APHA's 2012 Get Ready Scholarship: Submissions open Feb. 6

To raise awareness about emergency preparedness, APHA is offering its fourth annual Get Ready Scholarship. The scholarship is a component of APHA’s Get Ready campaign, which works to help Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all disasters and hazards, including pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters and other emergencies.

Six scholarships of $500 each will be awarded:board2
• Two scholarships for high school seniors
• Two scholarships for college undergraduates
• Two scholarships for graduate students

Winning students will also receive a free one-year membership in APHA.

SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES
The Get Ready Scholarship, offered in conjunction with APHA’s Get Ready campaign, is designed to encourage high school and college students to focus on the importance of emergency preparedness. For more information on the campaign or preparedness, visit the Get Ready website.

I. ELIGIBILITY
The 2012 Get Ready Scholarship is open to:
a) U.S. high school seniors graduating in 2012 who plan to further their education at a college, university or certified trade school in the summer or fall of 2012;
b) Currently enrolled U.S. college or university students who will be continuing their studies at the undergraduate or graduate level in in the summer or fall of 2012;
c) Currently enrolled U.S. college or university graduate students who will be continuing their studies at the graduate level in the summer or fall of 2012.

Previous Get Ready Scholarship winners are not eligible.

II. CRITERIA: ESSAY QUESTIONS
Scholarship applicants should write an essay using one of the following questions, based on their current year of study:

1) High school seniors
Write a letter to an opinion leader (such as a newspaper or elected official) highlighting the importance of funding to prepare for public health emergencies and convincing her or him to support it. (Length: 350-500 words).

2) Undergraduate college students
What are the most important public health emergencies facing our nation? What should policymakers or people in your community do to address them? (Length: 500-750 words).

3) Graduate college students
What would you do to get people vaccinated? There is a strong anti-vaccine movement that discourages vaccination and garners much attention. What would you to do combat that rhetoric and increase the percentage of kids who get vaccines? (Length: 500-750 words)


III. ESSAY GUIDELINES
Essays must follow the word length of the corresponding question. Do not submit photos with your entry. Essays must be original and solely the work of the entrant. Only one essay per individual is accepted. All entries become the property of APHA and will not be returned. For full guidelines, visit our rules and regulations page.

IV. REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must submit an essay and personal contact information. Only electronic submissions will be accepted and must be provided via the official online entry page/e-mail address provided. By submitting an essay, you agree to all official rules and regulations.

V. SELECTION PROCESS
The Get Ready campaign judging panel will read essays and select scholarship winners. Winners will be selected in April 2012 and will be notified via e-mail. The winners’ names and essay excerpts may be published on the Get Ready website or via other APHA communication outlets.

VI. SUBMISSION LIMITS
Entries will be limited to the first 300 submissions in each education level (300 high school submissions, 300 undergraduate submissions and 300 graduate submissions). Once the limit has been reached in a respective level, that level will be closed for submissions.

VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Deadline for submissions is March 26, 2012, or until entry limits are reached.
• APHA will begin receiving submissions on Feb. 6, 2012, by 11 a.m. Any essays received before this time will not be reviewed.
• Submissions may only be submitted online using the links below.
• Winners will receive one $500 scholarship apiece. The Get Ready Scholarship may only be used to pay for direct school costs.

For questions about the scholarship, e-mail Charlene Bright or call 202-777-2491. (Note: Do not send your entry to this e-mail address. Scholarship entries sent to this e-mail address may be disqualified.)

ESSAY SUBMISSIONS: Coming soon! Opens Monday, Feb. 6, by 11 a.m.

Instructions:
• During the essay submission period, three links will appear below. Make sure to select the button that corresponds with your entry level (high school, undergraduate or graduate) to email your submission.
• In the body of your e-mail, include your name, school/college/university, expected date of graduation, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.
• Attach your essay to the e-mail as a Word document and send.
• Submissions that lack the specified contact information or do not meet word length specifications may be disqualified.


Past scholarship winners

• 2011, 2010 and 2009 Get Ready Scholarship winners