Breaking New Ground Scholarship

Our biannual Breaking New Ground Scholarship awards $1,500 each semester to a first-generation college student who exemplifies academic excellence, demonstrates a strong work ethic, and shares a passion for business, transportation, or liberal arts and sciences.

Applicant Qualifications:
Be a first-generation college student
-Have a proven record of maintaining a job while in high school
-Be committed to pursuing a degree at a two or four-year college or university
-Be at least 17 years of age
-Be a citizen of permanent resident of the U.S.
-This scholarship is intended to award students who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, community, and on their campus. Applicants should be interested in pursuing a career in business, transportation, or liberal arts and sciences

Application Requirements:
- Within the application, students will be asked for their contact information, school of enrollment, and other details. Applicants must include proof of enrollment at their intended college or university and a headshot that we will use to announce the winner on our website.
-Students will be asked to submit a two-page essay. In your essay, tell us about your personal history and the reasons you are looking to become a first-generation college graduate. Discuss your education, the jobs you have held, and the work you have put in to ensure that you can achieve your goals. Provide any other details that you believe are relevant, such as the support you have received from family members or others in your community, and the ways your interest in business, transportation, or liberal arts and sciences has led you to pursue a specific career path.

Once the deadline passes, our scholarship committee will review each application and rank it based on the following criteria:
-Does the student fit all eligibility criteria?
-Does the student’s essay demonstrate their interests and academic success?
-Does the essay offer the student’s unique perspective in a well-written manner?

Winner will be selected by 03/18/2026.