For Parents
Everything you need to know to help your child through the Carson Scholars Fund scholarship process.
Scholarship Program
Open to students in grades 4-11 at accredited schools within the US who are nominated by an educator to apply for a $1,000 college scholarship.
Recognition Program
Honors students who have already received the Carson Scholarship and continue to exemplify academic excellence and dedication to service.
Reading Room
The Ben Carson Reading Project creates engaging school reading spaces that empower children to discover the joy of reading and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Alumni Connection
Fosters meaningful connections among Carson Scholar alumni through networking, mentorship, and engagement opportunities as they pursue college and career success.
Parents cannot directly request applications. Only educators and schools can nominate students for the Carson Scholars Program.
Connect with your child’s school
School Requests to Participate
School Nominates a Student
Your Child Completes The Application
If your child is nominated to apply, he/she will receive an application through email once the nomination is approved. Complete and submit the application, including an essay, teacher recommendation letter, and submission of a current report card, before the deadline.
Basic eligibility requirements for the Carson scholarship.
The Carson Scholarship is available to students who are nominated by their school to apply. How schools determine their nominee is unique to each school and isn’t mandated by the Carson Scholars Fund.
To qualify, students must:
- Be enrolled in grades 4-11 at an eligible school
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Actively participate in acts of service
- Not already be a recipient of the scholarship
Recognition Program
- Application emailed directly to scholars each fall.
- Scholar must maintain a 3.75+ GPA and demonstrate active involvement in service (3-hour minimum requirement).
- No nomination, essay, or teacher recommendation required.
- Opportunity for the scholar to renew Carson Scholar status without receiving a monetary award.
- Open to all Carson Scholars through senior year of high school.
Important Deadlines
Pertaining to the 2027 scholarship cycle. All deadlines are final.
Nominations Open
Educators from participating schools will receive emailed communications with the form to nominate.
Nomination Deadline
Schools must submit the nomination form to the Carson Scholars Fund by 11:59 PM EST.
Application Deadline
Complete and submit the full application, including essay, report card and letter(s) of recommendation, by 11:59 PM EST.
Recommendations Due
Teacher and counselor recommendation letters must be received.
Scholarship Notifications
All applicants and schools are notified via email and published on the website in the first week of March.
2027 Essay Questions
Students choose one essay question from their grade category to address as part of the application.
- Teachers help us grow in many ways. Think about a teacher, coach, family member, or mentor who taught you something important. Describe what you learned and explain how you could use that lesson to help another person. How can sharing what you’ve learned make your community stronger?
- Imagine you’ve been asked to give a “Book Talk” to your classmates to encourage them to read a book that you really love. In essay format, write your speech. Be sure to include the title of the book, why you would recommend the book and what lesson(s) could be learned from the story.
- People often think about leaving a legacy later in life, but our actions today shape how others remember us. What kind of legacy do you want to begin building now? Explain how education, service, and paying it forward can help you leave a positive impact on your school and community.
- Leadership is not only about being in charge—it’s also about helping others succeed. Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership by serving someone else. What qualities do you believe make an effective leader?
- Many works of art, music, literature, scientific discoveries, and innovations can shape the way we view ourselves and the world around us. Write an essay about one such work or idea that had a meaningful impact on your thinking and discuss how it influenced your outlook.
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky
Tell a story about a time you took a shot at something. In your story, include how this experience impacted your life (positively or negatively) and share what came out of the experience.
Scholarship Payouts
Payouts are made twice a year, for the fall and spring semesters, and sent directly to your scholar’s school.
How Payouts Work
- Spring of 12th grade you’ll receive an email with access to your final scholarship statement and a payout request form.
- Complete and submit the payout request form by the deadline.
- Full or partial payouts are available.
- You can defer your scholarship payout for up to 3 years after high school graduation.
- After the payout window closes, your funds are mailed directly to your college/university.
Requesting a Payout
When you’re ready to use your funds, complete and submit the payout request emailed to you during an open payout window.
Keep Your Info Updated
Contact us to ensure we have your current mailing address, email address(es) and phone number so payout information reaches you.
Know Your Dates
Find important payout dates, deadlines, and everything you need to know about the payout process on the alumni page.
“By winning that scholarship early on in my academic career, I was given an opportunity that other kids in my grade were not. The award inspired me to think about colleges early on, my future career pathways, and the steps to take to achieve those dreams.”
– Jacy Z.
7-time Carson Scholar
How can my child’s school open a reading room?
If you are interested in having a reading room in your child’s school, please ask a member of the school’s leadership team to review the eligibility criteria. Eligible schools are encouraged to have a principal, assistant principal, or other authorized school representative complete and submit a reading room application.
Interested in volunteering with the Carson Scholars Fund?
Whether you’re interested in scoring scholarship applications, helping at an awards banquet or starting a local chapter to fundraise and raise awareness on behalf of the Carson Scholars Fund, we’re happy to have you here!
Find a Chapter
Chattanooga Chapter
Lee County Chapter
Maryland Chapter
Palm Beach Chapter
Pittsburgh Chapter
West Coast Chapter
