Ignite the Spirit Scholarship Package
It’s not about what you’ve accomplished for yourself. It’s about what you’ve done to help someone else. You don’t have to save a life to change a life. Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness makes the biggest difference.
“What Have You Done to Make Someone Else’s Life Better?”
We all have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes, it’s through a generous act. Other times, it’s through a simple kindness that means more than you realize. Whatever your age, your story matters. Choose your category below and tell us yours.
The Power of Kindness (Grammar School)
To Apply: Tell us about something you did for another person that was a kind gesture. Why did you do it, and how did it make you feel? Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education Level: Grammar School
Essay Length: 200–400 Words
Scholarships Awarded: (3) $1,500
Making a Difference (High School)
To Apply: Describe a time when you went out of your way to help someone without expecting anything in return. What did you learn from that experience? Focus on compassion, personal responsibility, and the initiative you showed.
Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education Level: High School
Essay Length: 200–400 Words
Scholarships Awarded: (2) $2,500
A Commitment to Giving Back (College)
To Apply: Share an experience where your actions made a meaningful difference in someone’s life or in your community. How has that experience shaped your commitment to help others? Focus on service, leadership, lasting impact, and future commitment.
Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education Level: College
Essay Length: 200-400 Words
Scholarships Awarded: (1) $3,000
2027 Drew Price Student Athletic Scholarship (High School)
More Than an Athlete – Making a Difference.
The scholarship would recognize a student athlete who demonstrates dedication to their sport while making a positive impact on teammates, classmates, family, and their community.
To Apply: Tell us about a time when you put someone else’s needs ahead of your own, either in sports, academics, or your community. What did you do, why did you do it, and how did that experience change you? Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education: High School
Essay Length: 300 Words Minimum/500 Words Maximum
Scholarship Awarded: (1) $2,500
Dave Meyer Memorial Scholarship (High School)
Honoring a Legacy of Kindness, Compassion, and Service to Others.
This scholarship honors the life and legacy of Captain Dave Meyer by recognizing students who demonstrate a genuine passion for helping others and making the world a better place. Captain Meyer’s legacy reminds us that making a difference does not always require extraordinary actions but the actions of kindness and compassion. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can have the greatest impact on someone’s life.
To Apply: Describe a time when you went out of your way to help someone or made a positive difference in your community. What inspired you to help? What actions did you personally take, and what did the experience teach you about kindness, compassion, and helping others? Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education: High School
Essay Length: 200–300 Words
Scholarship Awarded: (1) $2,500
Mike Lynch Legacy Scholarship (High School)
Honoring a Life of Service, Courage, and Resilience. The Lieutenant Mike Lynch Legacy Scholarship will continue to honor the memory of Lieutenant Mike Lynch, who dedicated his career with the Chicago Fire Department to protecting others and whose life was tragically cut short by cancer. Mike’s legacy is a reminder that true courage extends beyond the firehouse. It is found in the strength to face adversity, the determination to overcome life’s challenges, and the compassion we show to others during their most difficult moments, something he demonstrated to the very end.
Through this scholarship, Ignite the Spirit invites high school students to share how cancer has touched their lives and how that experience has shaped the person they are today.
How Has Cancer Changed Your Life and Inspired You to Make a Difference?
To Apply: Share a personal experience involving cancer — whether your own journey, that of a loved one, or someone whose experience influenced you. Explain what you learned about courage, resilience, compassion, and how those lessons have inspired you to help others or make a positive difference. Submit the completed document to richardp@ignitethespirit.org.
Education: High School
Essay Length: 300–500 Words
Scholarship Awarded: (1) $2,500
Essays will be accepted from November 15, 2026, through January 15, 2027.
Completed essays must be submitted as PDF files to richardp@ignitethespirit.org by January 15, 2027, to be considered for a 2026–2027 scholarship.
Winners will be announced on ignitethespirit.org on February 15, 2027.
