Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Direct application
$10,000
25 winners
Eligibility
Education level
High school
About this scholarship
Young people ages 8 to 18 (not yet 19) who are permanent legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and have led an extraordinary individual service project benefiting people or the environment within the past 12 months may apply for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
Up to twenty-five winners each receive $10,000, which may be used for higher education or to support their service project. Winners also receive a plaque, certificate, and access to a professional network.
The two-step application requires a pre-application by March 15 and a full application with three letters of recommendation by April 15. The prize was established in 2001 by author T. A. Barron.
Essay questions
What else to submit
- Pre-application
- Full application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Project essay
- Project summary
- Project title and short description
- At least one color applicant photo
- Two-step application process: short online pre-application (Step 1, due March 15) then full online application (Step 2, due April 15) if deemed eligible
- Eligibility: ages 8-18 (not yet 19) on April 15; permanent legal residents of U.S. or Canada residing in the 50 states, DC, or Canada; currently leading an inspiring service project
- Three Letters of Recommendation required (one from a Lead Reference, two additional); uploaded directly by recommenders, not the applicant; family members ineligible as references
- Lead Reference letter must not exceed 1,000 words and answer five specified questions; the two additional letters must not exceed 500 words each
- At least one color photo of the applicant (.JPG only), up to three photos total
- Optional: up to five Supplemental Materials (links/uploads); optional project social media/website fields; Type of Project selection (Humanitarian or Environmental)
- Parental consent required for applicants under 16
- 15 top winners receive $10,000; 25 winners honored annually
- Applicants under age 16 require parental consent.
- Optional supplemental materials, project social-media links, and website fields may be submitted.