Celebrate NYW with the New Walsworth Signature Scholarship
It’s no secret that National Yearbook Week is our favorite holiday, but what has been a secret until today is that Walsworth is celebrating this year in a bigger-than-ever way with our brand new Signature Scholarship! We’ve been bursting to share the big news about the two $4,500 student scholarships we’re offering to junior and senior yearbook students. That’s right – $4,500! It’s part of Walsworth’s ongoing commitment to supporting student journalism and the legacy of the yearbook, both now and in the future.
How Does It Work?
We know the most impactful stories often take the most effort to uncover – the ones that require grit, determination, instinct and a commitment to storytelling to discover. Every person has a story, and every story deserves to be told. We want to honor the commitment of yearbook students who shine a spotlight on the stories within their community that might otherwise be overlooked.
The Signature Scholarship asks junior and senior yearbook students to submit a 2-3 minute video essay explaining how they uncover the untold stories in their school community. The scholarship runs through Dec. 6, and Walsworth will award a $4,500 scholarship to each of the two winning entries.
We encourage applicants to consider the following topics as a starting point to help explore this theme. These are mere suggestions – feel free to focus on one or explore multiple as time allows.
- Define what “untold stories” mean to you and why they are important to a yearbook. Explain your interpretation in the context of your school and community. Why are these stories significant, and how do they contribute to the yearbook’s role as a historical document?
- Describe how you embrace this role as a storyteller. Illustrate your personal approach to finding and telling these stories. How do you actively seek out unique perspectives or moments that may go unnoticed by others?
- Share a specific example of an untold story you uncovered. What steps did you take to find this story, and why was it important to include in your yearbook? What impact did it have on your school community?
- Apply this experience to your future. Reflect on how your yearbook experience of uncovering hidden stories has shaped your skills or perspectives. How do you see this impacting your future career, education or life after high school?
Entries will be judged based upon video essay content, presentation, storytelling, engagement and technical quality, and scholarship recipients will be notified by Jan. 31, 2025.
Who is Eligible?
The Signature Scholarship is open to all junior and senior high school students currently on their school’s yearbook staff at any high school within the United States. The money can be used to further post-secondary education. So if you know a junior or senior yearbook student (and we’re guessing you may know one or two), encourage them to apply by submitting their video essay using the form here. To view a complete list of scholarship rules and guidelines, click here.
Why is Walsworth Doing This?
Being on yearbook staff sometimes means stepping into the background as you record from the sidelines of history, shining the light on those around you. Yearbook students discover some of the greatest untold stories, which is a worthwhile story in and of itself. We want to recognize the outstanding effort it takes to do what you do.
Walsworth President Don Walsworth echoes this sentiment.
“At Walsworth, we have always believed in the power of storytelling. The Signature Scholarship reflects our deep-rooted commitment to supporting student journalists who bring these untold stories to life. We’re excited to see the impact their work will have in their schools and communities, both now and in the years to come.”
While few understand the full scope of the work you do, we know how important and valuable it is to not only your community, but the legacy of your school year.
Why Wait?
We can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from $4,500. We would even argue it should be a requirement for every junior and senior on your staff to apply. Encourage your students to enter now through Dec. 6 to share their stories and help celebrate all things yearbook.
Interested in learning more? Talk to your Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative today to discover how your students can take full advantage of this exciting new scholarship opportunity.
