Selection process

How the Recipient
Is Chosen.

Every application is read personally and considered against a small set of values at the heart of this scholarship. Here is exactly what we look for, how the process unfolds, and when you will hear the result.

Selection criteria

What We
Look For.

No single criterion decides the award. Applications are reviewed as a whole, with the most weight given to sincerity and a genuine desire to help others.

  • 01

    Compassion & empathy

    A sincere care for people — especially those navigating difficult moments — shown through the applicant's words, actions, and intentions.

  • 02

    Commitment to service

    Evidence of a genuine desire to help others, whether through volunteering, work, campus involvement, or everyday life.

  • 03

    Passion for mental health

    A belief that caring for someone's mental health is just as important as caring for their physical health, and a desire to make care more accessible and human.

  • 04

    Clarity of purpose

    A thoughtful picture of the career the applicant hopes to build in healthcare, behavioral health, or a related helping profession.

  • 05

    Strength & sincerity of the personal essay

    An honest, reflective essay matters more than a perfect résumé. We are looking for authenticity, not polish.

  • You don’t need everything figured out.

    Passion and honesty count for more than a flawless record.

Judging timeline

From Application
to Announcement.

  1. Applications open

    The application period is open and students may submit through the form on this site.

    Now open

  2. Application deadline

    The final day to submit a complete application. Applications must be received through the form on this site by this date.

    December 20

  3. Initial review

    Every application is read in full and evaluated against the selection criteria above.

    Late December to early January

  4. Finalist conversations

    Finalists may be invited to a short conversation so the committee can get to know them and their goals more personally.

    Mid-January

  5. Recipient announced

    The scholarship recipient is selected and notified, then announced publicly in late January.

    Late January

Announcement

The Recipient Will Be Announced in Late January.

Once judging is complete, the recipient will be notified personally before any public announcement. All applicants will be informed of the outcome — every application is read, and every applicant is appreciated.

Apply for the $1,000 Scholarship