For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Greenfield Peace Scholarship is an opportunity to hear from young Oregonians on some of the most pressing issues of our time. We sponsor this annual writing scholarship in order to encourage Oregon’s youth to consider their leadership role in promoting a more healthy, just, and peaceful world.

As our tactics for social change continuously evolve, we recognize the power of social media and the Internet in shaping our access to information and making it possible to share our experiences in new ways. In past years, we have asked participants to submit written and visual art, but this year, we are seeking to see and hear the voices of change in a new year. For this year’s Greenfield Peace Scholarship, we are asking participants to creatively respond to the following prompt: “Half of the US discretionary budget goes to the military every year. How would you spend it instead?”

We are asking that you submit a video performance (3 minutes max) of your own original poem, song, or rap by Friday, March 18th, 2022 at 11:59 PM to be considered for this year’s scholarship. Please note: This year's scholarship is open to low-income students only.

We recognize that access to internet and recording equipment may vary greatly across participants, so please note that submissions will be judged on creativity and lyrical content over video quality and production. If you do not have access to the equipment necessary to record and submit your video submission, email jackie@oregonpsr.org. We are committed to hearing from all interested and eligible students, and we will work with you to make sure that your voice is heard! 

Background and Brainstorming Questions

To a generation born after 9/11, never-ending war is the norm. Very few anti-war movements have gained traction since worldwide protests opposing the US-Iraq War took place on February 15th, 2003, spanning over 600 cities across the globe. For most high school juniors and seniors, these anti-war events occurred before their birth. In the past two decades, the military has continued to operate with increased yearly funding, but a sense of decreased visibility and scrutiny from the public. Meanwhile, young people are being raised in a world that is saturated with tragic events through the globalized internet, twenty-four hour news notifications, and social media.

In recent years, young people have been at the forefront of movements for a wide range of social justice issues, ranging from climate justice to the Black Lives Matter movement, from stronger restrictions on guns to changing the way we think about policing and mass incarceration. Yet, due to the military’s incomprehensible power and protections, many of the countless atrocities of war are invisible or kept hidden. Regardless of whether the president is a Democrat or Republican, the military budget continues to grow, drone strikes continue to cause civilian deaths, veterans continue to suffer, and low-income young people continue to be recruited into military service at higher rates than their wealthier peers. And yet, we have no strong movement against militarism and war.

As Generation Z is bombarded with anxiety-inducing news through social media in a fast-moving, globalized world, it can feel impossible to stay focused. At a time when countless issues are demanding the attention of young people, think about one of the issues that matters most to you. Then, brainstorm how you would devise creative solutions to this issue if you had the resources that are currently available to the US military (public and governmental support, fiscal resources, a stellar research and development team, the newest, cutting-edge technologies, etc.) as you respond to the following prompt: “Half of the U.S. discretionary budget goes to the military every year. How would you spend it instead?”

Potential Questions for Brainstorming Your Creative Response:

1. Think about the ways that a budget serves as a “moral document.” What does our military spending say about America’s values and morality?

2. Why do you think there is so little discussion about the human and economic cost of war?  What impact do you think the US’s enormous war budget has on your community and your family, if any? 

3. Do you believe large anti-war movements might reappear in the future? What do you think it would take for public sentiment against military intervention to reach levels seen during the height of the Vietnam or Iraq War?

4. Climate disruption has become understood as an intersectional issue - addressing climate change positively affects many other areas of social justice. Could we also think this way when it comes to demilitarization and decreasing war spending?

5. What inspired your entry, and why did you feel it was important to highlight this issue? Is your entry based on lived experiences, fiction, or both?

Eligibility Criteria and Accommodations

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

-Be a resident of Oregon

-Be a junior or senior in high school

-Identify as low-income*

*For the purposes of this scholarship, we define low-income as qualifying for free lunch or SNAP benefits. If neither of these apply to you, but you identify as low-income, please describe your situation in a few sentences when you submit your scholarship entry (ex. “my caretakers are unemployed,” “I have an income-based full-tuition scholarship at a private school,” etc.). If you are unsure whether or not you qualify, please email jackie@oregonpsr.org. 

Again, if internet speed or technology poses a barrier that might prevent your participation in this year’s scholarship, please contact jackie@oregonpsr.org. We will provide you with the resources you need!

Submission Form (Google Forms)

https://forms.gle/LiBECG7f1HNbXrQM7 

We are opening for applications! The applications are usually offered only a few times per year. 

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Checklist for Submitting College/Scholarship Applications and Essays

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College Planning Website: Oregon Goes to College - It's A Plan!  Great resources for students and families.

College and Scholarship Organization Worksheet - One way to compare colleges and the scholarships they have to offer.

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Oregon Community Colleges - Find your college application deadlines,  application fees and watch step-by step videos on how to apply to Public Universities in the State of Oregon  (not all colleges have application videos at this time)

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Part 2: Profile (5 mins 50 sec)

Part 3: Family (2 mins 14 sec)

Part 4: Education  (8 mins 16 sec)

Part 5: Testing  (1 min 52 sec)

Part 6: Activities (2 mins 20 sec)

Part 7: College - Specific Supplements  (2 mins 52 sec)

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CAREER ONE STOP  Occupation videos of jobs and careers.

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Undocumented student resources: HERE Oregon Gear Up understands that undocumented students face unique challenges in accessing and paying for higher education. This website has helpful information for undocumented students and their families. 

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Want to play sports in College?  NCAA Eligibility Center  As a college-bound student athlete, you are responsible for your eligibility - that means planning ahead, taking high school classes seriously and protecting your amateur status. If you want to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year at a Division 1 or 2 school, the NCAA Eligibility Center must certify you as eligible.

Collegiate Athletics Visit Questions - Are you considering playing collegiate sports? When you meet with coaches consider questions like these.