Alex Austin's Overcoming Adversity Scholarship

Alex Austin Scholarship

Scholarship details

Alex Austin, Long Beach native and defensive back for the Oregon State University Beavers, 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."

Now, Alex is partnering with Access Scholarships and Hirect to do exactly that! Three scholarships (one $1,000 award and two $500 awards) 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: $2,000

Number of awards: 3

Breakdown of awards: (1) $1,000, (2) $500

Deadline: September 1

Open to: High school & undergraduate students

Our 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!"

Apply now!

Our Overcoming Adversity Scholarship is now closed, and no longer accepting applications.

Head on over to our Featured Scholarships page to check out some more awesome opportunities.

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

Who can apply for the Overcoming Adversity 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. 

What is the deadline to apply? Are there any exceptions?

The deadline to apply is September 1, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. Applications that are not submitted by this date will not be considered.

What are the application requirements?

To apply, you must upload:

  • A written submission (as a PDF file)

Note: If you are selected as a finalist for the scholarship, you will be required to send in a copy of your transcript to verify that you meet the 2.5 minimum GPA requirement.

Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?

This scholarship is open to US citizens/permanent residents, as well as DACA recipients and international students currently studying in the US. International students outside of the US are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

What is the breakdown of the scholarship award amounts?

One award in the amount of $1,500

Two awards in the amount of $500

How are scholarship winners chosen?

Winners will be chosen primarily based on the written submission. 

If I win, how will I receive my scholarship?

If you are selected as a winner, you will be contacted by Access Scholarships via email to coordinate mailing the scholarship check directly to you.

If I have questions about the scholarship or about my application, who can I contact?

Great question! If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Scholarship winners

About the sponsors

Access Scholarships

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

Hirect

Hirect is a chat-based direct-hiring app that focuses on top tech startup hiring.

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

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