New College Scholarship for New York Students Focuses on Connection, Not GPA

If you’ve ever felt like scholarship applications miss the point entirely, you’re not alone. Grades, test scores, athletic stats: that’s the usual checklist. But Tawkify, a New York-based matchmaking company, is taking a completely different approach. Their new scholarship isn’t about what’s on your transcript. It’s about the people in your life.

And before you ask, no, it’s not about dating. It’s about the relationships that actually shape who you are. The parent who pushed you when you wanted to quit. The friend who stuck around when things got messy. The mentor who saw something in you before you saw it yourself.

Who Can Apply and What’s at Stake

If you’re a New York student, this is open to you, whether you’re wrapping up high school, grinding through undergrad, or deep into grad school. Two winners will each take home $2,000. The deadline is May 28, 2026, and winners will be announced June 29, 2026.

READ MORE: New York Grad School Costs Could Rise With 2026 Loan Changes

Tawkify also wants to hear from single parents and students who were raised by one. If that’s your story, they’re specifically encouraging you to apply.

Forget the GPA, Tell Your Story

Here’s the thing: you don’t need a 4.0 to be competitive. This application is built around your story, not your transcript. That’s a pretty rare thing.

The prompt asks you to think about how relationships have shaped your life, what human connection means in today’s world, and how the people around you have influenced where you’re headed. You can even upload a photo to bring your story to life.

Let’s be real: college is expensive, and not everyone has the same support system going into it. A lot of New York families are figuring it out as they go. First-generation students and kids from single-parent homes often carry more than their peers do, financially and otherwise, and they do it quietly.

Tawkify’s whole thing is that who you have in your corner matters just as much as how hard you work. The right relationships build you up, open doors you didn’t even know were there, and keep you going when things get hard.

Ready to Apply? Here’s Where to Go

Students can apply online here: https://bold.org/scholarships/tawkify-meaningful-connections-scholarship

One more thing: the May 28 deadline is closer than it looks. Don’t sit on this.

This One’s for the People Who Show Up

You probably know someone like this, or maybe it’s you. The one who’s always checking in, always showing up, quietly holding things together for everyone around them. This one’s for them.

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For a lot of New York students, being recognized for that (not just handed a check) might be the more meaningful part.