Founded by Venus Morris Griffin, whose own children have an incarcerated parent, this $10,000 award goes to one U.S. high school senior per year who currently has at least one biological parent incarcerated. The founder is explicit that the scholarship is not academic-based — grades are not the point when home life isn't stable — so there's no minimum GPA to meet. Instead of letters of recommendation, applicants submit a single personal letter (one per student or household) addressing their parent's incarceration, its impact on their life, how they're working to overcome it, how the $10,000 would help, and how they hope to pay it forward. The award is paid toward tuition during the student's first or second year after high school graduation. The 2026 cycle closed May 7, 2026; the foundation has not yet posted a date for the next round.
Eligibility
DemographicsMust be a U.S. high school senior who currently has at least one biological parent incarcerated; not need-tested or GPA-based.
Applying
$10,000 one-time award, paid toward tuition during the student's first or second year after high school graduation.