Scholarship

Hope. Strength. Future.

Our scholarship initiative is designed to support students affected by the tragic impact of gun violence. It offers financial relief for both educational and mental health needs, covering expenses such as tuition, books, and other school essentials. Just as importantly, we are committed to ensuring students have access to the mental health services they need to heal and move forward.

In addition to financial support, recipients are welcomed into the Unbreakable Mentorship and Development Program, a year-round community that connects survivors of gun violence and individuals whose lives have been impacted by gun violence. The program focuses on healing, resilience, and personal growth through mentorship, peer connection, and guided group discussions. Participants gain access to mental health resources, wellness tools, leadership development opportunities, and a supportive network of individuals who understand the unique challenges that can follow trauma. By fostering meaningful relationships and providing ongoing support, the program helps students build coping skills, strengthen their sense of community, and continue moving forward in their educational and personal journeys.

Since launching the scholarship program, we have awarded $43,000 in scholarships to forty-three remarkable students. We remain committed to uplifting those who have experienced the trauma of gun violence, and our mission is grounded in providing meaningful, long-term support that empowers survivors to heal, thrive, and achieve their goals.

OUR IMPACT

43 Unbreakable students

$43K in grants

  • "This scholarship for me means more possibility. Being able to continue my school career, while also pushing my advocacy career. This is getting me one step closer to where I need to be! My resiliency, and my courage to fight for common sense gun laws and mental health is what makes me unbreakable."

    Konoba Zoe Touray

  • "This scholarship is going to help me get my political science degree. Having survived a school shooting myself, I am determined to end this gun violence epidemic through advocacy and legislative change. This organization means a lot to me, and I am so grateful for the Unbreakable Team and their mission."

    Madeline Johnson

  • "This scholarship helps advance my education, but it’s so much more than that. I’m pursing a major in Pharmacy, and the reasoning why has much to do with my experience. In the years following the tragedy, I couldn’t find a treatment to cope with the trauma. Everyone copes with their trauma differently, and for me, I needed medication. I wanted to pursue pharmacy because I never want people to feel like they don’t have any more options to help themselves. No one deserves to live in pain after going through tragedy. This scholarship has given me the chance to continue my education and advocate for mental health awareness."

    Jacqueline Hegarty

  • "No one ever plans to ultimately join the community of gun violence survivors. However, when people tragically find themselves among that group, they quickly realize that it is a group filled with amazing people who are persistent, driven, and determined to live! I’m grateful that the Unbreakable Organization provides a safe and creative space for survivors."

    Quinones Corniel Jr.

  • "Winning this scholarship makes me feel less alone in my healing journey. I feel uplifted having a space to connect with other survivors and advocate for change. The support from this organization will allow me to complete my master's program in Higher Education Leadership, enabling me to continue supporting other students on their own journeys. My hope makes me unbreakable. Even after experiencing the trauma of gun violence, I have hope in the future and in the goodness of others. Even when things are hard, people are trying to make the world better. I have hope for a future free from gun violence, and that makes me unbreakable."

    Claire Stewart

  • "This scholarship provides a clear financial boost to help me pursue my education, but more importantly, the application process introduced me to amazing people who have opened my eyes to the power of togetherness. My life will never be close to the same without my younger sister, Lydia, and I will feel her absence for the rest of my life. She was my everything, but that will never change. It is because of her that I will work harder than ever and continue to pursue my dreams because now, they are for both of us. I am unbreakable."

    Jack Elking

  • "This scholarship signifies healing for me. The most important aspect has been the opportunity to share my story, something I hadn't experienced before. I feel blessed to have shared my journey in a safe space and to find comfort in my pain."

    Serena Bradshaw

  • "This scholarship is a great support in allowing me the privilege of focusing more on my schooling and community work to further my goals of promoting equity and compassion through the mental health field as a psychologist!"

    Charles Conteh

  • "Winning this scholarship means a lot to me, knowing that the people around me want to support me in my journey and that I am never alone in what I go through."

    Logan Sheafer

  • "What makes me unbreakable is my family and everlasting motivation to do better. My family has sacrificed so much to get me where I am today. They are the inspiration for my courage to pursue my dreams and keep moving forward, even when everything appears impossible. They have helped me see that our hardships don't break us but empower us in unspeakable ways."

    Alina L Barajas

  • "Receiving this scholarship is not only giving me a way to relieve financial stress while in the last year of obtaining my undergraduate degree. It also gives me a chance to spread awareness of how often gun violence affects students who have experienced traumatic events due to gun violence."

