📘 De Jure Legacy Scholarship Starter Guide

This guide is here to remind you: money is out there, and your story matters. Scholarships aren't just for 'perfect' students — they're for bold ones. Let's get started.

3–5 fast tips to set students up for scholarship success:

• Start early and stay organized. Use a calendar or app to track due dates.

• Reuse your best essays. Save personal statements and tweak as needed.

• Apply even if you’re unsure. You miss 100% of the scholarships you don’t apply for.

• Look local first. Community orgs and state programs are often less competitive.

• Ask for help. You don’t have to do this alone . Build a support team.

Scholarships to Watch

• The Jeannette Rankin Foundation Scholar Grants

  • Unrestricted financial awards for women, nonbinary, and Two‑Spirit students in the U.S. who are pursuing their first technical/vocational certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree and demonstrate financial need.

    • National Scholar Grant — For students 35+ nationwide

      Emerge Scholar Grant — For residents of Georgia & Montana (age 25+)

      Tribal Scholar Grant — For Tribal members 25+ attending Tribal colleges

  • Award: Up to $2,500

  • Deadline: February 13, 2026

• Dell Scholars Program

  • The Dell Scholars Program supports high school seniors who plan on pursuing a bachelor’s degree by offering more than just money . Scholars receive financial assistance, coaching, career guidance, and wellness resources to help them succeed from college into their careers.

  • Award:

    • Flexible financial support (usually $20,000) to help with tuition, housing, and other college costs.

    • Laptop and book credits for academic needs.

    • Emergency funds if unexpected expenses arise

  • Deadline: February 15, 2026

• Connex Foundation Scholarship

  • Awards students pursuing a career in skilled trades, construction, or facility management (e.g., electrical, welding, HVAC, carpentry). Open to U.S. and Canadian citizens/permanent residents who are high school seniors or older, plan to enroll full-time, and have a 2.5+ GPA.

  • Award: Up to $5,000

  • Deadline: February 15, 2026

• Venus Morris Griffin Foundation Scholarship

  • The Annual Venus Morris Griffin Scholarship Fund awards a scholarship to a high school senior in the U.S. who has a currently incarcerated biological parent and plans to attend a college, university, or trade program. The award focuses on supporting students who face unique challenges at home—not based solely on grades—so they can pursue higher education despite difficult circumstances. The scholarship is funded through the foundation’s work and donations, and winners are selected based on their personal story and potential to lead.

  • Award: $10,000

  • Deadline: February 15, 2026

• Crum & Forster Scholarship (via UNCF)

  • Open to full‑time undergraduate juniors and seniors attending an HBCU or another UNCF‑affiliated institution who are majoring in business, finance, economics, accounting, data analytics, or related fields. Applicants typically must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate leadership and academic promise as part of the application.

  • Award: $5,000

  • Deadline: February 16, 2026

• McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship

  • The HACER® (Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources) National Scholarship is a college scholarship program funded by McDonald’s that helps students pursue post-secondary education. It has supported thousands of students and awarded millions of dollars in scholarships nationwide.

  • Award: $5,000 - $10,000

  • Deadline: February 17, 2026

• TheDream.US scholarships

  • Designed to help highly motivated undocumented and Dreamer students (with or without DACA/TPS) afford college in the U.S. They target students who lack access to federal financial aid and often face high out-of-state tuition or limited state support.

  • Award: Up to $16,500 for an associate degree or $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree

  • Deadline: February 28, 2026 (5pm EST)

• Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship

  • The Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program offers financial support to American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing careers in health professions. The program funds three types of scholarships—from preparatory coursework to clinical professional training—helping students cover tuition and related costs. Some awards require a service commitment to work in Indian health programs after graduation. The goal is to train and support the next generation of health professionals serving Tribal communities across the U.S.

  • Award: Varies including full tuition, living and education expenses, and more.

  • Deadline: February 28, 2026

• The DEWALT Trades Scholarship

  • Open to students pursuing high-demand skilled trades and technical careers in the U.S. and Canada, including construction, industrial technology, automotive, and mechanical fields.

  • Award: Up to $5,000

  • Deadline: February 28, 2026

• ANSWER Scholarship

  • The ANSWER Scholarship supports moms pursuing college degrees (two-year or four-year) and combines financial aid with mentorship and professional development.

  • Award: Up to $5,500

  • Deadline: February 28, 2026

• Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP)

  • The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) supports women who have survived intimate partner abuse by providing financial assistance to help them pursue education or job training. It helps students overcome economic barriers as they work toward independence and career readiness.

  • Award: Up to $2,000

  • Deadline: March 1, 2026

• Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship

  • This scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in performing arts—for those preparing to attend or currently enrolled full-time in college. It’s part of the CBCF’s suite of scholarships designed to uplift students who show academic promise, leadership, and community involvement.

  • Award: $2,500

  • Deadline: March 27, 2026

• Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

  • This scholarship supports students pursuing visual arts-related degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral level. It’s part of the CBCF’s portfolio of awards that uplift Black and African-American students who demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and artistic talent.

  • Award: $2,500

  • Deadline: March 27, 2026

• 1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund

  • The 1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund provides one-time financial support to women in the U.S. who are currently enrolled in high school, college, or graduate school. Unlike traditional scholarships, it helps cover educational costs outside of tuition, such as textbooks, exam fees, conferences, or creative programs.

  • Award: Up to $10,000

  • Deadline: March 31, 2026

• Folds of Honor Scholarships

  • Folds of Honor offers yearly scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving their country or community. The goal is to honor their sacrifice and help families pursue education without financial barriers.

  • Award: Up to $2,500 per semester

  • Deadline: March 31, 2026

• LPGA Foundation Women on Par Scholarship

  • Education award provided through the LPGA Foundation to help non-traditional female students (age 30+) fund their college education. It’s designed for women returning to school or pursuing higher education later in life, helping them get “on par” with peers who completed college earlier.

  • Award: Varies (Up to $4,000)

  • Deadline: April 15, 2026

🧠 Essay Prompts + Ideas

Common scholarship questions and sentence starters:

"Describe a time you overcame a challenge." (general)

• “When my family had to…”

• “This experience taught me that I am…”

• “Even when I wanted to give up…”

“What kind of legacy do you want to leave and how will you build it?”

• “For me, legacy isn’t just about what I achieve. It’s about who I uplift along the way. Through education, I plan to…”

“Describe a challenge you’ve faced and how it shaped your sense of purpose.”

• “Growing up, I didn’t always see people who looked like me succeeding. But one moment that changed how I saw myself was…”

“Tell us about a time you took initiative to solve a problem or support your community.”

• “I didn’t wait to be called a leader. When I saw ____________ happening in my community, I decided to…”

“Why are YOU the right person to receive this scholarship? How will you use the opportunity?”

• “This scholarship wouldn’t just support my future, it would strengthen the mission I’ve already started: to…”

Important Links

• Naviance 

• SAT College Board Registration

• ACT Registration  

• FAFSA  - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• FAFSA 4Caster - Estimates of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to your college expenses

• FAFSA PIN - Register for your PIN for electronic signin

• CSS Profile - Financial aid application required by some colleges in addition to the FAFSA

• Net Price Calculators 

• 529 Plans - College Savings Plan information (Fidelity)

• Fast Web  - National free scholarship search

• finaid.org  - A comprehensive student guide to financial aid

• NACACnet  - Complete family financial aid resource

• studentaid.ed.gov - The guide to Federal student aid

• NAEHCY - Resources for students

• eduPASS - Financial aid resources for international students