Bezos Scholars Program

Name: Bezos Scholars Program

Award Amount:

• No direct monetary award; however, Scholars receive:
  • All-expenses-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado.
  • Year-long leadership development program.
  • Funding of $1,000 in seed money for Community Change Projects, with the opportunity to reapply annually.
  • Free, personalized college advising.

Information and Eligibility:
The Bezos Scholars Program is a transformative, year-long, no-cost leadership development program that amplifies youth voice and action so young people with passion can start making a difference today. Each year, 17 exceptional juniors from the U.S. and Africa, along with educators from each of their schools, are selected as Bezos Scholars.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Grade Level: Must be a high school junior at the time of application.
• School Type: Attend an eligible public high school in the United States with a 30% or greater overall free and reduced lunch rate.
• Coursework: Enrolled in or have taken one or more advanced courses (e.g., AP, IB, or college-level).
• Residency: Legal resident or citizen of the U.S., or have received nonpermanent legal status (e.g., DACA) or are a dependent of an H-1B visa holder.
• Availability: Able to participate fully in the year-long program and attend all dates for the Aspen Ideas Festival trip in late June.
• Educator Nomination: Nominate an educator from their school to serve as a mentor and participate fully in the program, including the Aspen trip.

Application Requirements:

• Complete the online application, providing information about yourself, your school, academic performance, and leadership experience.
• Record a short video and write three short essays as part of the application.
• Nominate an educator who will complete an Educator Nominee Form.

Application Timeline:

• Application Opens: November 21
• Application Deadline: January 21
• Notification of Status: Early March
• Program Start: May

Additional Information:

• Scholars develop and implement Community Change Projects with $1,000 in seed funding, which can be reapplied for annually.
• Receive free, personalized college advising throughout the program.
• For more details, visit the official Bezos Scholars Program page.

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