Arizona's Ethical Cadet Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Better Business Bureau Foundation

Overview
Ten individual cadets and their respective JROTC programs will each receive a $1,000 BBB Ethical Cadet Scholarship in recognition of ethical leadership and service — $20,000 in scholarships will be awarded in total.

Who is eligible
Students who meet all of the following are eligible:
- Arizona high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors currently enrolled in a JROTC program located within SRP’s service area.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (current freshmen may submit a progress report instead of an official transcript).

Eligible JROTC programs (SRP service area)
Alhambra High School
Apache Junction High School
Apollo High School
AZ Compass Prep School
Basha High School
Betty H. Fairfax High School
Browne High School
Camelback High School
Campo Verde High School
Casa Grande Union High School
Cesar Chavez High School
Coolidge High School
Cortez High School
Desert Ridge High School
Dobson High School
Gilbert High School
Hamilton High School
Higley High School
Independence High School
Marcos de Niza High School
Maricopa High School
Maryvale High School
Mesa High School
Palo Verde High School
Queen Creek High School
Red Mountain High School
Skyline High School
South Mountain High School
Tolleson Union High School
Westview High School
Westwood High School

Application materials and requirements
Applicants must include the following items for their submission to be considered:
- One letter of recommendation from a JROTC staff member or another school representative.
- A copy of current high school transcripts showing at least a 2.75 GPA. (Current freshmen may submit a progress report if a transcript is not yet available.)
- An original essay (500–1,000 words) responding to one of the prompts below. At the top of your essay, clearly indicate which prompt you selected.

Essay prompts (choose one)
1) What do leadership, character, and service mean to you? Provide examples from your JROTC experience that show how you live these values and explain why they matter. (500–1,000 words)

2) In what ways has participation in JROTC influenced your understanding of community, and how do JROTC principles show up in your everyday life? (500–1,000 words)

3) JROTC teaches lifelong skills. Describe three important life skills you have learned through JROTC, explain why each is important, and give concrete examples. (500–1,000 words)

Submission details
- Transcripts and letters of recommendation may be emailed to: Faustine Chan at [email protected].
- Essays must be the applicant’s own work and must not be generated or assisted by artificial intelligence; submissions that use AI will be disqualified.

How winners are chosen
A selection committee made up of BBB staff, SRPVETS*, and community leaders will review all applications. Essays will be scored using a rubric that assigns a maximum point value to each section. After ranking applications by score, the ten highest-scoring cadets (and their JROTC programs) will be named scholarship recipients.

Evaluation criteria and point values
- Inclusion of personal viewpoints — 15 points
- Relevance to the chosen theme — 15 points
- Clarity of thought — 10 points
- Spelling and grammar — 10 points

Questions
If you have questions about the application or the submission process, email Faustine Chan at [email protected].

*SRPVETS — member group participating on the judging committee.