Deadline for submitting application, Friday, April 25
Gainesville Veterans for Peace Chapter 14 is excited to announce our 11th annual Peace Scholarship Program for the spring of 2025. Thanks to community support for our annual Winter Solstice Concert and other donations, VFP will be awarding three college scholarships of $1,500 each for high school seniors, college students or adults. Recipients must demonstrate commitment to one or more social justice activities which may include: peace and nonviolence, intersectional coalition building, Black Lives Matter, women’s reproductive freedom, environmental sustainability, economic justice, education and social change.
Veterans for Peace created these scholarships to give financial support to students in Alachua County, Florida, who are planning careers in pursuit of a world of social justice and equality.
Most Veterans for Peace scholarships awarded thus far have gone to first-generation college students as well as to community college students. Students enrolled in vocational, apprenticeship and career training programs including building trades, nursing, counseling and other fields are eligible to apply.
Mariana Castro, a UF student and community activist, was a recipient of the 2016 Peace Scholarship. Mariana notes, “To me receiving the Veterans for Peace Scholarship meant that there are people in our community who truly believe in helping change and shape our society for the betterment of all. There are not many scholarships such as VFP Peace Scholarship because work for social justice is often overlooked in our world.” Mariana writes: “It’s tough being a college student and fighting for your community and overall peace. We don’t get graded for our movement-building work, and we don’t get graded for our campaigns. As an immigrant advocate and social justice activist I feel blessed to have received this opportunity that will help me continue with my college education.” Ms. Castro’s narrative is an important reminder that while we often say, “Another World Is Possible,” we must provide tangible alternative funding to people who want to pursue peace and social justice in a society that is heavily based on funding war and violence.
Please help Gainesville Veterans for Peace spread the word about this scholarship program!
To be eligible to apply for the Peace Scholarship, the applicant must be:
1) a resident of Alachua County, either a high school senior planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school or apprenticeship program in the United States for the upcoming academic year;
or: 2) a student currently enrolled in one of these programs and in good standing;
or: 3) an adult student enrolling in higher education who needs financial assistance. VFP encourages military veterans and first-generation students to apply for the scholarship.
Peace Scholarship applicants will also be asked to provide a brief personal statement and evidence of leadership and/or personal initiative in activities in an organization (including volunteer or paid work) relating to peace and social justice, community organizing and/or nonviolence. Applicants will also need to provide two letters of recommendation.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 25
The application (PDF file) must be downloaded from the Gainesville Veterans for Peace website at https://vfpgainesville.org/ The completed application should be emailed to: Paul Ortiz at ortizprof@gmail.com. Include the Subject Line: Veterans for Peace Scholarship Program. The email deadline for the scholarship application is April 25.
Peace Scholarship recipients will be awarded in early May in a community celebration. For questions about the Peace Scholarship, contact Paul Ortiz at: ortizprof@gmail.com or 831-334-0131.
The full announcement and instructions for applying may be found on our web site, at http://www.vfpgainesville.org/.