Barry Griswell, a former Scholarship America Board Chair, was a passionate, lifelong advocate for students. He was dedicated to helping underserved young people overcome difficult circumstances—and that dedication was inspired by his own experiences.

The Barry Griswell Scholarship Initiative to Raise the Bar for Students is a unique program established to award scholarships in Barry’s name—and surround the students with the support they need to be successful.

The Raise the Bar initiative provides an opportunity to create more impact. These scholars will be able to count on financial, cultural and social support from Scholarship America – and they’ll be able to count on each other for inspiration and connection.

Griswell believed in helping others to learn and grow. “My advice is to never see yourself as a person with limits. If you do, then let mentors help you to go beyond those limits. Be open to the idea that you can achieve great things if you want to. Find your true potential and move toward it. That’s a great philosophy. I have lived my life with an attitude of taking responsibility, being accountable for what I do, and doing the right thing.”

• Applicants to the Barry Griswell Scholarship Initiative to Raise the Bar for Students must meet all of the following criteria as of the application deadline date:
• Have a high school diploma/GED, or be a high school senior, or be a current college undergraduate student
• If high school senior or current college undergraduate student, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Be United States (U.S.) citizens, U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school in the U.S. for the entire upcoming academic year
• Be pursuing a first associate’s or first bachelor’s degree