Cyberbullying Awareness Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by McCready Law

Description

Michael McCready and McCready Law created a scholarship to support student-led awareness and prevention of cyberbullying. The award recognizes students who demonstrate thoughtful understanding of how digital harassment affects individuals and communities and who propose practical steps to reduce harm online. The program is intended to incentivize research, advocacy, and responsible digital citizenship among students at various stages of post-secondary education.

Highlights

• Scholarship supports work focused on cyberbullying awareness and prevention.
• Open to students engaged in post-secondary or vocational study (see Eligibility).
• Intended to encourage practical, actionable solutions for safer online communities.

History of the Award

The scholarship was founded by Michael McCready, a family-oriented professional who saw firsthand the pervasive effects of cyberbullying as his children matured. Concerned by the 24/7 reach of online harassment across multiple platforms, McCready and his colleagues at McCready Law established the award to raise awareness and promote prevention efforts. The award reflects the firm’s commitment to reducing digital harms through education and student engagement.

Highlights

• Founded by Michael McCready and McCready Law in response to observed harms of cyberbullying.
• Emphasis on community education and practical prevention strategies.
• Origin rooted in personal experience and professional community advocacy.

Eligibility

Applicants must be legal U.S. residents (50 states or District of Columbia) who are current high school seniors, vocational students, college students, or graduate students enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution. Employees of McCready Law, their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouses), and household members of those employees are ineligible. Applicants must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing to qualify.

Highlights

• Who can apply: high school seniors, vocational students, undergraduates, and graduate students who are U.S. legal residents.
• Who cannot apply: McCready Law employees, their immediate families, and household members.
• Minimum academic requirement: 3.0 GPA and good academic standing.

Award Value

The scholarship provides a single monetary award of $1,000 to the selected recipient. The purpose of the award is to support the recipient’s ongoing education and their efforts to promote cyberbullying awareness and prevention. Specific disbursement or use conditions, if any, are managed by the sponsor at the time of award.

Highlights

• Amount: $1,000 awarded to one recipient.
• Intended to support education and advocacy related to cyberbullying prevention.
• Payment and administration details determined by the sponsor.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a 750–1,000 word essay that addresses how cyberbullying impacts individuals and communities and outlines specific, practical awareness and prevention strategies. All essays are screened for AI-generated content; any submission determined to include AI writing will be disqualified. Additional required materials include a professional résumé and a transcript from the current school; first-year college students or recent transfers may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official transcript from a prior school. High school applicants may provide proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institution. Preference is given to students from or attending secondary schools in the firm’s state.

Highlights

• Essay: 750–1,000 words on cyberbullying impacts and prevention strategies.
• AI policy: submissions screened; AI-generated essays will be denied.
• Supporting documents: résumé and transcripts (with specified exceptions); in-state applicants may receive preference.

Application Timeline

The sponsor selects the scholarship recipient during the month following the application deadline. Specific deadlines and the annual application cycle are set by McCready Law and may change year to year; applicants should consult the sponsor’s official website or contact the firm directly for current dates and submission instructions. Finalists and winners are notified according to the timeline established for that award cycle.

Highlights

• Selection occurs in the month after the application deadline.
• Applicants must verify current deadlines and procedures on the sponsor’s official channels.
• Notification and finalist procedures follow the sponsor’s published timeline.

Contact and Next Steps

Prospective applicants should gather the required materials—essay, résumé, and transcripts—and confirm the current deadline and submission instructions with McCready Law. Review the sponsor’s website for any updates to eligibility, essay prompts, or submission portals, and ensure compliance with the AI-writing policy before submitting.

Highlights

• Prepare essay and supporting documents ahead of the deadline.
• Check the sponsor’s website for the most current instructions and deadlines.
• Verify your essay adheres to the AI-free policy before submission.