Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Against The Grain Productions
Overview:
The Against The Grain Groundbreaker Leadership Scholarship awards financial support and visibility to Asian American college seniors and graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, forward-thinking vision, and a commitment to creating positive change within the Asian American community.
Eligibility:
- Must have at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander heritage.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.
- Applicant must be either a high school senior or a student currently enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. vocational school, community (junior) college, or a four-year college/university. Applicants must intend to be enrolled full-time as an associate-, bachelor’s-, or master’s-degree-seeking student for the upcoming academic year.
- Open to students from any major.
- Must demonstrate visionary leadership, including initiatives or approaches that have paved the way for others.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
- Family members of Board members are not eligible.
Video Submission Requirement:
All applicants are required to submit a video presentation that highlights their accomplishments and qualifications.
- Videos will be evaluated for content, creativity, and execution.
- Submit via a YouTube or Vimeo link.
- Finalists and award recipients will be asked to sign a release permitting the organization to feature their video on the program’s homepage.
Evaluation and Selection:
Applications are scored using a point-based system across multiple categories; the candidate with the highest total score will receive the scholarship. Evaluated components include, but are not limited to:
- Video presentation
- Written content (essay)
- Academic record
- Leadership and community service contributions
- Letters of recommendation
- Phone or in-person interview with the selection committee
Award Disbursement and Winner Obligations:
- Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the recipient’s educational institution and credited in the student’s name.
- Scholarship winners will be required to provide a short (approximately 1-minute) “thank you” video for sharing on the organization’s social media channels.