Established in 1968, the Maude and Alexander Hadden Scholarship is awarded to exceptionally worthy high school seniors with demonstrated financial need, for up to four years of college undergraduate study. Hadden Scholars must be U.S. citizens matriculating at a four-year accredited college or university established in the United States.

In awarding Hadden Scholarships, Youth Foundation considers scholastic achievement, character, leadership, volunteerism, and financial need*. There is a minimum unweighted grade point average requirement, 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, to apply for a Hadden Scholarship. There is no minimum test score requirement, but past winners have had competitive scores.

Application Deadline

Each year, the application dates will be clearly posted throughout the website and within the application itself. Please note that the application will open at 12:00 midnight EST on the first day of the application cycle and will close at 11:59 PM EST on the last day of the cycle. Once the deadline has passed and the cycle is closed, no applications may be submitted. The application deadline is strictly enforced for all applicants. All stated times are, without exception, Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Scholarship Amount: $20,000 (25 awards)

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026