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Funding

Fully Funded · Grant

Bezos Scholars Program

Course / TrainingUSA · Aspen · Hybrid

Bezos Family Foundation

Application Deadline

January 12, 2027

Official Page

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

“To be eligible to apply, a student must be enrolled in and attend an eligible U.S. public high school that meets ONE or more of the following criteria: … Be a junior at the time they apply to the program. … African Leadership Academy (ALA) students must be year one students and apply through the process shared at their school. Any students residing outside of the U.S. and who don’t attend ALA are not currently eligible to apply.” Eligibility

  • Residence required

    USA · South Africa

  • Education required

    High School

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The Bezos Scholars Program, run by the Bezos Family Foundation, selects a small cohort of high school juniors each year, each paired with an educator from their own school.

Over a year of virtual workshops and coaching, each Scholar team designs and launches a Community Change Project in its hometown. The year opens with an all-expenses-paid week at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

Benefits & funding

  • No cost to take part: travel, lodging, meals and festival access for the Aspen week are covered.
  • $1,000 toward the Community Change Project, released only if the project is carried out.
  • Free one-to-one college advising; no college scholarship is awarded.
  • The nominated educator receives a $1,200 honorarium.
  • Duty: 10–20 hours a month, including Saturday virtual sessions (students keep 80% attendance).

Eligibility

  • A junior when applying, at a U.S. public high school where at least 30% of students get free or reduced lunch, that is Title I, or that the state rates economically underserved or high need.
  • Schools that produced a Scholar in 2025 or 2026 are barred from the 2027 cohort (list on the eligibility page).
  • Unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher, and at least one Honors, AP, IB or college-level course.
  • Must attend the full Aspen trip, 23–29 June 2027.
  • Must nominate a staff member at their school as educator — not a parent, relative, or paid tutor or counselor.
  • Outside the U.S., only African Leadership Academy students (through their school) can apply.

Application process

  1. 1
    Apply online between 19 November 2026 and 8:00 p.m. PT on 12 January 2027.
  2. 2
    Submit school, course and activity details, a one-minute video and three short essays.
  3. 3
    Make sure your educator nominee files their recommendation form by the same deadline.
  4. 4
    Semifinalists have a virtual interview with staff and alums in March.
  5. 5
    Finalists are confirmed once their principal completes a short form and the educator meets staff.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open

    19 Nov 2026

  2. Application deadline (8:00 p.m. PT)

    12 Jan 2027

  3. Mar 2027

    Semifinalist interviews; finalists notified late March

  4. Program kickoff

    May 2027

  5. Aspen trip

    23–29 Jun 2027

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