Scholarships
Children can change the world before they ever reach adulthood.
Aubrey Rose never had a chance to go to school and impress others with her academic performance or athletic abilities. Yet her kindness made a lasting impact on the lives of those who met her.
We believe that when a child's kindness is seen and celebrated, it reminds them of their worth and inspires them to keep growing, giving, and moving forward with confidence and compassion.
To honor Aubrey and celebrate the qualities that truly make a difference in the world, we give away private high school scholarships to 8th grade children who have demonstrated kindness and willingness to give back to their community.
As of 2025, we have given out 601 educational scholarships.
Challenge Your Heart - Happening Now!
Each year our scholarship recipients have a chance to raise funds to directly benefit a child in need. It’s also a meaningful way for their communities to get involved—demonstrating the power of collective action and showing these young changemakers that their actions, even now, can spark real, lasting impact in the world.
Scholarship FAQ
We are not currently accepting applications. Please see below for more details.
Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for a scholarship:
- Be a current 8th grade student in Greater Cincinnati
- Be attending or planning to attend a private high school in Greater Cincinnati the following school year
- Have demonstrated genuine kindness and made an impact in their community
- Write a 500 - 1,500 word essay about how they have made a difference in the lives of others
- Complete an online application and attach their essay
Write a 500 - 1,500 word essay about how you have made a difference in the lives of others. Be sure to follow the formatting instructions.
Please use the instructions below to format and submit your essay.
- Title your Essay
- At the top of the page of each page of your essay, in Arial, 12 pt font, centered and in bold, title your essay using this format: Student First and Last Name - grade school you attend - high school you would like to attend.
- Underneath the title, indicate the page number of total pages. For example: Page 1 of 2.
- Do not put this info in the “header” section
- Write the body of the essay:
- Use Arial, 12 pt font, not in bold, left aligned.
- Use proper capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
- Submit your essay and application:
- Save your document as a .doc or .docx file and name the file using this format: ARFS-Year-Last Name-First Name
- Example: ARFS-2025-Smith-Jane
- Complete the application on this page (the link is only available when we are accepting applications)
- Attach your essay as a .doc or .docx file. We will not accept PDF, Zip, or Google Doc attachments
- Be sure to submit your application before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
- Save your document as a .doc or .docx file and name the file using this format: ARFS-Year-Last Name-First Name
Students selected for a scholarship will be given a one time $500.00 scholarship to the private high school of their choice in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Scholarship recipients are also eligible to receive a $1000 scholarship the following year, if they have partnered with the Aubrey Rose Foundation in our mission to help children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
Applications are generally accepted from October through January. Check this page, follow us on social media, or sign up for our newsletter to be notified when applications are being accepted.
Scholarship applicants submit an essay and are judged by a panel consisting of the Aubrey Rose Foundation Scholarship Committee, Aubrey's parents, Jerry and Nancy Hollenkamp, Aubrey's brother, Spencer and the student's school staff members.
We have the pleasure of surprising students and their parents by announcing scholarships at their 8th grade graduation or awards ceremony. This moment is deeply meaningful—when a child is recognized not just for what they’ve done, but for who they truly are. And for the child, it’s a memory that stays with them forever—a reminder that their compassion matters.
In addition, scholarship recipients, along with their teachers and parents, are invited to a special celebration held in June at Aston Oaks. It’s an evening filled with delicious food, joyful moments, and the chance to honor some truly remarkable kids.
Over the years, there have been students who chose to get involved with the Aubrey Rose Foundation after receiving a scholarship. In 2007, we began recognizing those students who went “Above and Beyond” by supporting, volunteering, and raising funds without any expectation of an award. Those exceptional students are given an additional $1000 scholarship for their sophomore year of high school.
This award is only for past Aubrey Rose Foundation Scholarship recipients. A new application and essay is not required. Actions speak louder than words!
No. While we are sure you could easily write a 1000-word essay about how amazing your child is, we want to hear directly from them!
No. At this time, we are only accepting applications from current 8th grade students who will be going to private high schools in the fall.
We're so glad you asked. If you love helping kids advance their education as much as we do, donate online or reach out to us to discuss other options.
Challenge Your Heart is a way our scholarship recipients can help children with life-threatening conditions and get their community involved. Learn more here.