Ripple Effect Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia

Description

Description: Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia offers the 2026 Ripple Effect Scholarship to students whose families were profoundly affected when a parent became impaired after a car accident and relied on Social Security Disability benefits. The scholarship invites applicants to share personal experiences about the emotional, financial, and educational impacts on their household. It asks applicants to reflect on how public support programs can better serve families facing long-term disability. The program is intended to amplify student voices and encourage discussion about access, stability, and systemic support.

• Supports students from families impacted by a parent’s disability following a car accident.
• Focuses on the ripple effects across emotional, financial, and educational domains.
• Encourages reflection on improving public support programs.
• Administered by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia for the 2026 award cycle.

Eligibility

Eligibility: The scholarship is open to current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States residing in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and are enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution. Employees of Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, their immediate families, and household members of such employees are not eligible. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing. Preference will be given to students from or attending secondary school in the state.

• Open to high school seniors through graduate students enrolled in eligible programs.
• U.S. residency required (50 states or DC).
• Minimum GPA requirement: 3.0 and good academic standing.
• Company employees, immediate families, and household members are excluded.
• Preference for in-state secondary students.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements: Applicants must submit a 750–1,000 word essay responding to the specified prompt about how a parent’s disability and reliance on SSD benefits affected their family’s emotional, financial, and educational outlook and how public support programs could improve. Essays will be checked for AI-generated content; applications with detected AI writing will be denied. Candidates must also provide a professional résumé and a transcript from their current school; first-year college students, graduate students, and recent transfers may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official transcript from a prior school. High school applicants may submit proof of college acceptance in lieu of a college transcript.

• Essay: 750–1,000 words on the specified prompt; AI-generated content is prohibited.
• Required documents: professional résumé and current-school transcript.
• Transcript exceptions allowed for first-year and recently transferred students.
• High school applicants may submit proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institution.