The Everyday Hero Writing Scholarship

The RARE Foundation “Everyday Hero” Writing Scholarship is for high school seniors planning to attend a Michigan college, university or post secondary school after graduating. RARE’s purpose is to engage young people in identifying everyday heroes throughout our state and through the process of discovery and writing, to become inspired about life’s possibilities.

Winning students will receive a $2,500 scholarship toward tuition while the subject of the Everyday Hero essay will receive the RARE Foundation’s Everyday Hero Award and special recognition at the annual Night of Heroes Dinner.

Essay Theme - “An Everyday Hero in Our Community - A True Difference Maker.”

Students wishing to enter the scholarship competition are required to submit an original, well-documented essay about someone whom they consider to be an Everyday Hero because through their life’s work; they are making a difference for others, now and for the future.

Qualities students should look for in the person they choose to write about include a strong work ethic, commitment to what they believe in, selflessness in putting others first and integrity in the way they lead their daily lives. Special consideration will be given to students who focus on the individuals in their communities who do more than what is required of them and go above and beyond in making a difference in the world around them.

Judging Criteria

Each essay will be put into a category based upon the industry the Everyday Hero works in. Essays will be judged initially in that category to make it to the final round. Please note, the majority of the 2008-2009 essays were written about people who were teachers or worked directly for a non-profit organization. So, be sure to think outside of the box and consider people in other careers.

Essays will be reviewed and judged by the RARE Foundation Education Committee based on the following criteria:

• Quality of the Everyday Hero (how they have excelled at work and/or in the community)
• Quality of the essay
• Specific examples supporting why this person is an Everyday Hero (character values he/she possess, community activities he/she is involved in, etc.)
• Creativity of the essay

In cases of tie-breakers, judges will pay special attention to student’s ability to “think outside the box,” in recognizing an Everyday Hero who exemplifies an innovative approach to changing the world around them.

Click on the following links to learn more about this scholarship
Rules
Entry Form
Past Scholarship Essays
Program Description