It might feel like Spring is a long way off, but it will be here before we know it! I always look forward to Spring– the warmer temperatures, blossoms on trees, and flowers in bloom. Spring also brings us closer to our Build A Better Future Scholarship application deadline!
This is a reminder to all graduating seniors who are planning to apply for our scholarship. We offer the chance to get feedback on your project prior to the final application submission. Applicants can fill out an OPTIONAL Strategy Plan where they can tell a bit about their project and process and ask any questions they might have.
This is not required, and does not at all influence our decision when it comes time to choose the scholarship winners. It is simply an opportunity for applicants to ask questions and get feedback should they need it.
You can find the form here, and the deadline for this form is due March 9, 2026.
Applying for scholarships can feel daunting, especially when there is a project that is required. From deciding what project to do, planning and executing the project, then documenting everything and filling out the application, it can be a lot! I reached out to some of our previous scholarship recipients to get their input— after all, who better to ask then people who have been through the process themselves?!
Here’s what they had to say!
What are some things you learned about organization and planning during the process of completing your project?
I learned that successful organization starts with listening. Understanding the unique needs of immigrant ESOL students helped me prioritize goals and structure activities that truly mattered. Planning required flexibility, some events needed to be adjusted based on language barriers or transportation challenges. I also realized the power of breaking the project into phases and involving others made everything more manageable and impactful.
I learned how important it is to think about all the steps of the process before starting, so issues are minimized. Many projects don’t get completed because of issues that happen along the way so I made sure to think about problems that might occur and find ways to mitigate them before they happened. Have a clear general plan before starting your project and you should be set.
I also learned that planning can be improved upon along the process. I did my project for 2 years and I was able to see the more difficult parts from the first year and change my process to be improved.
Also as a general note: keep track of the whole process. My memory is bad so I made sure to take notes and pictures and that really helped me so I could continue the project each year. Also it helps to have those stats and photos when applying for this scholarship to really demonstrate your impact.
If you could go back and do anything differently with your project, what would you do?
I would stop over-planning. I wanted every detail to be perfect before taking the first step, which slowed down momentum early on. If I could go back, I’d embrace progress over perfection and start sooner even if the plan wasn’t flawless. I’ve learned that action creates clarity, and sometimes the best ideas come once you’re already in motion. That shift in mindset helped me grow as a leader and made the project more responsive to real needs.
I would find a way to implement new high schoolers to take over for the future. The project was really great for the community and I really wish I was able to pass it onto someone else so it continues each year. I moved for school and I can only help the project when I come home now. I plan to find someone to take it over soon though because my community still really needs it.
Applying for a scholarship can feel intimidating. What advice would you give to someone who is doing a project and planning to apply for the Build A Better Future Scholarship?
Start by connecting your project to your personal values. Applying to this scholarship isn’t just about what you did but it’s about why it mattered to you and how it made a difference. Keep notes and pictures during your project to capture moments of growth, challenge, and impact. When it’s time to apply, those reflections will help you write with authenticity and more confidence.
My biggest advice is to apply!!!! Even if you think your project is small, if it is making an impact, it is not small. You are actively helping the community and it never hurts to apply for a scholarship. I thought I had no chance of getting scholarships but I still applied to this one and it has really helped with my schooling, so please apply. I promise it’s worth it 🙂
Do you have any other words of advice or encouragement to this year’s seniors as they work on projects and work toward applying for our scholarship?
Don’t wait for perfection and start with passion. Your project doesn’t have to change the world overnight. What matters is that it reflects your heart and your effort. Stay consistent, ask for help when needed, and remember that small actions can lead to big change. You’re building something meaningful, even if it doesn’t feel huge at first.
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself during the project and application process?
Trust the process. There will be moments of doubt, but they’re part of the journey. Stay focused on who you’re helping and let that guide your decisions. When it comes to the application, don’t overthink it. Speak from the heart and let your story shine through.
