The Coolidge

Last month, I covered a city-wide writing contest, only available to Grants Pass Middle and High School students. For this issue, I thought to step it up more than a few notches. This issue, I will be covering The Coolidge. This scholarship is only available to junior-year high school students, but one can always start preparing beforehand; preparation and polished work are the keys to success. The Coolidge is a full-ride scholarship available to high school juniors nationwide; it is awarded annually to a few (and I mean a few) select applicants. Additionally, it is redeemable at any (you read that right, ANY) United States university or college.

As aforementioned, the presidential scholarship and the “Coolidge Scholar" title will only be awarded to a select few, but smaller, single-use scholarships are still up for grabs, and those who make it into the top one-hundred applicants will have the opportunity to indulge in the category of “Coolidge Senators”, which gives access to the Washington D.C.-located Senators Summit. Here, one can meet with other bright individuals and tour the nation's capital, while learning about President Calvin Coolidge. This scholarship will have many applicants, all boasting excellency in academics, charming personalities of servitude to others, and humility. The Coolidge Scholarship is a diamond in a field of corn. The competition will be fierce; it is my advice that those interested begin their applications as soon as possible. (Hint: you can click on the image to the right and begin immediately.)

The deadline is on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. Applicants must complete a profile for themselves to begin the application; they should also have exactly two letters of recommendation turned in before the deadline (that cannot be from a family member or peer). These letters should come from people who can speak for your academic abilities and achievements. The other letter should come from someone who can advocate for your character and accomplishments beyond the classroom. Applicants must also complete a statement of honesty, submit their most up-to-date transcript, resume, important test scores (if applicable), and three essays covering subjects such as one’s academic interests and why they are attracted to them; the explanation of one of Coolidge’s principles and why it mattered to him; Coolidge's stance between people and government the results and additional questions provided on the application.

Winners of the initial application process will gain finalist status and move onto an orientation/interview event in Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, where finalists will meet with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury determining the few winners of The Coolidge Scholarship. If interested, please look at the official site of The Coolidge provided below, and as stated previously, begin work on applications immediately. I hope to hear of GPHS students making it into the higher stages of the application process and will be optimistic about seeing some of you in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Please remember to use the form at the bottom of the page to provide some feedback and, until next time, work hard and good luck!