A Step Ahead Scholarship: Winner Announcement
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Simple. Thrifty. Living. is excited to announce the recipient of the $1,500 A Step Ahead Scholarship, Nashirra Best. After reviewing hundreds of well-written submissions, hers stood out from the rest. In her essay submission, she discussed how important work experience is in opening doors for her future.
Nashirra is a rising sophomore at Yale University, currently majoring in history and preparing to double major in economics as well in the coming semesters. She says this award will allow her to be one step closer to achieving her goals for a financially strong future.
“Education may be the passport, but work experience is the boarding pass,” she wrote.
Her work as a student photographer in Stockholm, Sweden was impressive and showed she was willing to go to great lengths to gain work experience in addition to immersing herself in another culture. Those life experiences are both challenging and irreplaceable for a young adult.
Nashirra was honest about how she has learned to be financially responsible and described in her essay how the actions of family members has given her a better understanding of what to do and what not to do.
“By understanding my family’s mistakes with credit, loans, and other financial obligations, I can make decisions that differ from their choices and take accountability for my own financial future to secure a life of enjoyment for not only myself, but for my family and for my future family,” she said.
Often times it is through mistakes that people learn the most, and Nashirra showed that she has learned from the missteps others have made.
Choosing the winner for this scholarship wasn’t easy. We were thrilled to see that so many students are taking such important steps, whether personally, financially, or professionally, to set themselves up for success after graduation. These essays show that the next generation is committed to thriving in their life after school.
Congratulations, Nashirra! We are wishing her and all of the other students that applied to our scholarship luck going forward in their education and careers.
Whether you’re currently enrolled in college, or headed there next year, everyone could use a little help covering school expenses. The “A Step Ahead” scholarship contest from Simple. Thrifty. Living. will award one $1,500 scholarship to a student who can thoughtfully respond to the below prompt in 800 words or less.
The Prompt:
At Simple. Thrifty. Living., we’re committed to helping you prepare for your financial future to enjoy life the way it should be lived. Whether it’s gaining internship experience in your desired field, opening up a savings account, or meeting with a financial aid counselor to discuss student loan repayment options, every little step counts. In 800 words or less, tell us how you are preparing for post-college life.
- Answer the prompt above in 800 words or less.
- The file name on your response to the prompt should be your full name and date of birth (Example: John-Doe-12-20-1996.docx).
- Email your response as a Word document to [email protected]. Use the subject line: 2019 Simple Thrifty Living Scholarship
- Submissions must be received by midnight on August 9, 2019.
- Send your response to [email protected] by midnight on August 9, 2019. Make sure to follow all of the instructions provided above.
- We will select and notify a winner by August 23, 2019. (It’s subjective; we’re going to pick our favorite response.)
- We will contact the winner to confirm their mailing address and send a check for $1,500.
- The winner will be announced and featured on our company blog.
- You must be a graduating senior in high school or a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college.
- You must be a graduating high school or in college and be between the ages of 16 and 26.
- We reserve the right to verify the date of your high school graduation and/or college enrollment.
- Only one submission is permitted per student per year.
- Any and all content may be used in future Simple. Thrifty. Living. marketing.
65 Comments
Grace Ruoff • June 24, 2020
I was wondering if there would be a 2020 scholarship?
Dr. Elizabeth Schroeter • June 24, 2020
Hi Grace- Thank you for your question. If we do another scholarship it will be later this fall. Please check back!
Sydney • August 30, 2019
I was wondering if the 2019 scholarship winner has been selected? If so, I would love to read the winning essay!
Kara McAtee • August 28, 2019
Hi,
Just curious if the scholarship has been awarded. Thanks!
Breasia M. • August 16, 2019
Hi,
I wanted to know if you all have receive my essay.
Thanks!
Emily Jones • August 16, 2019
Hi Breasia- We did!
Caitlin S • August 15, 2019
Hi,
I’ve submitted my application last month and was hoping it came through. So sorry for the late update!
