The Starfish Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, LLC

The Star Thrower, an essay by Loren Eiseley, inspired a well-known tale about the impact of individual actions. The narrative revolves around a young girl on a beach, rescuing stranded starfish by tossing them back into the sea. A man approaches her, questioning the value of her efforts, given the sheer number of starfish. Undeterred, the girl throws another starfish into the water, stating, "I made a difference to that one." This act inspires the man and others to join her, eventually saving all the starfish on the beach.

This story serves as a metaphor for the potential of individual actions to bring about significant change. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one person's efforts are inconsequential, but at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, LLC, we believe in the power of individual action, as illustrated by the starfish story. This belief led us to establish The Starfish Scholarship.

The Starfish Scholarship is designed for high school seniors and current college students who can articulate their understanding of social justice. We aim to inspire students to reflect on the concept of social justice and the potential impact of their actions on the world. The student who provides the most insightful and well-articulated response will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to support their ongoing education. For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, please refer to the eligibility and application requirements below.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Starfish Scholarship is available to high school seniors, college students, and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States, currently living in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution for the Fall 2025 semester.
• Employees of Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, LLC, their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, and spouses), and individuals living in the same household (regardless of relation), are not eligible for this scholarship.
• Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.

Application Guidelines

• Applicants are required to submit an essay of 750-1,000 words answering the question: What does social justice mean to you?
• Applicants must provide their resumé, detailing academic and professional experiences, along with current contact information. Please include both your present and future educational institutions (if applicable). Applications without confirmation of enrollment in a post-secondary institution for the Fall 2025 semester will not be considered.
• Applicants must provide a transcript from their current school. First-year college students or recent school transferees may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school and an official transcript from their previous school. High school students must also provide proof of acceptance to a college or university.

For more information about previous Starfish Scholarship recipients, please visit the winner’s page here.

Submission Deadline

All application materials must be submitted by October 31, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

Please note that processing applications may take some time. To avoid duplicate entries, click submit only once and allow the form to process. For any scholarship-related queries, please use this Contact Form. We are unable to respond to scholarship inquiries via phone, email, or other contact forms on this website.