I am a better student and mother when I do not have to worry about money. My face is clearer, I can breathe and I get a whole nights sleep. My education will be more enlightening than just papers to get in on time. I believe I should be awarded this scholarship because it will solidify my dedication to my degree. THANK-YOU for your consideration.

Donna Hall
Institute of American Indian Arts

After listening to my parents describe their escape from Communists in the 1960s and experiencing a life of poverty, I can admit life is certainly difficult. The title "Courage to Grow" speaks for itself. Coming from a poverty-stricken childhood, I believe I am a person that has the courage to grow towards my full potential in a way that could revolutionize my family's life for generations to come.

Because my parents have sacrificed their time and effort to put food on the table and provide me with the supplies I need to do the best in school, I have proven to be a bright student. Because I have experienced drastic setbacks (losing textbooks and calculators from those who were willing to steal them) that took weeks for me to mentally recover, in addition to, overcoming fatigue from weekly "all- nighters" because of a large workload, I am definitely prepared to overcome the greatest hardships I may witness in the future.

Furthermore, if I were to describe myself today, I view myself as friendly, humble, mature, and focused on what I want to be in the future. Although I do not possess many leadership roles, I inspire my classmates because I am a person who shows, not tells, others what it takes to succeed. My demeanor has given me "the most likely to succeed" tag, which I accept as I strive to become an outstanding ophthalmologist.

I am one who not only needs this scholarship, but fully represents the "Courage to Grow".

Anthony Chao
High School Senior - La Puente, CA

I grew up in a cabin on twenty acres of land among the mountains. My parents planned to live in it temporarily while my dad built a house sufficient enough to raise a family in. Those plans were soon forgotten when they divorced. My father moved away leaving my mom to raise three children in an unfinished cabin. Our main source of power was six 12-volt batteries which were charged by solar panels. A generator served as emergency backup because my mom couldn't afford to buy gas for it regularly. The cabin was heated by a wood stove. Every summer we split and stacked the wood needed for the following winter. To conserve water, we used water from the bathtub to flush the toilet. When the septic tank got full we hiked into the woods with a shovel until we could afford to have it pumped. Continually struggling for money, we grew up without most of the material possessions that our friends took for granted. Yet what I perceived as disadvantages growing up, I now see as intangibles added to my character that I could not attain with any other situation. Growing up as a child on the bare minimum has given me an understanding of the importance of hard work. As a young adult I hold the convictions and morals it takes to be successful in life and attribute these qualities to the example my mom set and the cabin that gave me more than I could ever imagine.

Selah West
Central Washington University