Pathways to Progress: Be About Change Scholarship Writing Contest

2021 Scholarship Application, Rules, Requirements, and Guidelines

*Scholarship contest winners will be announced in May.

***You must meet all application requirements to be considered.***

Review the requirements and guidelines below and complete the appropriate release here (DOWNLOAD/PRINT/SIGN/RETURN).

The 2021 deadline has passed.

Application begins at the bottom of this page

Essay Writing Guidelines

WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE – up to 800 words:

1. Identify an issue important to you.
2. Describe the issue and why it is important to you and/or key stakeholders in the community.
3. Propose and outline a solution(s) to the issue, including any applicable timelines.
4. Describe how you will actively participate in executing the solution(s).

Use the Tennessee District Maps site to identify your state representative:
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fmlv3/districts.aspx

You will submit the letter directly to Be About Change (see below).

– Letter must be typed and submitted via email to students@beaboutchange.org;

– Address the letter to the appropriate representative;

– Email subject must be “Scholarship Application – Last Name, First Name”

Acceptable formats: .docx, .doc, .pdf, and google doc (must share link, without access restrictions, to the email address above)

Letter will be judged on:

– Well-thought-out presentation of ideas with respect to the selected topic;
– Following directions in items 1-4 listed above;
– Attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation;
– Adherence to word count and formatting requirements.

Please read all requirements and eligibility guidelines

Requirements (see Eligibility Below)

Minimum 2.9 GPA*, verifiable by transcript and/or School Counselor;

Minimum ACT Score of 18, verifiable by official test results and/or School Counselor;

Essay, adhering to the requirements set forth above;

As a recipient, you agree to lead a writing workshop at a local Nashville-area high school within 24 months of receiving the Be About Change scholarship award;

As an applicant and/or recipient, you grant permission to Be About Change and/or any of its agents to use names, writing, photographs, video, and/or images for marketing and related activities (complete appropriate release linked below and submit to students@beaboutchange.org with essay).

*Grade point average means a grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by the State Board of Education.

Eligibility

Applicants and recipients must meet the following requirements:

Financial hardship, meeting 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines Standards (link): multiply the income level that matches your household number times 1.25. Recipients must provide proof of household income utilizing one of the following: W-2s for household members, 2019 or 2020 Federal Tax Return, letter from employer(s) verifying wage or annual income, and/or verification of household income from School Counselor;

Graduate from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Cheatham County School District (CCSD), or Wilson County Schools in Spring/2021;

Have resided in Tennessee since September 1, 2020;

ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment. The ACT Residual test is not accepted;

Must enroll within 10 months following high school graduation at any postsecondary institution; trade schools and vocational schools will be reviewed for eligibility on a case-by-case basis.