GE Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation

Quick overview
The 2026 GE–Reagan Foundation Scholarship application is open. Don’t miss the deadline: January 5, 2026 at Noon CST. Put that on your calendar now.

Who can apply
All candidates must:
- Demonstrate leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship in their school, community, or workplace.
- Plan to enroll full‑time at an accredited 4‑year college or university in the U.S. for the entire 2026–2027 academic year.
- Be U.S. citizens.
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent).
- Be current U.S. high school seniors graduating winter 2025 or spring 2026 — this includes homeschooled students and those living on U.S. Armed Forces bases abroad (and students from U.S. territories and commonwealths).

What the selection committee is looking for
Think of the values President Reagan emphasized: leadership, service, responsibility, and character. The committee wants concrete examples showing how you put those values into action — not just a list of roles or titles. They want to see:
- Real leadership (what you started, how you led others, and what you accomplished).
- Integrity and responsibility (times you did the right thing under pressure or learned from a mistake).
- Service and citizenship (how you contributed to your community and why it mattered).

Practical tips to make your application stand out
- Use specific examples. Tell a short story about one meaningful project, decision, or challenge — include your role and measurable results when possible.
- Show growth. Admissions reviewers like to see how you learned and developed from experiences.
- Be concrete about leadership. Being “on the team” is different from leading the team; explain decisions you made and outcomes you influenced.
- Keep your writing clear and focused — one main idea per paragraph.
- Ask recommenders who know your character and actions well, and give them context about the scholarship’s values.
- Watch the three-part video series featuring past recipients for insider perspective on crafting a competitive application.

Who a GE–Reagan Foundation Scholar is
A scholar is a young leader who channels formative experiences into purposeful action — someone who leads, serves, and contributes to their community with integrity and resolve. If your record shows sustained effort and real impact, you could fit that description.

Quick checklist before you submit
- Confirm citizenship and graduation timeline.
- Verify GPA meets the 3.0 minimum.
- Review every essay for clarity and concrete examples.
- Provide recommenders with deadlines and context.
- Submit before January 5, 2026 at Noon CST.

If you want, I can help draft or revise an essay or outline a short example you might use in the application.