Annual Timeline

Fall: Application Opens

Before starting an application, please double check school and student eligibility and review program commitments to confirm you and your Educator Nominee meet the requirements.

Once applications are open, click the “Apply Now” button at the top of the page. Next, enter your name, email, and confirm your eligibility. Then, click “Begin”. This will generate an automated email with your username and instructions on how to create a password. Email us at Scholars@bezosfamilyfoundation.org with questions and for support.

If applications are not currently open—or you are not eligible to apply now and want to be alerted when next year’s applications open—please add your name to the News & Alerts List.

Fall and Winter: Work on and Complete Your Application

Through your application, we are eager to learn more about your interests, accomplishments, community contributions, and commitment to your education.

The submission deadline is midnight on January 11, 2021, in your time zone. Don’t wait until the last minute! Remember to submit your application by the deadline and ensure your educator nominee and recommender have completed their forms by the deadline as well. Late applications will not be accepted.

Early Spring: Completed Applications are Reviewed

The Bezos Scholars Program is seeking passionate and intellectually curious young people who are rising leaders in their schools and communities. We value cultural, racial, socioeconomic, geographic, and gender diversity among applicants and seek to select a cohort that reflects the diversity across the U.S.
A selection committee comprised of a diverse group of leaders in the fields of education, youth leadership and development, science, the arts, as well as Bezos Scholars alumni evaluate and recommend candidates. Find more about how the selection process works and what application criteria they evaluate here.

Spring: Semi-finalists and Finalists are Selected

The Selection Committee reviews all completed applications to determine a round one average score. The score helps us select Bezos Scholar semi-finalists.

Student semi-finalists are notified and asked to complete a few more application items before being invited to complete a phone interview with the Bezos Scholars Program team.

Average scores from round one, as well as average scores from the interview round, are combined for a semi-finalist average score which helps us select Bezos Scholar finalists.

Finalists are notified they have been chosen as a Bezos Scholar. Their official acceptance is contingent on the interview and acceptance of their Educator Nominee.

Nominated educators of finalists are invited to complete a telephone interview with a Bezos Scholars Program team.

Bezos Scholars are confirmed after the Educator Nominee interview is completed.

Alternates and all additional applicants are then notified of their status.

Early Summer: New Scholar Welcome and Onboarding

The new Bezos Scholar cohort is publicly announced.
Scholars receive and complete welcome paperwork and participate in orientation and onboarding webinars.
Scholars are connected to the program’s college advisor, who will support them with college and applicable financial aid applications and decision-making throughout their senior year of high school.
Scholars explore issues in their communities and identify needs.
Scholars prepare for the upcoming trip to Aspen, CO.

Late June – Aspen Ideas Festival

The program kicks off with an all-expenses paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival. In Aspen, selected students and accompanying educators will:

Build connection with fellow Scholars from across the U.S. and Africa.
Experience the beauty and awe of Aspen.
Meet with and get inspired by innovative global leaders.
Develop and hone leadership skills.
Begin developing a sustainable community change project that meets a community need and makes a positive difference.

"The BSP experience is hands down one of the best programs I have been a part of. It helped me fine tune my organizational skills as a leader, educator, coach, and mentor." – 2019 Educator Scholar

Student Scholar Senior Year: Leadership in Practice

Scholars participate in multiple monthly virtual sessions with inspiring presenters, attend workshops related to developing their community change project, and continue to connect and build community with their Scholar cohort for encouragement, support, and coaching.
Scholar teams engage peers and community members to build teams to help them develop and launch their project and document their learnings and outcomes to fuel future student-leaders who will sustain it for years to come.
Scholars work on and submit grant proposal documents at key times during the year to receive $1,000 in seed funding to launch their project while communicating updates, progress, challenges, and successes.
Student Scholars continue working with the program college advisor to apply, get accepted, and make decisions on higher education opportunities.
Teams reflect on their projects and celebrate with their community and the Bezos Scholars Program before being welcomed into the Bezos Scholar Alumni Network.

BSP Alumni

After participating in the year-long program, Scholars officially become alumni and are offered continued support and connection through internship and leadership development opportunities, sponsored gatherings in different regions around the U.S., and support in pursuit of passions that positively impact the greater good.

I am so grateful to have embarked on this leadership journey. It has been a transformational, humanizing, one-of-a-kind experience. I have developed new approaches to friendships, community problem-solving, and team-building. – 2019 Student Scholar