2026 Prosperous Investments Scholarship

Investing in the human capital of the next generation. Our mission is to bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity.

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2026 Essay Topic

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Explore the potential impact of AI on the job market, discussing the need for education and workforce adaptation, ethical considerations, and potential benefits and risks.

  • Yes! The Prosperous Investments Scholarship is now open to international applicants. We welcome applications from high school seniors or those in their final year of secondary education (such as Sixth Form) globally who are heading to a 4-year college, university, or trade school. goes here

  • We require a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. If your country uses a different system (e.g., A-E grades, percentages, or CAPE/GCE), please provide an official transcript, and our committee will evaluate it based on international equivalency standards. International applicants, if your school does not use the 4.0 scale, please use the WES iGPA Calculator to convert your grade. https://applications.wes.org/igpa-calculator/

  • No. You must be accepted to an accredited 4-year college, university, trade school, or community college anywhere in the world.

  • All applications must be submitted through our Official 2026 Scholarship Portal. To ensure the integrity of the process and fair evaluation by our Scoring Committee, we no longer accept applications via email, social media, or physical mail.

    • Official High School Transcript (Minimum 2.5 GPA required).

    • College/Trade School Acceptance Letter.

    • One Professional Letter of Recommendation (from a teacher, coach, mentor, or employer).

    • Your 2026 Scholarship Essay

  • No. Recommendations must come from a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, employer, or clergy member. Recommendations from friends or family members will result in disqualification.

  • Yes. Your essay must be no more than 2 pages, using Montserrat, Lato, or Open Sans font (size 11 or 12), with 1-inch margins and double-spacing.

  • To ensure your application is indexed correctly by our Scoring Committee, please use the following format for all uploads: Last Name_First Name_Document Type.

    Example: Smith_Jane_Essay.pdf

    Example: Smith_Jane_Transcript.pdf

    Example: Smith_Jane_Acceptance

    Example: Smith_Jane_Recommendation 

    Failure to follow naming standards may delay your application review.


  • No. We are looking for your unique voice and perspective. Using AI writing assistants for any part of the essay will result in immediate disqualification.

  • A scoring committee uses a rubric to evaluate Content (50 points), Formatting (35 points), and Spelling/Grammar (15 points).

  • The winning applicant will receive a minimum of USD 1,500.00. If there is a tie, the prize money will be split between the winners.

  • The payment is made directly to the accredited institution you will be attending in the fall.

  • The winner will be announced no later than August 1st.

  • Most scholarships are just a check. This scholarship is an investment in our winners. The winner gets a free 1-on-1 coaching session on the topic of their choice. 

    • Mastering the Transition: Time management and “Professor-level” expectations

    • Building a Personal Board of Directors: How to identify and approach mentors in your first semester

    • Professional Branding: Ensuring your social media and digital footprint match the leader you are becoming

    • Financial Literacy: Practical tips on managing those first scholarship checks and student refunds

  • Yes. ITEC For Sustainable Growth and Development, Inc. Is a non-profit organization and a partner of the Prosperous Investments scholarship. ITEC’s mission is “Sustainable Growth and Development promotes inclusive economic prosperity in developing countries by partnering with local entities to foster innovative entrepreneurship programs in STEM”. Winners and past scholarship applicants are invited to complete an internship with ITEC. In today's competitive job market, the ITEC internship provides applicants and winners with valuable, impactful work experience to add to their resumes.

A Legacy of Excellence: Our Past Scholars

  • 2025 Scholar | Ari Warren

    The Launchpad: Canyon Springs High School (Ranked Top 20 / 4.8 Weighted GPA)

    The Mission: UNLV | Dentistry

    The Legacy: A dedicated leader in FCCLA and Track & Field, Ari is committed to providing quality dental care and education to underserved communities.

    In her words:"Winning this scholarship makes me feel deeply honored and grateful for the belief in my potential and future success."

  • 2024 Scholar | Krrisha Patel

    The Launchpad: Secaucus High School (NJ) | 4.75 GPA

    The Mission: University of Pennsylvania | Finance & Engineering (Jerome Fisher Program)

    The Legacy: A scholar-advocate committed to body positivity and mental health, Krrisha aims to blend economic strategy with engineering to innovate healthcare solutions that save lives.

    In her words:"Finding out I won the scholarship fills me with immense gratitude and excitement. My goal is to drive both economic and technological progress."

  • 2023 Scholar | Ariah Fashaw

    The Launchpad: Atlantic High School (FL) | 3.9 Weighted GPA

    The Mission: Clark Atlanta University | Biology (Pre-Nursing)

    The Legacy: Motivated by a deep-seated desire to serve the world’s most vulnerable, Ariah is pursuing a career in pediatric nursing with long-term goals of attending the Emory University School of Medicine.

    In her words: "I’ve dreamed of saving lives... knowing that I have an opportunity to help is my biggest motivation. I feel honored and grateful for this generosity in these uncertain times."

  • 2022 Scholar | Prince Osaji

    The Launchpad: Whitney High School (CA) | 4.0 GPA

    The Mission: Yale University | Political Science & Law

    The Legacy: An orator and community advocate, Prince served as Vice President of the Young Black Scholars (YBS) club and dedicated hundreds of hours to supporting financially disadvantaged individuals. He aims to serve as a defense attorney and future public official to provide a voice for historically marginalized groups.

    In his words: "I feel honored to have been selected. This will provide me with peace of mind and allow me to focus on my academics. It truly means a lot."

