Please read and follow the instructions carefully!!!!!

**Submission Deadline: Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST**

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Eligibility Requirements for Applicants:

• Must attend and engage both days of the virtual Youth Career and College Excellence Summit.

• Must have the camera on and engage both days.

• Must be one of the following:

  • Current high school student (freshman – senior), or

  • Current/continuing college student (technical vocational, or trade school, associates, bachelor's, or graduate degree)

• Residence status: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident

• GPA: Must provide verifiable documentation (unofficial transcript, final report card, etc.)

• Complete and submit the full scholarship application (missing documents will lower your score):​

• Complete the 500-word essay (artificial intelligence can not write you essay).

• Video (60-90 second video).

Application Checklist:

1. Scholarship Application (online only) - submitted by the deadline.

2. Scholar Profile - Develop and upload using the provided template.

3. Headshot (.jpg or .png) - Upload a clear headshot photo (no one else in the picture)​

4. School/College Verification - Enrollment/verification in high school (last report card), College acceptance, College enrollment (admissions or verification letter).

5. GPA Verification - Unofficial transcripts, report card, etc. (official transcripts are not required).

6. Essay - Write a concise and compelling 500-word: **AI-written essays are not acceptable**​​

   1. Essay Topic: Provide a 500-word essay on one career aspiration you are interested in pursuing. Include (1) a school or college that offers a training or career program that you are interested in, (2) describe the cost of attending that school or college and whether you have a plan to cover the cost, (3) share what or who inspired you to choose that career, and (4) one way you will make a difference in that career. Feel free to share any statistics or facts that highlight the importance of your career field.

   2. Writing your essay using AI is not acceptable and will limit your application success.

7. Video (60-90 sec) - Create a 60-90 second personalized video sharing key takeaways from the first Day of the YCCES (Aug. 8th) and share goals you would include in your Career Roadmap. Please be creative and innovative with your video.

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Technical Difficulties: Please upload all documents with this application. If and only if you experience technical difficulties uploading documents and/or videos, please email them before the deadline to: educationalexcellenceinc@gmail.com. Include: "Your Name and 2026 YCCES Scholarship Documents" in the Subject line.