"Make a Difference" Scholarship


Make A Difference Scholarship Video from Guide to Online Schools on Vimeo.

SR Education Group is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural ”Make a Difference” Scholarship: Harmony Fisher from Virginia Commonwealth University and Jill Karelitz from Bellarmine University. The awards – one decided by a public vote and one by the SR Education Group Scholarship Committee – were granted on the basis of the applicants’ demonstrated commitment to helping others and their clear plans for how their education will help them make a difference in the world.

The Make a Difference Scholarship was created to recognize students in areas of study that benefit others, such as nursing, education, and social work, and who plan to use their education to effect change. To apply for the scholarship, students submitted either a two-minute video or a picture and short essay explaining how they plan to change the world.

The Make a Difference Scholarship is the newest addition to SR Education Group’s scholarship program. Each month, SR Education Group awards $4,000 to help students pay for their college education. The other scholarships were need based scholarships for single parents, women, community college students and military personnel. The Make a Difference Scholarship allows a new audience of individuals the opportunity to apply for funding; an audience of students who plan to use their education to give back to the world. All of SR Education Group's scholarships aim to help make education more accessible to those wanting to earn a college education.

Jill Karelitz’s inspirational video won the popular vote scholarship. Despite having severe hearing loss, Jill has overcome several obstacles to become a successful student. Recognizing the significant impact that her own healthcare providers had on her rehabilitation and success, Jill is hoping to use her education to “pay it forward” and become a nurse.

Harmony Fisher was the winner chosen by the SR Education Group scholarship committee. Harmony was adopted from Ethiopia at a young age. She feels that she has a responsibility to give back to her native country, as so much was given to her. She intends to use her degree in elementary education to teach children in Ethiopia.

In addition to the winners of the scholarship, five finalists were chosen to win $100 gift cards for textbooks. To learn more about SR Education Group’s scholarship program, please visit http://www.sreducationgroup.org/scholarships.