The Phillips Foundation has announced that applications are now being accepted for its Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program featuring renewable, merit-based scholarships of up to $10,000 for college undergraduate leader-activists who demonstrate leadership on behalf of freedom, American values, and Constitutional principles.
The Foundation intends to award scholarships in amounts of $10,000, $7,500, $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 for the 2013–2014 academic year. For academic year 2012–2013, the Foundation authorized $108,500 in scholarships to 50 students, including 12 scholarship renewals. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships.
The Phillips Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 to advance Constitutional principles, a democratic society, and a vibrant free enterprise system. The Foundation also is known for its annual Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program which provides grants to promising young print and online journalists.
The Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program, established in 1999, seeks to recognize outstanding leader-activists on campus and in the community who are making significant, positive differences — often against great odds — to promote American values on college campuses where “political correctness” usually reigns. The scholarships are intended to help alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education, permitting the winners to devote more time to pursuing their academic goals and advancing their leadership initiatives. For academic year 2013-2014, the Trustees plan to award scholarships to the top 100 student activists confronting “political correctness” and ideological conformity on campuses nationwide.
To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled full-time and in good standing at any accredited, 4-year, degree-granting institution in the U.S. or its territories. Applicants apply for a scholarship during their sophomore year. Winners receive the award for their junior year and may apply for renewal for their senior year. First-time applicants who are juniors may apply for a one-time scholarship awarded for the senior year.
Applicants must submit an essay of 500 to 750 words describing their backgrounds, career objectives, and scope of participation in leadership activities promoting freedom, American values, and Constitutional principles. The essay should also speak to the ideological climate at the applicant’s school and how he or she is addressing it. In addition, supporting documentation and at least two letters of recommendation are required. The program is merit-based, although evidence of financial need is taken into account.
Applications must be postmarked by January 15, 2013. Phillips Foundation trustees will serve as judges of the applications. The winners will be selected in early April 2013.
Applications and further information are available at www.thephillipsfoundation.org. All necessary materials can be downloaded from the site and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the complete program information online before contacting The Phillips Foundation. Applicants or others without Internet access may request an identical printed copy of the materials by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to The Phillips Foundation, 1 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20001, Attention: Jeff Hollingsworth. Phone: 202-250-3887 ext. 628. E-mail: jhollingsworth@thephillipsfoundation.org
