Who Can Apply:
- The Peyton Heart Project mission is to raise global awareness about suicide, bullying, and to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
- Peyton James was a beloved son who passed away too soon due to suicide after facing bullying and mental health issues.
- Bullying and the mental illness it exacerbates can increase the likelihood of suicide. When facing these struggles, it’s critical to tell trusted friends or loved ones and to seek help. The stigmatization of mental health adds an extra barrier to seeking treatment. This stigma costs lives, and fighting back against it is important to usher in a more accepting future.
- This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Peyton James by raising awareness for mental health and the importance of seeking help.
- Any high school senior at Dripping Springs High School in Texas may apply for this scholarship opportunity.
Submission: Write a short essay including an introduction about you (who you are, where you attended high school, where you plan to attend college, and your intended field of study) and answer ONE of the following questions:
1. The Peyton Heart Project uses small handmade hearts left in public places to remind people that their lives matter, and that there is still good in the world. Describe a time when a seemingly small act of kindness— either given, received, or witnessed—had a profound impact on your mental well-being or that of someone you know . How do you plan to use small, intentional actions, to foster a more compassionate community during your college years?
2. Many advocates are driven by personal experiences—whether navigating their own mental health journeys, supporting a friend through a dark time, or standing up against bullying. Please share your personal connection to these issues. How has this shaped your character, your choice of study, or your vision for how you want to advocate for others in the future?
3. Why is it important to treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical health? Please provide examples from your experiences or observations.
Deadline: April 17, 2027
Amount: $2,000
Learn More: https://bold.org/scholarships/peyton-heart-project-scholarship-in-memory-of-peyton-james/