Emily Jones • August 16, 2019
We did! Thank you.
Olivia Hajduk • August 10, 2019
Hey there,
I submitted my essay a couple of days ago and just want to double check that you all got it! Please let me know.
Thank you!
– Olivia H
Emily Jones • August 16, 2019
We did receive it. Thanks!
Daffodyle Saget • August 10, 2019
Good evening, I was also hoping to get a notification on my application status. Please let me know if its been received.
Emily Jones • August 16, 2019
Yes, we did get it. Thank you!
Jennifer Tan • August 9, 2019
Hi there!
Just wanted to confirm that my application has been sent?
Best,
Jenny
Emily Jones • August 9, 2019
Hi Jenny- Yes, it has been received.
Shehzeena • August 9, 2019
Hello Emily, just wanted to ask if my email has been received? Thanks!
Emily Jones • August 9, 2019
Yes, your essay has been received.
Gracie Diaz • August 9, 2019
Hello, I just sent in my essay yesterday. I wanted to see if you received it. Thank you!
Emily Jones • August 9, 2019
Hi Gracie, yes we did.
Katie Yakubowski • August 9, 2019
I’ve been trying to send my essay to [email protected] and the email does not say it sent. I just would like to know if you have received my essay.
Emily Jones • August 9, 2019
Hi Katie, yes we did.
Kaylee Fillmore • August 8, 2019
I kind of want to make sure my email went through? I sent it in yesterday
Emily Jones • August 8, 2019
Yes, it has been received.
Breana Arakawa • August 6, 2019
I’ve been trying to send my scholarship essay to [email protected], the email kept saying that the email does not exist.
Emily Jones • August 6, 2019
Hi Breana- Just sent you an email.
Ivy Dearmont • August 6, 2019
Hello, I am starting graduate school, so I would be a first year graduate student. Am I still eligible?
Thanks!
Emily Jones • August 6, 2019
Unfortunately this scholarship is only for undergraduate students.
Arturo Mendoza • July 31, 2019
I sent in my application today. I just wanted to ensure that you received the email! Also just wondering if there is anything else that I need to submit?
Thank you!
Emily Jones • July 31, 2019
Just the essay. Good luck!
salvador torres • July 31, 2019
hi, I took a semester off from school and I am enrolled for fall semester, am I still applicable to apply for this scholarship?
Emily Jones • July 31, 2019
Yes, as long as you are enrolled this coming academic year.
Katie • July 31, 2019
Hello. You said the check will be made to the student. Can it be used for any college-related expenses, such as books, room and board, meals, etc.?
Kya Crump • July 23, 2019
Hi, I cannot see the essay prompt.
Emily Jones • July 23, 2019
At Simple. Thrifty. Living., we’re committed to helping you prepare for your financial future to enjoy life the way it should be lived. Whether it’s gaining internship experience in your desired field, opening up a savings account, or meeting with a financial aid counselor to discuss student loan repayment options, every little step counts. In 800 words or less, tell us how you are preparing for post-college life.
Claire • July 18, 2019
If you are currently 26 and graduating in May 2020 can you apply?
Emily Jones • July 23, 2019
Yes, as long are you are entering your senior year.
Aricia Amaro • July 17, 2019
Can we submit the essay as a google doc ? And would it be okay to submit a letter of recommendation along with our essay?
Emily Jones • July 23, 2019
Sure! You can also send your essay in the body of an email.
Aricia Amaro • July 16, 2019
Can we submit the essay as a google doc ?
Emily Jones • July 16, 2019
Hi Aricia- A google doc is fine, or just put your essay in the body of the email. Good luck!
Landon Wahe • July 12, 2019
Does the essay need to be in a word doc? I don’t have Microsoft Word but I can submit is as a google doc or pdf.
Emily Jones • July 16, 2019
Either works. Good luck!
