About the John Lewis Good Trouble Scholarship

  • Activist, Civil Rights icon, and Georgia U.S. Representative John Lewis was a man who fought for racial justice and equality wherever he could throughout his life. John Lewis believed in the passion, persistence, and power of the people, particularly young citizens, to effect change from their kitchen tables and to never give up. NSHSS honors Representative Lewis's legacy by awarding three (3) recipients who embody the ideals of "good trouble" with a scholarship.

    Application Requirements:

    • Letter of Recommendation
    • Essay Response to this Prompt:
      • John Lewis famously stated, “I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.” In 800 words or less, define what "good trouble" looks like to you. Please give one example of how you "get in the way" and what you are doing in your community to be unafraid to make some noise.
    • 1 minute video addressing the following topic: why is good trouble such a passionate topic?
    • Photos/media of community activism, engagement, and/or committee involvement/events 
    • Academic Resume
    • Transcript (unofficial or official)
    • Color headshot suitable for website posting

    Scholarship Amount: $1000

    Application Deadline: October 3, 2024