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Congratulations to this Year’s Scholarship Winners! We are so proud of each and everyone of YOU!

Elyssa’s Mission provides the resources to support at-risk teens and prevent suicide. Using SOS Signs of Suicide, high school students are given the proper tools to raise awareness and become more involved with suicide prevention.

Scholarship Award Program
Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Award Program was created to acknowledge and award high school juniors and seniors who have taken the initiative to successfully apply the core principles of the SOS program, ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell), and make a real difference in their school and/or in their community.

Scholarship Award Eligibility Criteria
All high school juniors and seniors who have successfully completed the SOS Signs of Suicide Program are eligible to apply. We also accept submissions from juniors and seniors who have applied the ACT message with the goal of helping Elyssa’s Mission bring SOS to their school.

Submission Criteria

  • Essay
    • In your own words, describe how you have applied the ACT message on behalf of yourself or a friend/peer. (650 words or less)
  • Artistic
    • Submit a poem, painting, drawing, song and/or video, etc. accompanied by a brief description of how you have acknowledged and cared for a friend/peer and how your submission demonstrates your application of the ACT message. (650 words or less)


Scholarship Awards
The maximum amount that will be allocated this school year, 2024-2025, will be $10,000.00. The Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Award Committee reviews all submissions using a designated rubric.  The committee selects the winners and designates each award amount. The largest amount awarded is $3,000. The smallest amount awarded is $500. The number of scholarships awarded will vary each year.

Awards will be applied to tuition, books and supplies for a community college, technical/vocational school or 4-year college/university.

Scholarship applications will be due on Monday, March 10, 2025. Any portion of the application that is received after the due date will not be considered.

Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Award Program recipients will be notified by Palma Lacey by Friday, April 4th, 2025.

Terms and Conditions for Accepting the Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Award
All EM Scholarship Award Program recipients must fill out an Elyssa’s Mission Acceptance Form immediately following notification of the award. Forms that are not sent back in a timely manner may jeopardize their award. The Elyssa’s Mission Acceptance Form will be sent by Palma Lacey when she notifies recipients of their award.

Help us lead our efforts by continuing to raise awareness on an important topic – suicide prevention.  This may be done through the criteria for accepting the Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Award outlined below:

  1. I will write a short description regarding what this scholarship means to me for the Elyssa’s Mission website
  2. I will send a photo of myself to Elyssa’s Mission that will go on their website
  3. My brief description and photo might appear in the Elyssa’s Mission Annual Campaign Letter or at their annual fall benefit – Race to Save Young Lives
  4. I am willing to share my submission, which may appear on the EM website and/or at the fall benefit. If you agree to sharing your submission, the content will be a video. (Elyssa’s Mission will coordinate a meeting with you and filmmaker, DOT Productions, at a convenient location and time that is agreed upon by you, Palma Lacey, and DOT Productions)

You must agree to the Terms and Conditions before submitting your application.

Thank you for applying to our Scholarship Program. If you have any questions about the program, please email Palma Lacey, Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Committee Chair.
[email protected]