Shainberg Scholarship
The Shainberg Family is investing in the futures of Memphians by providing scholarships through Give901 that will provide financial support to students with significant financial gaps, regardless of their educational path and students pursuing alternative education and career paths, including trade schools, certificate programs, community colleges, apprenticeships, and other specialized training opportunities. .
ABOUT the shainberg FAMILY
Herbert Shainberg was a Memphis businessman who owned a department store on Main Street in Downtown Memphis. Shainberg was known for his philanthropy, standing up for fairness and justice, and demonstrating the importance of being kind. That spirit is what inspired the Shainberg Scholarship. His grandchildren carry on his legacy today, and their generosity is what makes this scholarship possible.
The name Shainberg means, “Beautiful Mountain.” Shainberg’s generosity embodied that very image - a beautiful and powerful life well-lived. The Shainberg Family seeks to build on this legacy by illuminating the path for future generations in Memphis. Like a mountain climber embarking on a challenging ascent, students today face numerous obstacles on their journey to success. The Shainberg Scholarship Program is designed to be a guiding light, providing financial assistance and encouragement to students as they climb toward their academic and career goals. With these scholarships, students will have the opportunity to focus on their studies, explore their passions, and ultimately reach the summit of their potential. Recipients of these scholarships would be known as “Shainberg Scholars” to honor the generous contributions of the Shainberg family and their devotion to improving the lives of young adults in Memphis.
WHY the shainbergs CREATED THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
These scholarships exist to create opportunities for young adults who might otherwise be unable to pursue higher education due to financial barriers. The Shainbergs believe that education is a key component of building a thriving future, not just for the students themselves but for their families and communities.
By targeting students in the Choose901 Alumni program and prioritizing those whose parents are domestic workers, these scholarships aim to fill financial gaps that would have prevented students from enrolling or continuing their education. Whether through trade schools, community college, certification programs, or other career pathways, this funding provides a critical bridge to opportunity, stability, and long-term success. With flexible award amounts ranging from three $5,000 scholarships to 15 or more scholarships at over $1,000 each, this initiative ensures that financial need does not stand in the way of a student’s potential
RULES & QUALIFICATIONS
This year, the Shainberg Scholarship Program will award scholarships to Memphis and Shelby County residents who are pursuing higher education after high school:
Bridge Scholarship: designed for students who have existing financial gaps that could prevent them from attending or continuing their education. These gaps may stem from long-term financial hardship, limited access to financial aid, or the high cost of tuition, materials, and living expenses for college, junior college, trade school, or certification programs. This scholarship is intended to proactively support students who already face significant financial barriers to enrollment or the continuation of their educational journey. To address this need, scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be awarded per recipient, depending on their financial need.
Scholarships are awarded based solely on an essay of up to 550 words expressing the applicant’s academic and professional goals and how his or her personal experiences will help to accomplish those goals.
There are three requirements to become a Shainberg Scholar:
Applicants must be currently enrolled in or will be enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning, or a vocational or trades program by September 1, 2025;
Applicants must submit an application and essay of up to 550 words, explaining his or her career, academic and/or vocational goals;
Applicants must attend or have graduated from one of Choose901 Alumni’s six partner schools (New Hope Christian Academy, Collegiate School of Memphis, The Soulsville Charter School, Grizzlies Prep, Compass Community Schools, or Crosstown High).
Funding will be issued via check from Give901 directly to the institution or certification program attended by the scholarship recipient.
APPLICATIONS
Timeline
The deadline for submission is Wednesday, June 1, 2025. Recipients will be announced in July 2025.
Winner Selection
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on the merit and strength of the applicant’s essay. If, by chance, you know a scholarship judge, do not contact that individual regarding your application, or you may be disqualified. Instead, questions regarding the competition should be directed to rachel@cityleadership.org.
All decisions are final. Recipients will be notified via email. Unless prohibited by law, the recipients will be required to complete and return Statement of Eligibility and a publicity/liability release within two (2) weeks of the notification. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use the recipients’ names and likenesses for purposes of acknowledging and promoting the scholarship.
Criteria
Emphasis in judging will be placed on a goal statement that includes specific information on experience or steps taken toward the goal, persuasiveness (e.g., how your past achievements/experiences and your future planning increase the probability of reaching your goal), and why you think you will succeed.
Only one application is allowed per student.
Applicants must intend to enroll or be enrolled in an accredited educational institution or vocational program in for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Applicants must complete all required information on the entry form.
Essays must be original work of the applicant and no more than 550 words in length.
Essays must be entered on our scholarship application form on this website. Essays will be truncated to the limit specified.
Essay submissions are stored and reviewed as “plain text” without additional formatting (bold, italics, underline, etc.). Please make note of this when submitting your essay.
By submitting the form electronically via our website, applicants provide their digital signature certifying that their information and essays are their own work and that they have read these rules and guidelines.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions, contact Rachel Taylor at City Leadership and Give901 at rachel@cityleadership.org.
FAQS
Who is eligible?
Students who are attending or have graduated from one of our six partner schools. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are currently or will be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher learning or vocational program for the 2025-2026 academic year.
When can I apply?
Applications for scholarships are available now until Wednesday, June 1, 2025 at 11:59pm. Recipients will be announced in July 2025.
How do I apply?
Applicants must complete the online application, including an essay describing their career, vocational or academic goals. Essays must be no longer than 550 words.
Have any tips for writing a winning essay?
Since your scholarship application will be judged solely on the basis of this essay, it’s important that your essay accurately and fully describe your life, academic, career and/or vocational goals and how you plan to achieve them.
The scholarship information states that the essays are judged on grammar, organization and craftsmanship; furthermore, the word limit is 550. We’re not recommending you use every last word available, but keep in mind that the word length was set after determining how many words should be necessary to describe your plan for the rest of your life. Brevity is good, but not at the expense of providing complete information.
Your essay and those of all your competitors will be carefully read by judges before winners are selected. In other words, the competition is strong, and the judges are human beings who are volunteering their time to support the quest for a good education. Keep in mind that the process is about encouraging substance, not style. Turn in a clean and concise essay, but for best results, let your personal passions and goals shine through. All AI-generated essays will be automatically disqualified, so please write the essay without any writing assistance.
questions?
If you have any questions, contact Rachel Taylor at City Leadership and Give901 at rachel@cityleadership.org.