Fighting to End Drunk Driving Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by John H. Fisher, P.C.
Overview
The Sam’s Legacy—Fighting to End Drunk Driving Scholarship supports student-driven ideas to reduce impaired driving. Established to encourage educational, legislative, and enforcement strategies, it rewards applicants who articulate practical, evidence-based approaches. The program seeks submissions that demonstrate clear understanding of drunk driving risks and propose actionable solutions. Selection emphasizes originality, feasibility, and the applicant’s ability to communicate policy and program ideas effectively.
Description: An annual scholarship promoting innovative and effective strategies to prevent drunk driving through student essays and supporting materials.
- Focused on reducing drunk driving through education, legislation, and enforcement
- Annual competition for U.S. students enrolled in post-secondary or vocational programs
- Evaluates originality, feasibility, and clarity of proposed solutions
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to current U.S. residents who are high school seniors, vocational students, college students, or graduate students enrolled in two- to four-year post-secondary or vocational programs. Applicants must meet academic standards and are subject to exclusions for employees and immediate family of the scholarship founder. Eligibility verifies residency, enrollment status, and academic standing before applications are considered. Applicants should confirm they meet all listed criteria before applying.
Eligibility: Applicants must be legal U.S. residents enrolled in an eligible educational program; employees of the founder, their immediate families, and household members are ineligible; a minimum GPA is required.
- Open to U.S. residents in all 50 states and D.C.
- Includes high school seniors, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students
- Excludes employees of the founder, their immediate families, and household members
- Minimum GPA requirement applies
Application Requirements
Applications require a focused, original essay and supporting documentation that demonstrate the applicant’s qualifications and ideas. Submissions are screened for academic credentials and originality, including a policy against AI-generated writing. Materials must be complete and submitted by the stated deadline to be eligible for review. Applicants should prepare a resume and transcripts in addition to the essay prompt response.
Essay: Submit a 500–750-word essay describing innovative and effective educational, legislative, and enforcement strategies to reduce drunk driving.
Supporting Materials: Provide a professional resume and current school transcript; first-year or recently transferred students may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official prior transcript, and high school students may provide proof of college acceptance.
AI Policy: Essays will be checked for AI-generated content; detected AI writing will result in disqualification.
- 500–750-word essay responding to a specified prompt
- Professional resume and transcript required
- AI-generated content is prohibited and grounds for denial
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
Award Details & Timeline
The scholarship is awarded annually to the applicant whose submission best meets the evaluation criteria. The recipient selection occurs in the month following the application deadline. Award administration follows standard notification and disbursement procedures as determined by the scholarship sponsor. Applicants should monitor deadlines and provide complete contact information for timely notification.
Award Value: The scholarship provides a $1,000 cash award to the selected recipient.
Application Timeline: The recipient is selected during the month following the application deadline; the program runs on an annual cycle.
- $1,000 award presented annually
- Recipient chosen in the month after the deadline
- Applicants should watch the specified deadline and notification timelines
History of the Award
The scholarship was established by John Fisher to advance efforts that prevent drunk driving and improve road safety. It reflects a commitment to community education and policy solutions aimed at reducing impaired driving incidents. The award encourages student leadership and practical proposals that can influence behavior, enforcement, and legislation. Over time, the scholarship aims to amplify effective student-led ideas and contribute to broader public safety outcomes.
History of the Award: Founded by John Fisher to promote strategies that reduce drunk driving and support student engagement on road-safety policy and education.
- Created to prevent drunk driving and improve public safety
- Supports student-driven policy, education, and enforcement ideas
- Encourages practical, implementable solutions from emerging leaders