Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest

How to Enter

1. Complete an online application

Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest from February 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. Complete and save all requested information.

2. Prepare your Written Essay or Video Essay

Choose a Black American individual who has inspired change in your life. That person could be a historical figure, someone famous, a role model or someone you know. Just make sure the individual has inspired and motivated change in your life. For guidance, be sure to carefully review the “How to Enter” instructions and the "Contest Judging" criteria in sections 4 and 5 of the Official Rules.

Written Essay and Video Essay submissions must meet all of the requirements described in the contest Official Rules.

Written Essays must be 500 words or less. You can write your Written Essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

Video Essay submissions must be directly uploaded to the contest application site. Video Essays must be no more than 3 minutes in length and no larger than 1 GB. Only the following file formats are accepted: MP4, MPG, MOV, AVI, and WMV. Video Essays must not display any illegal, explicit, or inappropriate material, and Video Essays must not be password protected or require a log-in/sign-in to view. You must upload your Video Essay to the application, and you may not submit your Video Essay in DVD or other physical form. (Video Essays submitted via mail will not be reviewed or returned.)

Tips to Record Quality Videos on a Smartphone:

1. Don't shoot vertical video. Computer monitors have landscape-oriented displays, so shoot your video horizontally.
2. Use a tripod. Even small movements can make a big difference when editing.
3. Don't use zoom. If you need to get a close shot of the subject, move closer as zooming can cause pixelation.
4. Use natural lighting. Smartphone lightening can wash out your video.

3. Review and submit

Review your information (and check the spelling of a Written Essay) and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on March 31, 2023.

4. Await notification

Winning entries are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your entry is selected, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information. We anticipate that scholarship checks will be awarded by July 31, 2023.

Eligibility

For purposes of this contest:

• The “Eligible States” are defined as the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
• An “accredited college” is defined as a nonprofit, two- or four-year college or university located within one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award, you must be either a high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore or junior and meet all of the following applicable criteria at time of entry.

High school seniors must:

• Be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States.
• Be age 13 or older.
• Be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the Eligible States (and have not yet graduated 12th grade).
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (as calculated on a 4.0 scale).
• Plan to attend an accredited college during the 2023-2024 academic school year.

College students must:

• Be either a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States or a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia) enrolled in an accredited college located in one of the Eligible States.
• Be age 16 or older.
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college and have least one year (or 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in school (or, if no GPA is provided by your school, be in "good standing" or the equivalent).
• Plan to attend an accredited college during the 2023-2024 academic school year.

View Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2023 Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest begins on February 1, 2023 and ends on March 31, 2023 at 11:59:59 PM CT and is open only to certain High School Students and College Students who meet the eligibility requirements described in the Official Rules. At time of entry, (a) a High School Student must be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States and be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the Eligible States, and (b) a College Student must be a freshman, sophomore or junior currently enrolled in an accredited college in the U.S., and either (i) a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States or (ii) a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or D.C.) enrolled in an accredited college located in one of the Eligible States. (For purposes of Contest, the “Eligible States” are defined as the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN and TX.) Visit regions.com/ridingforward for complete Contest eligibility and Written Essay and Video Essay requirements, Contest details and Official Rules. Eligible entries will be grouped according to student’s status (High School Student or College Student), form of entry (Written Essay or Video Essay), and associated Eligible State, and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges. Fifteen (15) High School Student Written Essay Prizes (one per Eligible State) and Fifteen (15) High School Student Video Essay Prizes (one per Eligible State) will be awarded consisting of a check in the amount of $2,500 made out to winner’s accredited college. Fifteen (15) College Student Written Essay Prizes (one per Eligible State) and Fifteen (15) College Student Video Essay Prizes (one per Eligible State) will be awarded consisting of a check in the amount of $1,750 made out to winner’s accredited college. Sponsor: Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

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