  • 2021 Scholar | Austin Howard

    The Launchpad: Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (NH) | 4.0 GPA

    The Mission: UTSA Honors College | Computer Science (Cyber Security)

    The Legacy: A high-achiever who earned industry certifications and college credits by age 17, Austin is committed to being an example for underrepresented youth. He has dedicated himself to community service and the belief that education and hard work are the primary tools for making a difference.

    In his words: "I believe hard work, perseverance, and education are the foundations to success and making a difference. I am committed to serving my community."

  • 2020 Scholar | Aaron Shields

    The Launchpad: Winston Churchill High School (MD) | 4.3 Weighted GPA

    The Mission: University of Southern California (USC) | Economics, Mathematics & Computer Science

    The Legacy: A future architect of ethical economic policy, Aaron aims to utilize computer modeling to identify ways cities can ensure productive growth and equal wealth distribution for all members of the community, regardless of race or income.

    In his words: "I am interested in studying processes that allow for a more equal distribution of wealth. After applying to more than 100 scholarships, this award helps me make significant strides toward a debt-free education."

  • 2019 Scholar | Dominic Manzo

    The Launchpad: Doherty High School (CO) | 4.6 Weighted GPA

    The Mission: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | Communications & Political Science

    The Legacy: An academic letterman and varsity tennis captain, Dominic is a self-taught musician and songwriter with a passion for storytelling. He aims to become a professional journalist and author, providing deep coverage on global political and social issues.

    In his words: "I was surprised and immediately grateful that my hard work had been recognized. I was thrilled to discover that others found my writing laudable."

  • 2018 Scholar | Michael Mhonda

    The Launchpad: Hammond High School (MD) | 3.95 Weighted GPA

    The Mission: Capital Technology University | Cyber-security

    The Legacy: A high-speed technical scholar, Michael earned 38 college credits before even graduating high school. He is on a mission to become a Cyber-security Architect, focusing on protecting critical digital infrastructure through advanced analytics and technical leadership.

    In his words: "After an unsuccessful attempt at a different scholarship, I realized I had to pour every lesson I've learned into this essay. Winning gives me the fulfilling feeling of having done a good job through true persistence."

  • 2017 Scholar | Terry II Culpepper

    The Launchpad: Union Catholic Regional High School (NJ) | #10 in Class / 4.0 GPA

    The Mission: University of Chicago | Economics (Ph.D. Track)

    The Legacy: A high-level strategist in the making, Terry aims to influence the global economy through policy analysis. Whether at the Federal Reserve, a major think tank, or a Wall Street firm, he is dedicated to using economic data to solve public and private sector challenges.

    In his words: "It gives me tremendous joy and relief to be the winner. Tuition costs were a major factor in my college decision, and this helps alleviate the financial concerns for my family."

  • 2016 Scholar | Hannah Richardson

    The Launchpad: Liberty High School (CO) | 4.12 Weighted GPA

    The Mission: University of Florida | Chemical Engineering

    The Legacy: A Florida Gator with a mission to serve society, Hannah is dedicated to using her expertise in chemistry to solve health and wellness challenges. Her winning essay tackled the complex intersection of national security and digital privacy, showcasing her ability to navigate controversial global issues with logic and precision.

    In her words: "I feel overjoyed. I had been worrying about paying for college, but winning this scholarship has taken away some of the stress of needing a job or student loans."

  • 2015 Scholar | John Groom Jr.

    The Launchpad: Las Vegas, Nevada

    The Mission: Georgetown University | Finance & Investment Banking

    The Legacy: Focused on the intersection of high finance and family leadership, John is pursuing a career in investment banking at one of the nation’s top institutions. Beyond his professional ambitions, he is dedicated to the legacy of fatherhood and community coaching.

    In his words: "I am very excited to win this scholarship! It is very generous and will help me pursue my degree from Georgetown and my goal of becoming an investment banker."

  • 2014 Scholar | Yesenia McLeod

    The Launchpad: Farmingdale High School (NY) | Art & Literary Magazine Advisor

    The Mission: School of Visual Arts (SVA) NYC | Computer Art

    The Legacy: A master of visual communication, Yesenia entered college already proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. She is pursuing a career as a special effects designer in the entertainment industry, aiming to blend technical precision with artistic vision.

    In her words: "Yesenia used her artistic background and organization skills to craft an outstanding essay that impressed the judges, proving that excellence in design and excellence in writing go hand-in-hand."

  • 2013 Scholar | Mykala Harris

    The Launchpad: Philadelphia High School for Girls | 4.0 GPA

    The Mission: Albright College | Corporate Marketing

    The Legacy: The inaugural Prosperous Investments scholar, Mykala distinguished herself through the LEAD Business Program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the National Honor Society. A dedicated mentor and volunteer, she set the standard for the "Scholar-Leader" model, combining mathematical excellence with a commitment to community service.

    In her words: "Mykala’s essay scored the highest out of 28 applicants by expertly defining what it means to lead both inside and outside the classroom, establishing the high bar for every scholar who has followed since 2013."

Help Us Seed the Next Decade of Success

Since 2013, our mission has been simple: to reward excellence and remove financial barriers for the next generation of leaders. These 13 scholars are now engineers, economists, and advocates changing the world.

100% of your donation goes directly to the 2026 scholarship fund. Whether it's $10 or $1,000, your investment helps us increase the award amount and the number of students we can support.