Rise, an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, is one of the largest scholarship programs in the world. Top winners could be awarded $500,000 in benefits, depending on demonstrated need, over the course of their lives. Even though these benefits can be life-changing for the recipients, the resources are not all students will gain when joining the Rise global community.

With a focus on helping the brightest minds succeed despite their circumstances, anyone ages 15-17 can apply no matter where they live or how much they can afford for school. All that’s required is a student’s vision for a brighter world and a willingness to do something about it.

The application for the inaugural cohort is underway. Participants are in the second stage, working on a project to demonstrate their talent and passion. Along the way, they will learn valuable skills in professionalism and collaboration with global leaders through the Rise network.

In July, Rise will select 100 Global Winners to receive a lifetime of benefits. However, there is also an opportunity for all participants to access the organization’s resources and community to help them better their lives. Students can follow Rise on social media to attend virtual community events, learn from experts, and follow the journey of the first cohort.

The 100 students selected as the Rise Global Winners will receive financial aid for college, internships, and necessary technology. The amount given is based on the demonstrated need of each individual winner. In addition to the financial support, winners will receive access to free online courses as well as the invitation to attend a residential summit to learn more about potential career paths. This trip will be fully funded for the winners opening this benefit up to all interested participants.

The benefits of becoming a Rise Global Winner do not stop when a student graduates. Winners will receive mentorship as they start their careers and be able to apply for funding to help them make an impact with the work they do.

As part of the application process, participants will learn how to share their stories in an impactful way and learn how to represent themselves professionally. Participants will also start their portfolio off with an impressive project to showcase their skills. If a participant happens to apply for multiple years, they will have a professional project in their portfolio to showcase from each year they apply.

One great aspect of Rise is that participants can choose any project to submit with their application. This is intended to let the students’ talents, passions, and dreams shine through in the best way possible. From music and art to software development and political movements, applicants can demonstrate what they care about in the most meaningful way.

No matter the project, participants will start by creating a project plan and committing to spending 20-30 hours over two months completing their projects. After the project is complete, up to 500 finalists will be moved to the interview portion of the application process.

In this interview, participants will share their motivations, solutions for the future, and innovative thinking. From there, 100 Global Winners will be selected to win lifetime benefits.

Rise is a fabulous opportunity for students looking to make the world a better place despite their circumstances. Applications for the second cohort will open at the end of 2021. In the meantime, you can follow along the application journey of the first cohort on Rise’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @risefortheworld.

 

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