Combating Campus Issues Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Goldstein and Bashner
Description Purpose and sponsor:
The Combating Campus Issues Scholarship is an annual award funded by the New York injury law firm Goldstein and Bashner. It supports higher education students who demonstrate a commitment to preventing and addressing campus harms such as hazing, bullying, Title IX violations, and sexual assault. The program aims to encourage advocacy, prevention, victim support, and accountability through student-led ideas and initiatives. Each cycle the firm selects a recipient whose proposed work shows practical promise for improving campus safety and inclusion.
Key takeaways:
- Annual scholarship sponsored by Goldstein and Bashner.
- Focused on addressing on-campus harms and survivor support.
- Intended to reward actionable advocacy and prevention plans.
Eligibility Who may apply:
The competition is open to students enrolled in accredited U.S. community colleges, junior colleges, undergraduate, or graduate programs, as well as recent high-school graduates preparing for college and GED holders. Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Employees of Goldstein and Bashner, their immediate family members, and household members of such employees are ineligible. The program favors applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to campus advocacy and may give preference to students from or attending school in New York.
Key takeaways:
- Open to U.S. accredited postsecondary students and eligible recent graduates.
- Minimum GPA requirement: 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Company employees, immediate family, and household members are excluded.
- New York affiliation may receive preference.
Award
Value &
Frequency Prize and cadence:
The scholarship awards one student a $1,000 cash prize each year. The award is intended to support the recipient’s educational or advocacy efforts related to campus safety and survivor support. Goldstein and Bashner run the program on an annual cycle and announce winners publicly.
Key takeaways:
- Single $1,000 award per year.
- Funds intended for education or advocacy related to campus issues.
- Awarded annually.
Application
Requirements Materials and essay prompt:
Applicants must complete the official application form and submit an original essay of at least 500 words addressing this prompt: outline your approach to raising awareness about the campus challenges you are passionate about and explain how society can create inclusive environments that empower survivors to share their stories. Submissions must include a current résumé and academic transcript(s). High-school applicants must provide proof of college acceptance; first-year or recently transferred college students may submit an unofficial current transcript plus the most recent official transcript from a prior institution.
Key takeaways:
- Required: application form, ≥500-word original essay, résumé, and transcript(s).
- Essay prompt centers on awareness strategies and survivor empowerment.
- Specific transcript rules apply for new or transferring students and high-school applicants.
Application
Timeline How to apply and timing:
Goldstein and Bashner run one scholarship cycle each year; exact application dates and deadlines are posted on the firm’s scholarship page. Prospective applicants should check the website for the current cycle’s opening and closing dates, submission instructions, and notification schedule. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, so plan to gather all required documents well before the deadline.
Key takeaways:
- One annual cycle; dates posted on the firm’s website.
- Check the scholarship page for current deadlines and instructions.
- Late or incomplete submissions are not accepted.
Selection
Criteria &
Disqualification Evaluation process and grounds for denial:
Applications are evaluated on demonstrated understanding of campus issues, clarity and feasibility of proposed solutions, commitment to victim support and prevention, and overall quality of the essay and supporting documents. Essays are screened for originality; any use of AI-generated writing will result in immediate disqualification. Applications that fail to meet eligibility requirements or omit required materials will not advance in the selection process.
Key takeaways:
- Judging emphasizes understanding, feasibility, and advocacy impact.
- Strict prohibition on AI-assisted essays — detection leads to denial.
- Missing eligibility or documents will disqualify an application.
History of the
Award Background and past recipients:
Goldstein and Bashner launched the Combating Campus Issues Scholarship to align the firm’s advocacy mission with student-led solutions to campus harms. The program has been renewed for subsequent years and recognizes students whose work reflects the firm’s focus on accountability, prevention, and survivor support. Information about previous winners and their projects is available through the firm’s scholarship page for those who want examples of successful submissions.
Key takeaways:
- Scholarship reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to campus safety advocacy.
- Program is renewed annually and highlights student-driven solutions.
- Past winners and project summaries are listed on the firm’s scholarship webpage.