Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, or mentor, we all need role models.
Role models help us establish our moral compass, conquer challenges, and form our beliefs about the world. Often, it’s not until we lose a role model and look back on our lives that we realize how important these people are in shaping the people that we become.
My dad, John J. DiPietro, had a tremendously positive impact on my life. He was a hard-nosed Italian who taught me work before play, restraint before revelry, and desire before doubt. “Come out of the gate strong,” he’d say. “You’ll never be the smartest person in the room, but you can always work the hardest.”
Unfortunately, my dad died suddenly of a brain aneurysm when I was 25 years old. Since his passing, I’ve tried to make him proud by carrying what he taught me forward. Every day, I still try to rip through the gate and grind as hard as he would.
In honor of my wonderful father, the John J. DiPietro COME OUT STRONG Scholarship exists to support a hard-working student who gets the most out of every day.
The scholarship is open to high school seniors who will attend college in 2021 and current undergraduate students in any field of study. While not required, it’s a plus if you have overcome significant challenges, see obstacles as opportunities for growth, and demonstrate gratitude for those who have helped you on your path.
Please write about a role model in your life. What have you learned from this person? How have you applied these lessons to achieving your goals? How will you pay what you’ve learned forward?
The application deadline is May 31, 2021. Winners will be announced on Jun 20, 2021.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jun 20, 2021. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.