This scholarship was established to honor Ryan Stripling, an English teacher in Bentonville, Arkansas who passed away from cancer in 2019. Ryan was a fierce believer in young writers and always encouraged them with his motto, “Words create worlds.”

The CREATIVE.INSPIRED.HAPPY online writing community is honored to continue Ryan’s legacy by awarding a scholarship to a high school senior who is a promising young writer. This scholarship is open to students pursuing any major, as long as they are interested in continuing to write throughout college. Students must currently be attending a high school within the United States and plan to attend a college or university within the United States.

To apply, tell us what you love about writing and how you plan to continue writing while in college.

Scholarship Amount: $2500

Application Deadline: February 5, 2026