Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship

When we bring the darkness to light, it will slowly fade.

About the Scholarship

Sheri Rosser on hot air balloon
My amazing mom, Sherise Rosser

Despite living in the most prosperous and interconnected time in history, rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide are on the rise. In the United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. It kills someone every 12 minutes.

What’s our solution to the vast and growing mental health problem? A society that tunes out those who struggle and a broken system that offers addictive pharmaceutical drugs, outdated and inconsistent therapy practices, and understaffed hospitals with mediocre care.

My mom, Sheri Rosser, was a victim of this broken approach.

After struggling with depression for decades, going in and out of hospitals, and taking dozens of medications, she lost all hope and took her own life in 2017. It was the most painful and devastating experience of my life.

The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship is dedicated to my mom Sherise Rosser, a wonderful woman who taught me the power of authenticity, belief, and compassion.

My hope is that the scholarship inspires greater awareness about mental health and fuels innovative solutions that help the millions of people who are suffering.

When we bring the darkness to light, it will slowly fade.

P.S.: If you’d like to create a scholarship, you can learn how to start a scholarship fund here.

P.S.S. If you’re looking for good life advice to help you on your path, check out these 40 great pieces of advice and this list of the best self-help books, which includes books for navigating difficult times.

Scholarship Details

The scholarship will be awarded to one high school or university student.

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Timeline

The next application deadline is April 30, 2024. 
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$500 Cash Award

Life and school are expensive. The $500 cash award is designed to lessen the financial burden of life.
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Pay it Forward

If you know someone who might be a good fit, encourage them to apply. If you win the scholarship, pay it forward by helping others.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must meet the requirements below. Please read the requirements carefully to ensure you meet eligibility before applying.

To apply, you will need to write a 500-1,000 word essay about the following: How has your experience with mental health influenced your beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations?

Meet the previous scholarship winners

Scholarship FAQ

When is the scholarship deadline?

The application deadline is April 30, 2024.

What is the scholarship prize? 

The scholarship award is $500.

When will the winner be chosen and notified?  

The winner will be publicly announced in May 2024. 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.

How will the scholarship be paid?

We will send the $500 award check to the winner’s academic institution in their name, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school’s requirements).

How will my application be verified?

Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to verify their academic enrollment status by providing a copy of their most recent transcript.

How can I contact you with questions? 

If you have any questions about the scholarship, you can email [email protected]. You can also reach us by phone at 858-264-3028 and by mail at:

Calvin Rosser

2460 17th Avenue #1051

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

How will my application information be used? What are the scholarship terms and conditions?

We manage this scholarship with the support of the Bold.org scholarship platform. Bold.org takes student confidentiality and privacy incredibly seriously. Please refer to the application page on Bold.org for full details. See advertiser disclosure.