SERVE Scholarship

Investing in Future Leaders: The SERVE Village Scholarship

At SERVE Village, our mission has always been about more than the present moment. Yes, we show up for our neighbors today — through SERVE Week, IMPACT HamCo, Come Together Week, and everything in between — but we also believe deeply in investing in the people who will carry that spirit of service forward into the future. That belief is what drives the SERVE Village Scholarship.

More Than an Academic Award

This scholarship is not your typical academic honor. It is not just about grades or test scores — it is about recognizing students who are already out in their communities, putting in the hours, and making a real difference in the lives of people around them. It is about saying to a young person: we see what you are doing, we believe in where you are going, and we want to help you get there.

The SERVE Village Scholarship awards one outstanding Hamilton County senior with a renewable $500 scholarship — up to four years and $2,000 total — to support their continued education and their continued commitment to service. Whether a recipient is headed to a trade school, a two-year college, or a four-year university, this scholarship meets them where they are going and walks alongside them.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for students who do not just talk about caring for their community — they show up for it. Consistently, intentionally, and with heart.

To be eligible, applicants must carry a minimum 2.0 GPA and demonstrate a genuine commitment to community service, logging at least 120 hours of volunteer work per year. We also ask that recipients maintain an ongoing commitment to volunteerism throughout the scholarship period — including 50 hours per year or 20 hours during SERVE Week — and submit a yearly service report to renew their award.

A letter of recommendation from a mentor or community service leader rounds out the application, giving us a fuller picture of the person behind the hours.This is not about perfection. It is about passion, character, and a demonstrated willingness to show up for others.

Scholarship Details at a Glance

• Amount: $500 per year, renewable for up to four years

• Total potential award: $2,000

• One scholarship awarded annually

• Open to students attending trade school, two-year colleges, or four-year universities

• Applications open January 1st and close March 31st

How to Apply

The application process is straightforward. Complete the online application form, have your mentor or community service leader submit a letter of recommendation to info@servevillage.org with your name in the subject line, and commit to continuing your volunteer service throughout your academic journey. Please note that NHS students may apply through their school's common app.

If you have been putting in the hours and living out a genuine commitment to your community, this scholarship was written with you in mind.

Help Us Dream Bigger

Right now the SERVE Village Scholarship awards $500 annually — and we are proud of every dollar we put toward a student's future. But we are not done dreaming. Our goal is to grow this award to $1,000 per year, doubling the impact for the students who earn it and doubling our investment in the next generation of community leaders.

That growth does not happen without the community that makes SERVE Village possible in the first place. If you believe in the power of service — and in the young people carrying it forward — here is how you can help:

• Donate to directly support a student's future

• Become a sponsor and make a lasting, named impact on the scholarship fund

• Spread the word and encourage others in your network to give

Every contribution, large or small, helps a Hamilton County student pursue their education, continue their service, and build the kind of life that makes this community stronger for everyone in it.

An Investment That Compounds:

There is something powerful about investing in a person who already gives. A student who has logged 120 hours of community service is not waiting to make a difference someday, they are already doing it. The SERVE Village Scholarship is our way of meeting that energy with support, and trusting that the impact will multiply far beyond what any of us can measure.

Hamilton County's future is being shaped right now, in the hands of young people who show up, serve, and lead. We are honored to walk alongside them.

Click here to apply to the SERVE Village Scholarship fund.

Click here to donate to the SERVE Village Scholarship fund.