MANSFIELD - The Mansfield-based mental health nonprofit 33 Forever Inc. will award 3 scholarships in the spring of 2021 for post-high school education to graduating seniors in Richland County.
These scholarships, named “The 33 Forever Scholarship In Honor of Danielle Leedy," are each one-time awards of $1,333 to one Richland County high school senior and additional awards to one senior at both Lexington and Ontario High Schools who intend to pursue education after high school.
Leedy was a 2003 graduate of Lexington High School and the Ontario scholarship was specifically made possible as a result of a special contribution from Dan and Brenda Niss. 33 Forever hopes to continue to expand this scholarship further in the future as funding permits.
The scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria and not on financial need. To qualify:
• The applicant must have a minimum high school grade point average of 2.0.
• The applicant must be attending a two- or four-year degree-granting accredited institution the next school year, seeking a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
• The applicant must provide a written essay describing either an obstacle the applicant has overcome, or ways in which the applicant has had to demonstrate resilience, or how a mental health issue/challenge has affected someone the applicant knows.
It should also describe how the above has impacted the applicant and the applicant’s future or how they live their life as a result or why they are the person they are. It should also describe the applicant’s future goals or aspirations, both short and long term.
The applicant must further demonstrate and describe his or her involvement in a community service project or program or some other activity supporting others in the community.
Finally, the applicant must provide a listing/description of the applicant’s high school, community and/or work activities during high school.
Further details/requirements/forms can be obtained by contacting the high school guidance counselors at the respective schools.
Applications must be received by 33 Forever on or before 5 p.m. April 15 by hand delivery or email to: 33 Forever, Inc., 1 Marion Ave., Suite 215, Mansfield, OH 44903 or email to jeff@33forever.life. Late applications will not be considered.
The scholarship recipients will be selected by the 33 Forever Inc. Board of Directors (or an appointed committee of the board) and will be announced at the spring senior awards day at each school.
33 Forever, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by the family and friends of Danielle Leedy, a vibrant, strong, professional young woman who lost a long battle to chronic depression in February 2019. It was created to honor Danielle’s life and her longtime passion to raise awareness, empower and comfort those struggling with the disease of depression, anxiety and finding self worth, including suicidal thoughts.
For more information and an online application form, visit www.33forever.life or the 33 Forever Facebook or Instagram pages.