The Alert Scholarship

win a $500 scholarship!

You can help others become more alert by speaking out against the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. All eligible high school seniors (see requirements below) may enter the Alert college scholarship essay contest. With each edition of Alert Magazine we award a $500 college scholarship to the writer of the best drug and/or alcohol abuse-related essay that we receive for that state/region.

eligibility

  • You must currently be a senior in high school.
  • Your high school must be located in one of the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington or Wyoming.
  • You must have a grade point average of 2.5 or better.
  • You must have plans to attend college after graduation (the college you will attend can be located in any state).

requirements

  • Write an essay about a personal encounter you or someone you know has had with drug and/or alcohol abuse. In your essay explain how the situation was dealt with, what you learned from it, what others can learn from the experience, and what was right or wrong (in your opinion) about the way the incident or problem was handled. Scholarship essays are judged in the same way that essays written for a high school English class would be: thesis statement, supporting content, grammar, punctuation, etc.
  • Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and 650–800 words in length.
  • Essays must include an official copy of your high school transcripts.
  • Essays must also include a recent photo. Scholarship winners will have their picture reprinted in our magazine along with their winning essay, so please send a good quality color photo (no blurry printouts).
  • No application is needed and there is no deadline, but you must meet the eligibility requirements and include all of the items listed above to be considered.

How to apply

Email your essay, official school transcripts, photo (high quality file or scan), school name, and contact info (phone number, address, and e-mail) to: TheAlertMagazine@gmail.com.

Or, mail your essay, official school transcripts, photo, school name, and contact info (phone number, address, and e-mail) to:

Alert Magazine
Attn: Scholarship
PO Box 44411
Boise, ID  83711

Note: All essays submitted are the sole property of Denison Publishing and are subject to editing for length and/or content. The writer of the winning essay will receive the $500 Alert Scholarship and have his or her essay and photo published in Alert magazine. Winning essays may also be published on our website.

F.A.Q.

Alert Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

There is no deadline. The scholarship is ongoing and one is awarded with the publication of each edition of Alert magazine—approximately once or twice per year for each state/region. If you meet the eligibility requirements then you may apply at any time.

No, there is no application. Just be sure to submit all of the required items along with your essay.

Not yet. A previous winners page may be coming soon.

If the high school you attend is located in Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, or Alaska then you may apply for the scholarship. The scholarship is not open to high schools in any other states at this time.

No, you can make up names for the people in your essay to protect peoples’ identities and privacy if you’d like. However, the events described in your essay must be 100% real. If you do decide to use made-up names, please mention that you are doing so in your essay.

We must have your real name and contact information in order to award you the scholarship if you are the essay contest winner. We also would like you to use your real name in your essay. Your name and photo will be published along with your essay if you are awarded the scholarship.

Please reread the information on this page carefully. All of the requirements are explained here. If you still have questions you may contact us.