    Lillian Lockhart

  • "This scholarship enables me to complete my undergraduate education with greater peace of mind and stability. It also reassures me that I am supported, having a wonderful community to lean on when needed. I have learned to lean on those around me, at the same time giving support to those leaning on me. Together, we are unbreakable."

    Zoe Haden

  • "Winning this scholarship means that my story about being a survivor of gun violence was heard, and I'm not on my journey of advocating for change alone. The resilience and determination that come from surviving and advocating for change are what make me unbreakable. I AM UNBREAKABLE."

    Chrishay Cleveland

  • "This scholarship means the world to me, primarily because of the person awarding it to me and the impact she has had on my life. Brittany, or as I know her, Mrs. Sinitch, is and forever will be a significant part of my gun violence story and of the love I found for writing and communication, which has turned into the career I have today. She helped me heal in 2018 after the worst day of our lives, and now, 5 years later, she is helping me once again get one step closer to accomplishing my dreams."

    Isabella Benjumea

  • "My commitment to the community has made me unbreakable. I refuse to allow myself to be defined by traumatic events, such as the mass shooting my sister and I were in. Instead, I use my lived experiences and the lived experiences of those in my community to foster dialogue about necessary change and to collaborate with policymakers to tackle the root causes of issues, such as gun violence."

    Marissa Pittman

  • "This scholarship means the world to me. It not only helps me but also pushes me to work even harder, as I now have more people watching and wanting me to achieve something great. I am unbreakable due to my perseverance and what I have personally been able to push through, and will continue to push through."

    Jacorey Jamar Taylor

  • "I want to be the person students can come to and feel safe around. With this scholarship, I will be able to be that person for so many people and students! Being unbreakable means having the ability to remain standing despite being pushed down by negative outside sources. It also means being able to pick myself up and help others along the way to create a positive impact."

    Kana Emmett-Hardey

  • "This scholarship provided the support I needed to continue my education and shift my attitude towards accepting help. My unbreakable spirit is fueled by the unwavering support of my family and as a first-generation student."

    Bryan Henriquez

  • "Winning this scholarship means that I can continue my healing and academic journey while connecting with others who understand my experiences."

    Kendall Shelton

  • "Winning this scholarship has provided me with relief while working hard at school and helping me pay for my studies. However, this scholarship has also given me a tremendous amount of hope: hope for myself, hope for everyone involved in this organization, and hope for everyone affected by gun violence."

    Mayley Payton

  • "This scholarship means so much to me. It means that my story was heard, and it means that there are people who care for not only me, but my community and family. The Unbreakable Organization has already helped my family astronomically, and I am so honored that the love we have received is ongoing."

    Lilah Haden

  • "This scholarship will allow me to attend school for free, enabling me to focus on my studies rather than worrying about how I will afford each semester."

    Arielle Johnson

  • "Receiving this scholarship relieved financial stress, allowing me to pursue education. Now, as a graduate, I understand the importance of giving back to my community. My classroom, family, and the Latinx community make me unbreakable and encourage me to be the most authentic and colorful version of myself."

    Mirka Cadena

  • "Receiving this scholarship in the midst of my undergraduate academic career and the pandemic was immensely impactful, providing both financial relief and a profound sense of validation and empowerment. It enabled me to sustain my education during a time of unemployment and forged lasting friendships with other recipients that fostered a sense of community."

    Kassandra Santos

  • "What makes me unbreakable is my ability to rise above hardships, to pursue my goals, and to embrace the future without fear."

    Bre'Aujanae Moore

  • "This scholarship has helped ease immense pressure in affording the costs of living, and I am very grateful. What makes me unbreakable is remembering never to stop finding fuel for your passion, living in it, and constantly feeding it."

    Alexander Athanasiou

  • "What makes me unbreakable is not just a 'what' but a 'who' - the people I hold dear, like my family and friends. They are the ones who support me, hold my pieces together, and empower me to trust and love myself, enabling me to become unbreakable and grow as an individual."

    Jennifer Lopez

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Youth who have graduated high school and have been impacted by gun violence are eligible to apply.

  • This includes, but is not limited to, survivors of shootings, individuals who have lost a loved one to gun violence, or those who live in communities disproportionately affected. 

  • Scholarship funds are intended to support your healing and educational journey, wherever you are in that process. This may include mental health care such as therapy, educational needs such as tuition or books, or life essentials such as rent and transportation. 

  • Recipients are welcomed into a supportive community that includes mentorship opportunities, mental health resources, and spaces to connect with others who share similar lived experiences.

  • Our scholarship is awarded annually. The next round of applications will open in May 2027.