REGIONS RIDING FORWARD® SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST
Stories Worth Sharing Happen Every Day
Whether it’s a story of individual impact or community efforts for change, the leadership and actions of Black Americans who inspire us are stories worth sharing. Tell us about a Black American individual who has inspired you for the opportunity to earn a $3,500 or $5,000 college scholarship.
Whose inspiring story will you share?
Write about a Black American individual who has inspired and motivated you for the opportunity to earn a $3,500 or $5,000 college scholarship. Essays should be 500 words or less and should:
Address how a Black American individual has been an inspiration in your life.
Discuss the contributions of the Black American individual who has served to inspire and motivate you.
- High School Seniors
Regions will award $5,000 scholarships to 15 high school seniors who live in states with Regions branches and will attend an accredited college in the United States during the 2021-2022 academic school year. - College Students
Regions will award $3,500 scholarships to 15 freshmen, sophomores or juniors who permanently reside in, or currently attend an accredited college in, states with Regions branches and will attend an accredited college in the United States during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
How to Enter
1. Complete an online application
Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest from February 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. Complete and save all requested information.
2. Write your essay
Choose a Black American individual whose story worth sharing has inspired you. It could be a historical figure, someone famous, a role model or a person you know. Just make sure the individual inspires and motivates you. For guidance, review the “How to Enter” instructions and the “Contest Judging” criteria in sections 4 and 5 of the Official Rules, and be sure your essay is 500 words or less. You can write your essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.
3. Review and submit
Review your information, check your essay for spelling and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on March 31, 2021.
4. Await notification
Winning essays are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your essay was selected, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information. Scholarship checks will be awarded by July 31, 2021.
Eligibility
For purposes of this contest:
The “Eligible States” are defined as the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
An “accredited college” is defined as a nonprofit, two or four-year college or university located within one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.
To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award, you must be either a high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore or junior and meet all of the following applicable criteria at time of entry.
High school seniors:
Be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States
Be age 13 or older
Be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the Eligible States
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (as calculated on a 4.0 scale)
Plan to attend an accredited college during the 2021-2022 academic school year
College students:
Be either a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States or a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia) enrolled in an accredited college located in one of the Eligible States
Be age 16 or older
Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college and have least one year (or 18 credit hours) remaining before college graduation
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (or, if no GPA is provided by your school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent)
Plan to attend an accredited college during the 2021-2022 academic school year