What great advice! It’s appreciate these previous winners sharing their thoughts and experiences with us. I hope these wise words can help you as you plan and carry out your projects in preparation for applying for our scholarship! We can’t wait to see the amazing things this year’s applicants do!
If you are a graduating senior, work with seniors, or know a senior who will be graduating in 2026, this information is for you!
Every year in May, Honors Graduation awards five $10,000 scholarships to deserving graduating seniors. Though May is still six months away, now is the time for students to be working on their projects for the scholarship application. Our scholarship is awarded based on community improvement projects, and these kinds of projects typically take several months or more to plan and carry out. We encourage all kinds of projects and look forward to seeing the amazing things that are happening in our communities.
Below are the links and information you will need to apply for our scholarship. We’d love if you could spread the word and share our scholarship information with any graduating seniors you may know!
This link will take you to our information page, where you can read about our Build A Better Scholarship, including rules, eligibility requirements, and deadline dates.
If you would like to read over some frequently asked questions, you can click here.
Having a hard time coming up with a project idea? Browse through the work of our previous winners here to get a feel for what kinds of projects have been successful.
We welcome any questions you may have about our scholarship program! Please contact us at scholarship@honorsgraduation.com and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
Attention all graduating seniors! Every year, Honors Graduation awards five seniors each with a $10,000 scholarship. Applicants must design and work on a community improvement project, using our checklist as a guide.
In previous years, we have seen some incredible projects, and we’re certain our 2026 applicants will do amazing things as well! If you need some inspiration or want to read more about our previous winners’ projects, you can find all of that by clicking here.
If you would like to read more about our scholarship, you can find all the details here. You can also find all of the application links, FAQs, and other details on this page.
For your reference, the deadlines are as follows:
Optional Strategy Feedback Form- due by March 9, 2026 Final Submission Form- due by April 13, 2026 Winners will be chosen by May 4, 2026
If you are a senior, you know a senior, or you teach/work with seniors, please spread the word! Share this blog post, and follow us on social media for updates and tips!
It’s graduation season! It’s a bittersweet milestone, but is definitely one to be celebrated. I remember my graduation day, and remember feeling so anxious but excited. I had my whole life planned out, and I was just sure it was going to go exactly how I wanted it to: go to college with my best friend, find a good guy and get married by 23, graduate as a nurse, have some kids, and so on. Boy was I in for a surprise when my plans didn’t follow that timeline, nor did most of my plans actually happen. I went to a different college than my friend, switched majors from nursing to elementary education, back to nursing, then eventually got my degree in secondary education. I didn’t get married until I was 30, and the kids came soon after that. As I think back and reflect on how the last 23 years of my live have gone, I’m glad my original plans didn’t follow my timeline. I would have missed out on so many things that were crucial to me becoming who I am today. But man, sometimes I wish I could go back and tell my naive 18 year old self a thing or to to give her some advice and encouragement about the future.
I figured other people might feel the same way, and might have something to say to their 18 year old selves. I asked several people what they would tell themselves, if they knew then what they know now. The answers ranged from the silly and light hearted to the serious and profound. So seniors, this one’s for you– a little advice from people who have been there, done that, and want to pass on some words of wisdom!
Don’t rush growing up. You will never have it all figured out.
Trust your gut.
Travel more, work hard, don’t spend more than you earn, save, believe, and invest in yourself.
Every life event and breakup led me to my husband and life I have today, and I wouldn’t change that.
At 18, I didn’t know it would take me 10 more years to get married. Don’t worry about that.
Don’t open a credit card— save for what you want/need.
Love YOUR life. Don’t worry about what others say or do. Let them live the life they want. You choose you!
It’s okay to not know what you want to major in. It’s okay to switch majors— college is an investment. Make sure you are getting out of it what you want.
Not all friendships will last past graduation. That’s ok. There’s new friends out there.
You are worth it. You matter.
If college isn’t your thing, it’s ok. It doesn’t have to be.
Spend time with those you love.
