Clearway Essay Contest Scholarship

Our Scholarship for the 2020-2021 School Year is open!
Clearway Community Solar LLC (“Clearway”) is offering essay scholarships (“Essay”) to a full-time undergraduate college student. Students will be writing an essay about a topic chosen by Clearway. The 2020 scholarship is open for applications until November 1, 2020.

Scholarships Available
1st Place
$5,000
2nd Place
$2,500
Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2020. Winners will be announced on December 20, 2020.

The Essay Contest prizes will be awarded as a check.
The student must use this check to pay for college-related expenses such as tuition.

Do not use the phone number or chat listed on this site for questions about the scholarship. Please email communitysolarscholarship@clearwayenergy.com with any questions.

2020 Applications Are Open
Our 2020 Scholarship Essay Contest prompt for the 2020-2021 school year is now live. Scholarship applications will be accepted until November 1, 2020.

2020 Essay Topic
The climate crisis is among the most critical existential threats facing humankind. But today, we are also facing a new global crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic. Are there similarities in the threat of these two crises? How has the urgency of combating the climate change crisis been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis?

Please consider the following questions in your response:
What impact has the COVID-19 global pandemic had on the environment and the economy?
How do these impacts affect ongoing or new climate change mitigation strategies?
In what ways have recent changes to daily life, school, governance, or business provided a preview of what might happen to society if the climate crisis continues to escalate?
Based on what we’ve learned from navigating through the COVID-19 crisis, what steps should we take today to help manage the climate change crisis?
Thinking about these key points, create an essay of no less than 1,000 words that describes the parallels and differences of these two crises, and share your insights on how this experience can help us create a more sustainable future.

Essays must be 1,000 words or more and in a Word Document. Plagiarized essays will not be considered. We will only accept essays in English. One essay per student. See full rules for more details.

Judging
Entries will be judged on grammar, originality, and content quality. Clearway will make the final judgment decisions and notify the winners via email or phone. If a winner does not contact Clearway Community Solar within a week of being notified, Clearway Community Solar will select a new winner.

Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2020

Eligible Students
Scholarship applicants must be full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program in fields such as Environmental Science, Sustainable Studies, Industrial Technology, Energy and Sustainability Policy, Energy Commerce, Environmental Engineering, or a related field at a US institution and be a United States citizen.

Scholarship applicants must have completed, at the attending institution, a minimum of 15 college credit hours or one semester. The selected winner must provide verification of school status via transcript prior to the release of the prize.

Scholarship applicants must possess an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The selected winner must provide verification of GPA via transcript prior to the release of the prize.

Clearway Community Solar 2020 Essay Scholarship FAQ
I am a foreign student, am I eligible?
No, applicants must be a United States citizen to be considered for this scholarship.

What about legal status? What if I don’t have a Social Security number or am an immigrant?
To apply for the scholarship and submit an essay, applicants must have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Can I submit more than one essay?
No, each applicant can only submit one essay.

I just graduated high school, am I eligible?
No, applicants must have completed one semester or a minimum of 15 college credit hours at an attending institution.

I’m going to start my first semester, am I eligible?
No, each applicant must have completed 15 college credit hours or one semester at an attending institution to be eligible for this scholarship.

I transferred to a new university/college, am I eligible?
Yes, as long as the university/college is in the United States and you have completed one semester at your previous college/university.

Why do you need my photo?
Applicants must sign a marketing agreement to use their photo, name, and essay for commercial use.

How do I submit my essay?
Applicants can submit their essay and application form to this email: communitysolarscholarship@clearwayenergy.com

When are the winners announced?
The winners will be announced on December 20, 2020.

How do winners receive their award payments?
Winners will receive a check that must be used for college-related expenses, such as tuition.

Award
Varies; Up to $5,000
Scopes
External Scholarship Opportunities
Deadline
11/01/2020