Imagine winning free money for college, just for the existing free money you have (like from the Pell Grant) to be taken away from you. Sounds crazy, right?  Well, about 50% of students who receive scholarships have experienced this (Forbes).

See, I will never forget the day I found out that three scholarships (that I worked so tirelessly to earn) would be displacing my existing financial aid from the Pell Grant (my university was in Texas). The excitement and pride I felt upon receiving these scholarships quickly faded away when I learned about an issue called scholarship displacement, or AKA financial aid displacement.

It’s a term that’s become all too familiar for other students I have mentored on how to win scholarships as well. It's an issue that strips away not only funds but dreams, opportunities, and the promises of a brighter future. 

💰To further break down how this works: a student wins a private scholarship and is ready to put some financial worries behind them. However, their university then decides to reduce the student's need-based financial aid by the amount of the scholarship, leaving the student in essentially the same financial position as before. This effectively nullifies the scholarship and discourages both current and future scholarship applications.

So, with this petition, by targeting multiple schools at once, especially those within university and community college systems, we can urge them to adopt policies that allow students to retain their scholarships and other financial aid options without being penalized.

💡The solution is clear and actionable: end scholarship displacement by enforcing policies that protect scholarship gains as additions to a student's financial aid package, rather than substitutes. We call upon university chancellors and community college presidents to lead by example, to set policies within their institutions that empower students to keep their scholarships fully and use them to reduce their educational debts. This change will dramatically impact the financial livelihoods of countless students, allowing them to pursue their educations and dreams with less financial strain.

❌ At least six states have laws limiting or BANNING scholarship displacement, according to a count by the National Conference of State Legislatures. These states includes: Washington, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Minnesota. Other states are considering legislation.

📝 Your signature can amplify our voice to create a fair educational landscape where every scholarship truly counts.

✍️ Sign this petition to demand action against scholarship displacement and help us secure the rightful future that our students deserve.