Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Essay Contest
Whose inspiring story will you share?
Write about a Black American who has inspired and motivated you for the opportunity to earn a $3,500 or $5,000 college scholarship. Essays should be 500 words or less and should:
- Address how a Black American has been an inspiration in your life.
- Discuss the contributions of the Black American individual who has served to inspire and motivate you.
High School Seniors
Regions will award $5,000 scholarships to 15 high school seniors who live in states with Regions branches and will attend an accredited college in the United States during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
College Students
Regions will award $3,500 scholarships to 15 freshmen, sophomores or juniors who permanently reside in, or currently attend an accredited college in, states with Regions branches and will attend an accredited college in the United States during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
2020 Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Winners - College
2020 Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Winners - High School
Regions believes in tomorrow’s leaders. That’s why, after the 2019 contest, we will have awarded more than $1 million in total scholarships to high school and college students.
How to Enter
1. Complete an online application
Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest between January 20, 2020, through February 29, 2020. Complete and save all requested information.
2. Write your essay
Choose the African-American you want to write about. It could be someone famous, a relative or a person you know. Just make sure the individual inspires and motivates you. For guidance, review the “How to Enter” instructions and the “Contest Judging Criteria” in sections 4 and 5 of the Official Rules, and be sure your essay is 500 words or less. You can write your essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.
3. Review and submit
Review your information, check your essay for spelling and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on February 29, 2020.
4. Await notification
Winning essays are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your essay was selected, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information. Scholarship checks will be awarded by July 31, 2020.
Eligibility
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.
High school seniors:
- Be a legal U.S. resident of either Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
- Be age 13 or older
- Be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the states listed above
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Plan to attend an accredited college in the United States during the 2020-2021 academic school year
College students:
- Either be a legal U.S. resident of one of the following states or a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia) currently attending an accredited college located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
- Be age 16 or older
- Be currently enrolled as a full-time college undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college in the United States and have least one year (or 18 credit hours) remaining before graduation
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Plan to attend an accredited college in the U.S. during the 2020-2021 academic school year
Insights by Regions
Find answers to your financial questions with articles, calculators and tools from Regions. See our Insights.
© 2020 Regions Bank. *NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2020 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest begins on 01/20/20 and ends on 02/29/20 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 essay requirements, Contest details and Official Rules. Eligible entries will be grouped according to student’s status (High School Student or College Student) and associated Eligible State, and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges. Fifteen (15) High School Student Prizes (one per Eligible State) will be awarded consisting of a check in the amount of $5,000 made out to winner’s accredited college. Fifteen (15) College Student Prizes (one per Eligible State) will be awarded consisting of a check in the amount of $3,500 made out to winner’s accredited college. Sponsor: Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203. | Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.