Kay • July 10, 2019
Can you enter if you’re graduating may 2020?
Emily Jones • July 10, 2019
Yes, as long as you are currently enrolled in college for the upcoming academic year. Good luck!
Deepu Shaji • July 9, 2019
Can upcoming high school seniors apply for this scholarship? I will be graduating from high school in 2020.
Emily Jones • July 10, 2019
You need to be enrolled in college for the 2019-2020 school year. Lookout for our scholarship next year!
Kerwin B Smith II 10/02/1999 Sub. 2019 Simple Thifty living Scholarship • July 1, 2019
I starting preparing myself for post college life in high school. I got really serious in my junior year, became very interested in my finance class which my teacher taught and prepared me to always put some money away for savings. I started there I brought a money box and started putting away money for spending in college this will be my sophomore year in college. Always more parents taught me a lot along with my two brothers whom all of them has sacrificed for my to attend college last year,which I am very appreciative in every way . I know my parents spent most of the retirement to send me to school. I very much know how they penny pinched for this to happened so I learn from the best. This will help me with post college life to start on the right path in my new journey of lift .I know I have much more to learn and that I my fall off the path once or even more ,but I was taught with skills to get back on track. Thank You
Emily Jones • July 16, 2019
To apply please email your response as a Word document to [email protected]
Emily Jones • July 12, 2019
Thanks for your comment, to apply please email your response as a Word document to [email protected]
Shirel • July 1, 2019
Can someone who took a gap year between high school and college still apply if they’re enrolled in a university but just deferred?
Emily Jones • July 2, 2019
As long as you are enrolled for this coming academic year you qualify.
Cait • April 29, 2019
Is the check made out to our school, or directly to the student so they could use it to open a savings account/start repaying loans/etc?
elizabeth • April 30, 2019
Hi Cait-
The check will be made out to the student. Thanks for applying!
Nick Jadaszewski • April 16, 2019
I see this scholarship is not available for college seniors. Would I be considered a college senior, if I am returning to college, which will be my fourth year, but I will only be transferring a sophomore’s or junior’s equivalent of credits for my new undergraduate program?
elizabeth • April 17, 2019
Hi Nick-
As long as you are not graduating this year you are welcome to apply.
Thanks and good luck!
Bri • March 24, 2019
Can an undergraduate senior apply?
elizabeth • March 28, 2019
To be eligible, you must be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate student in their freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
Dakota Hayes • March 20, 2019
Life after college is the time that I will spend mastering my craft in healthcare as a Physician’s Assistant. Proper preparation includes handling my educational debt and beginning to pay interest on my student loans now. Maintaining employment by making myself employable through high levels of training and higher education will practically guarantee a productive place in society where I can have a hand in keeping patients healthy through my earned expertise and genuine concern. I intend to volunteer my time and skills to community health resources so that I remain in tune with the healthcare needs of the community and other clinical professionals for future educational resource needs. Lastly, I am maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness, nutrition, and active spirituality so that I am at a peak performance level for all that I encounter to ensure optimal output for the individuals that I serve.
elizabeth • March 28, 2019
Thanks for your comment, to apply please email your response as a Word document to [email protected]
Ellen • March 18, 2019
Can a graduate school student apply for this scholarship?
elizabeth • March 19, 2019
The scholarship is not currently open for graduate students. To be eligible, you must be a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate student in their freshman, sophomore, or junior year.
Messaline Fomo • March 8, 2019
Can international students who are non US citizen apply for this scholarship
elizabeth • March 8, 2019
Yes! International students can apply as well.
Chris Ivey • March 6, 2019
This scholarship is nice because it prepares college students for the future things to come.
James Dye • March 6, 2019
I love this scholarship. It prepares myself and others to look towards what we will pursue throughout our journey as a college student.
Priscilla Caleb Mclauchlin • February 21, 2019
I really like this scholarship and how it is based on our ability to plan for the future.