Alex Austin's Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Scholarship details

Alex Austin, Long Beach native, ex-defensive back for the Oregon State University Beavers, and current cornerback for the Houston Texans is no stranger to overcoming adversity.

"This scholarship is important to me because I know that everyone battles with adversity at some point in their life. I myself had to overcome adversity to get me to where I am today. This is why I want to give back to students who have shown resilience in overcoming their own challenges."

Once again, Alex is partnering with Access Scholarships to do exactly that! 5 scholarships (each worth $1,000) will be awarded to students who have overcome hardship throughout their lives.

High school and undergraduate students of all years are encouraged to apply. Special consideration will be given to minority students, as well as students who are or will be the first in their family to attend college. 

Scholarship overview

Total amount: $5,000

Number of awards: 5

Breakdown of awards: (5) $1,000

Deadline: April 15, 2024 

Winners announced: by May 15, 2024

Open to: High school & undergraduate students

Apply now!

  • *Only to be used to contact you if we cannot get in touch via email
  • For the purposes of this scholarship: A first-generation college student is someone who is the first in their family to attend a four-year college or university (older siblings do not count). Groups categorized as "minority" include racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and disability.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 256 MB.
    Please submit a PDF file with the document name "First name_Last name Scholarship Submission". If you do not submit the written portion of the application in this format, your application will not be considered.

Essay question

Please read and respond to the following prompt:

Overcoming adversity and hardships of all shapes and sizes are often what help us to build resiliency. In 500 words or less, tell us about a time that you encountered an obstacle or challenge. How did you navigate this situation, and what lessons did you learn from it? 

Frequently asked questions AND important notes about this scholarship

The Overcoming Adversity Scholarship is open to high school and undergraduate students of all years who are 13 years of age and older who have at least a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). 

Students of all majors/areas of study are welcome to apply. 

2022 Scholarship Winners

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Artem K.

$500 Winner

High School Senior from Illinois

"It is an honor to receive this scholarship. As college is becoming increasingly expensive, many students, including myself, have to rely on scholarships to afford it, so I am extremely grateful to Access Scholarships, Alex Austin, and Hirect for this opportunity. I will put it towards a degree in computer science, which I will use to help others while working for the government or a nonprofit."

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Yasmin Y.

$1,000 Winner

College Senior from California

"I am thrilled to be awarded Alex Austin’s Overcoming Adversity Scholarship! This award is a wonderful way for me to celebrate the hurdles I have overcome throughout my college career. Because I am graduating soon, I will be putting this scholarship towards my student loans. I want to thank Alex Austin for creating this opportunity for myself and the other scholarship winners. Students face a wide range of adversities throughout their college years, and I am grateful that this scholarship was inclusive of my individual experiences."

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Lanaya C.

$500 Winner

College Sophomore from New Jersey

"As a first-generation student, I have a tendency to place a lot of emphasis on my academics. A scholarship like this helps me realize that life is about more than just studying and getting excellent grades, that I am a person with a narrative, and that my character is constantly evolving. With the help of this scholarship, I intend to launch my own small business. And your scholarship serves to remind me that prosperity has no limits, despite the challenges we encounter in life. Thank you!"

About the sponsors

Access Scholarships

Access Scholarships is a free scholarship search engine and college resource platform for students.

Alex Austin

Alex Austin is an Oregon State alum and current cornerback for the Houston Texans.

Photo credits: Hirect, OSU Athletics, Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

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