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A New Chapter: Launching the first Bezos Scholars Alum Council!

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural Bezos Scholars Alum Council. Over a two-year term, the Alum Council will shape programming, create opportunities for alums to reconnect virtually and in person, and shape the future of our community.

Abundance in Aspen

Each summer, Bezos Scholars gather in Aspen, Colorado, for a week of learning, reflection, and community. In this collective piece, six Scholars and Educators share vivid moments from the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival—meeting inspiring thinkers, confronting big questions, and discovering new meaning in courage and belonging. Their reflections capture what makes the Bezos Scholars Program extraordinary: the mix of awe, dialogue, and shared purpose that turns inspiration into action.

Fourteen Years of Harmony

What started in 2011 as a Bezos Scholars Community Change Project to expand music access in Roanoke, Virginia, has evolved into a beloved annual festival. Founded by student Scholar Locher Grove and educator Nicole Doherty, Noteworthy continues to raise funds for elementary school music programs while empowering new generations of student leaders. Led today by Mary Clarke and Blair Moon, the 2025 team surpassed their fundraising goal, strengthening community bonds and reminding audiences that creativity and compassion can strike the most resonant chord—one that continues to echo year after year.

Recent Stories

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Three’s a Charm

Three new Scholars reflect on their first week at Aspen — discovering possibility, purpose and the start of their Community Change Projects.

The 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival

Learning to lead with vulnerability, courage and humility at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Scholars in the Snow: 2021 Scholar Shares Application Advice with Scholar Hopefuls

From self-doubt to action: one Scholar’s words of encouragement for hopeful applicants.

11 Steps to Create a Community Change Project

A week in Aspen opened new horizons—showing Scholars their voice matters and change is possible.

Sustainability Via Community Engagement

How Orange High School's College Awareness Day built lasting partnerships with experts and local businesses to give underclassmen the resources they need for college success.

4 Ways to Create Big Change in Your Community

Four practical ways young leaders can ignite meaningful change in their communities.

Think Big!

From curiosity to action: embracing ambitious ideas that spark real change.

Just Doing It

Turning bold ideas into action: how a week in Aspen sparked a lifetime of leadership.

What is the Purpose of Public Education?

Why public education must balance rigor, relevance and joy in service of every learner’s growth.

The Ripple Effect of Giving Back to Community

A local act of service becomes a catalyst for broader community transformation.

The Aspen Ideas Festival Experience As a Bezos Scholar

Sarah Tran shares how a week at the Aspen Ideas Festival transforms possibilities into purpose.

Three Years Later, a Student-Led Project Continues to Inspire Change

After three years, a student-led initiative shows how persistence turns ideas into ongoing impact.