Never miss a chance to say thank you or I love you.
Take the risk— if it works out, awesome! If not, you learned from it and are better for it.
Make the effort to study and challenge yourself.
Advice given by others is second, learn to hear your own voice first and loudest.
It’s worth hanging around to see how the story ends.
The smart thing to do and the right thing to do are very rarely the same thing to do. But it never changes what the right thing to do is. Choose what is right. Always.
Take more pictures.
Always trust your instincts.
Apply for all the things! Enjoy everything!
Feeling dread all the time isn’t normal— it’s ok to get help if you need it.
Keep doing what makes yourself proud.
You’ll have so much more fun and peace if you don’t stress about dating. Don’t rush it!
Give yourself some grace.
You don’t have to have it all figured out at 18. The best is yet to come!
It’s ok to not know what you want.
Work on yourself— make yourself the kind of person you want to be.
Don’t be afraid. Go for it. If you fail, then try something else.
Try to save money.
Be smart with money.
Get the degree. Be able to support yourself.
If your friends are dragging you down, ditch them.
Don’t settle for less!
Be flexible— sometimes things don’t go the way you hoped they would, and you have to adapt and adjust.
Look for the good in people.
Look for the good in every day.
Be patient and the right partner will come when you are doing what you need to be doing.
Focus on figuring out what you want to do and work towards that goal.
Be gentle on yourself. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small.
You are doing amazing things.
You can do hard things.
Everyone you come across is fighting some kind of battle you know nothing about. Be kind.
Be patient with yourself and with others. We’re all doing the best we can.
Take a minute and reflect on your graduation day– what would you tell yourself?
It’s time for your final scholarship application reminder/tip! Can you believe that applications are due in just SIX days?! It’s so exciting! I’ve really enjoyed reading through the applications that have been submitted so far– there are some really neat projects in the works!
Remember that all applications must be submitted no later than Monday, April 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm MST.
Before you push that “submit” button, please double check a few things:
Proofread your application– read over and correct any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors you may find.
Double (or triple) check that all email addresses, phone numbers, and names are correctly entered on your application. If we can’t contact you, your mentor, high school, or planned college, we won’t be able to proceed in the event that your project is chosen as a finalist.
Please make sure your pictures are uploaded in a publish-able format. For the photo requirement, we cannot accept photos that are submitted in a Google slide show or a video. You can definitely add photos to your required video, but we also need them uploaded separately. If you choose to share them with us via Google Drive, please make sure you have checked the share settings. It seems obvious, but I can’t view your photos if I don’t have access to the file.
Don’t skip over the video requirement! If you don’t submit a video that meets the requirements we have posted here, we will not be able to consider your application. Again, please check the link or share settings to make sure they work.
Should you have any questions, you can contact us via email at scholarship@honorsgraduation.com.
Lastly, take a minute and breathe! You are doing amazing things!
The time has come to unveil the new branding for our scholarship! As I stepped into the role of scholarship chair and content writer, I began noticing some variations in the way that those who came before me referred to the scholarship. The original name for our scholarship was the Design A Better Future scholarship (which I’m assuming came from the fact that the projects needs to be based on the design thinking cycle). But as the years went on, it also started being referred to as the Build A Better future scholarship and both titles started being used interchangeably.
In order to *hopefully* limit future confusion, I decided to update the scholarship logo and declare one title to be the official title from now on. The HGU scholarship will henceforth be known as the Build A Better Future scholarship. I felt as though using the verb “design” was too passive and wasn’t giving our applicants enough credit. Yes, they are using the design thinking cycle but they are also going above and beyond to bring their designs to life.
In addition to updating the logo and title, the website has been updated with all the information needed for our 2023 scholarship! I look forward to seeing how the next group of applicants works on building a better future for their communities. If you or anyone you know is a high school senior that will be graduating in 2023, you can find more information regarding the scholarship here and here. Please email scholarship@honorsgraduation.com with any questions. Good luck!
