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🏆🥳 Announcing the winning essayist of the Be A Friend Project Scholarship... Yulai Woodruff! 👏🏽💕

Yulai is a student at East Hamilton High School in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Click to read her essay, centered around the idea of student podcasts, here!

Huge congratulations to all applicants who took the time to envision a kinder, bully-free world and how to achieve it. The Be A Friend Projects received close to 900 scholarship essay submissions from almost every state in the USA and around the world. All essays were scored by a panel of 8 judges using a rubric to assign points in the categories of creativity, personalization, feasibility, knowledge of bullying, and overall clarity.

 

We received so many great ideas to end bullying at school, it was difficult to judge! Apparent AI use cost many applicants points in the personalization and creativity categories, as did not meeting the required 500+ word count. 56 Finalists resulted from the first round of judging, and 5 essays were selected as runners-up to receive certificates, see below! Other essays stood out, too, for honorable mention which will be contacting also in the near future! 

Thank you, Scholarship Applicants! Submissions closed at 10pm EST on September 1st. Winner

Annual Be A Friend Project Scholarship

For High School Juniors & Seniors and College Freshmen!
Open from June 28, 2024 to September 1, 2024
One $500 winner will be announced on October 1, 2024
Applicants MUST be following at least one of the following social media handles:
Instagram: @thebeafriendproject
Facebook: @BAFproject
YouTube: @BeAFriendProject
ESSAY PROMPT:

Do you have a great idea to put an end to bullying? In 500 words or more, design a "bullying prevention and kindness" initiative that you believe would have a positive and measurable impact on ending bullying in your school or community. Propose actionable steps that could be peer-implemented to cultivate a safer, more empathetic and inclusive environment. Consider the importance of your peers (and administration) to “believe in” and support your plan, and any possible costs. Your perspective and insight as a teenager and a student is key.
SCORING:

Essays will be assessed on creativity (thinking outside of the box), personalization, feasibility (the chance of implementation) and knowledge of the subject of bullying and its consequences.
What grade are you in?
Which social media handle did you follow us on?

One winning essay will be selected by a panel of BAFP Board Directors and Executive Director, and announced on October 1st, 2024. Teen Kindness Board and Kindness Club members are encouraged to apply. Family of BAFP staff and Board Directors/Officers are excluded from applying. The panel will be given essays to read without author names or identifying information, essay only. 

The submission button was deactivated at 10pm on September 1st! Submissions are now closed. Winner will be notified by email on October 1st, and announced here and on our social media. We're excited to share we received over 850 scholarship essays - so many great ideas to end bullying! Good luck everyone! ❤️👏🏽

Thank you for submitting! Good Luck!

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