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The Bezos Scholars Program is accepting applications from current high school juniors from across the U.S. for our 2019 cohort. The deadline to apply is February, 8, 2019. Please review eligibility criteria for high schools and students before starting the online application. We encourage talented, driven, smart, and compassionate young people to apply!

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Become a Bezos Scholar

Bezos Scholars hail from rural Texas, Morocco, the Bronx, Zimbabwe—and everywhere in between. What they share is a rich diversity of experience, thought, and passion for making a difference.

Criteria

Applicant's school must:

Be a public high school (charter, magnet schools, and tribal schools through the Bureau of Indian Education are eligible)
Have at least 30% of students who are eligible for free/reduced price meals (firm cutoff)
To encourage equity of opportunity, priority is given to applicants attending schools that have not had a Bezos Scholar in the previous two years

Applicant must:

Be a junior during the 2018-19 academic year
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have received DACA status
Demonstrate leadership in their school and community
Have taken and received scores for at least one of the following tests: PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACT Aspire
Be enrolled in, or have taken, one or more Advanced Placement (AP) classes, International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, or college-level courses
Be available to participate fully and attend all trip dates for the Aspen Ideas Festival trip in Aspen, Colorado on June 22-28, 2019
August 2019 – June 2020: Commit to attending monthly webinars, check-in calls, and develop and launch a community change project (Local Ideas Festival) as well as complete three reports on the progress of project development

The Application Process

To start an application, students must first affirm eligibility and create a profile. To create a profile click on the orange apply now button at the top of the page. A profile allows you to save and return to your application any time prior to the deadline. Once you submit your application, it can no longer be edited. Here’s what to look forward to as you complete your application.

Part I: Your Story

Basic demographic information, school details, coursework, standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities you participate in, and three written essay responses to be able to share what is most important to you – your passions, your accomplishments, and your community contributions. Be sure to have unofficial copies of transcripts and test scores to upload.

Part II: Your Support

As part of your application you also need support and completed application materials from the following:

Principal: Your school principal must complete a short form, the Principal Support Form, with information about you, your school, and the educator nominee.
Educator: You will need to identify, nominate, and partner with a trusted educator at your school. This educator will also travel to Aspen and take part in the Aspen Ideas Festival, participate fully in the year-long program as your Educator Scholar, and work closely with you for the duration of the program to help plan and execute your community change project. We advise you to communicate with your school principal for guidance on your Educator Nominee.
Recommenders: Identify two people to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf. Consider asking a teacher, mentor, or community member. Letters of recommendation from family members cannot be considered.

Links are provided in the application to send online forms directly to the above individuals

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the principal, educator, and those submitting letters of recommendation do so before the application deadline.

The Selection Process

A selection committee—comprised of a diverse group of leaders in education, global advocacy, science, design, media, and youth leadership—select finalists based on academic rigor, strength of written responses, demonstrated leadership, community engagement, and letters of recommendation.

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