The "Test Yourself" Scholarship from STDLabs
Scholarship Awarded Past scholarship winners!
Having any health test can be a daunting and challenging experience. Embracing challenges is, however, how we make progress and take steps to improve our lives. At STDLabs we are dedicated to encouraging students to take brave steps in furthering their education both in and out of the classroom. It is for this reason that our "Test Yourself" Scholarship was recently launched. We want to support and reward individuals who step outside of their comfort zone, thus achieving personal growth and gaining skills for life.
Tackling challenges today will help students become the leaders of tomorrow. This is true in any field, academic or otherwise, including science, technology, community development, sports or the arts. Having a can-do attitude can benefit individuals and wider society. For example, scientists who challenge longstanding theories can contribute to entirely new ways of thinking about the world; mountaineers who tackle hitherto unreachable heights pave the way for future explorers. Therefore, if you have recently completed an outstanding challenge or are due to embark on a testing experience in any discipline, we would like to hear your story. Students majoring in any subject(s) may apply.
The “Test Yourself” Scholarship
The “Test Yourself” Scholarship of $1,500.00 is awarded twice per year: once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Each award will be given to a different student, in order to maximize the impact of the scholarship, increase awareness and critical consideration of the stubborn taboos around topics such as STD testing, and share more stories from inspirational people.
Scholarship Eligibility and Requirements:
- Any student currently enrolled in, or applying to enrol within the next academic year, in any degree program, at an accredited U.S. university, is eligible to apply.
- You must provide your school GPA.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Past winners are not eligible to apply again.
- Please do not submit emails simply asking if your essay was received. Unless you receive a failure to deliver message, then we have received your submission and are reviewing your essay.
- Please read the full submission instructions before contacting us with questions related to the scholarship. If your question is not answered within the submission instructions, please contact scholarship@stdlabs.com and we will reply to your inquiry as soon as possible.
- The scholarship recipient will be selected approximately 30 days after the submission deadline. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified if they are not selected but are encouraged to apply again for the next scholarship. Please do not email asking if or when a winner has been selected.
- Scholarship winners will be notified by email, and will need to submit a photocopy of their government issued state identification card or driver’s license upon notification.
How to Apply:
Qualifying applicants should submit the following information via email to scholarship@stdlabs.com
- Your name, address, phone number, contact email address, and GPA.
- Your scholarship essay of between 750 and 1,000 words, explaining the challenge or testing experience you undertook, what motivated or pushed you to engage in the challenge, and what you gained from the experience. You could also touch upon your broader perspective regarding challenges and resilience.
- Please attach your scholarship essay in a Word file.
-
Submit your essay before each deadline before 12:00am CST. Essays received after the deadline will not be considered.
- Spring Scholarship Deadline – June 1st, 2020
- Fall Scholarship Deadline – November 1st, 2020
- A copy of your most recent academic transcript to prove enrolment in a degree program from accredited US institutions.
— or —
- A copy of your letter of acceptance, proving future enrolment in a degree program from accredited US institutions.
Here’s What We’re Looking For:
Our mission is to create awareness surrounding sexually transmitted diseases and empower more people to embrace questions about their sexual health head-on. We want to also encourage a change in prevailing attitudes where uncomfortable subjects are avoided. This helps to protect an individual’s health, as well as the health of others. That is why we offer fast, confidential and affordable STD Testing across the country, and why we’re now offering the “Test Yourself” scholarship.
We want to know what drove you to embrace a personal or societal challenge. What are the key elements which you needed to prepare for? And what are (or might be) the key lessons you learned from the experience? What does the sense of achievement feel like/mean to you? Testing yourself builds resilience, and we are looking for a sense of your personality in your essay – be bold!
We hope that the individuals who win the “Test Yourself” scholarship can be ambassadors for others to tackle concerns regarding their personal health. Our selection process will take into consideration originality, creativity of expression, passion and ambition. Please don’t be discouraged if you are not successful – the “Test Yourself” concept aims to be a celebration of all challenges. You are free to enter again if you are not selected. Finalist essays will be shared on social media and winners will be displayed on our website along with your picture, city/state and partial name. We look forward to hearing your stories.
