A Different Kind of Scholarship
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship was created for individuals who are determined to move forward, including those whose potential may not always be recognized through traditional measures of achievement.
We believe a Future Leader can be found in many places and at many stages of life. You may be preparing to graduate from high school, working toward a GED, returning to education as an adult, pursuing a skilled trade or professional certification, or rebuilding your future after a setback.
You do not need a perfect academic record or a traditional life story to be considered.
What matters to The Hidden Warriors Foundation is your character, your growth, your determination, the direction you are choosing for your future, and the person who is willing to stand behind you and say, “This person deserves an opportunity.”
Who Can Apply
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship is open to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established for the applicable application period.
Applicants must:
• Be at least 17 years of age at the time of application. There is no upper age limit.
• Be a resident of the State of Texas. THWF intends to expand the scholarship nationwide as funding and program capacity grow.
• Be pursuing, or preparing to pursue, a qualifying educational, vocational, technical, trade, certification, licensing, GED, workforce-training, or other approved skills-development opportunity.
• Identify an eligible Endorser who personally knows them and can speak meaningfully about their character, growth, determination, leadership, perseverance, service, or potential.
There is no minimum GPA requirement. A high school diploma or GED is not required when the applicant’s proposed program does not require one.
A prior criminal conviction, including a felony conviction, does not by itself disqualify an applicant. When a particular program, certification, or professional license has legal eligibility requirements, the applicant must be eligible to pursue that opportunity.
Applicants who are 17 years old and have not reached the age of majority will be required to obtain parent or legal guardian consent before an award can be finalized.
What the Scholarship Can Support
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship is intended to help recipients obtain an approved education, training, certification, license, or other qualifying credential that can help them move forward.
Scholarship funds may be used toward tuition, required program or enrollment fees, required certification or licensing examinations, required books or instructional materials, and required tools or equipment when those items are an integral part of the approved program.
Scholarship funds may not be used for general living expenses, transportation, childcare, housing, utilities, personal expenses, personal debt, fines, court costs, or other expenses unrelated to obtaining the approved education, training, certification, or credential.
Scholarship funds are not paid directly to recipients. THWF makes payment directly to the approved school, training program, testing organization, certification or licensing provider, or other qualifying organization on behalf of the recipient. When approved required materials or equipment must be purchased separately, THWF may make payment directly to the approved vendor.
The amount paid will not exceed the recipient’s documented qualifying costs or the scholarship amount awarded, whichever is less.
Every Future Leader Needs an Endorser
Every applicant must have one eligible Endorser who personally knows the applicant and is willing to vouch for their character and potential.
The Endorser should be someone who can speak meaningfully, and from personal knowledge, about qualities such as the applicant’s character, integrity, determination, personal growth, leadership, sacrifice, compassion, responsibility, perseverance, work ethic, service to others, or commitment to building a better future.
An Endorser may be a teacher, counselor, employer, supervisor, coworker, mentor, coach, clergy or faith-community leader, community leader, caseworker, reentry professional, probation or parole professional, nonprofit representative, training instructor, or another responsible adult who genuinely knows the applicant.
An Endorser may not be the applicant’s spouse or partner, parent, legal guardian, child, sibling, grandparent, or other immediate family member.
The Endorser does not need to hold a professional title or position of authority. What matters is the quality and credibility of their firsthand knowledge of the applicant.
The endorsement must be submitted directly to THWF by the Endorser through the Future Leaders Endorsement Form. An application is not complete until the required endorsement has been received by the applicable deadline.
What We Look For in a Future Leader
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship is a character-centered opportunity program. Selection is not based primarily on grade point average, academic honors, professional status, or traditional measures of achievement.
THWF looks for individuals who demonstrate qualities such as character, integrity, determination, personal growth, leadership, sacrifice, compassion, responsibility, perseverance, service to others, generosity of spirit, and a genuine commitment to moving forward.
Particular consideration may be given to applicants whose journey demonstrates meaningful improvement, the courage to overcome previous setbacks, a willingness to accept responsibility, or a demonstrated effort to create a more productive future.
The required endorsement is a significant part of the selection process. THWF will place substantial weight on the observations of an eligible Endorser who personally knows the applicant and can provide specific examples of the applicant’s character, growth, conduct, leadership, sacrifice, compassion, service, or potential.
The endorsement helps us understand who the applicant is when accomplishments, grades, credentials, and statistics do not tell the whole story.
No single life circumstance, hardship, academic record, or past mistake will automatically determine selection. Applicants will be considered based on the whole person, their endorsement, their proposed educational or credentialing goal, and their demonstrated potential to move forward.
What You’ll Need to Apply
When applications are open, applicants will complete the Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship Application and provide information about themselves, the opportunity they wish to pursue, and what moving forward means to them.
Applicants will be asked to provide basic contact and eligibility information; information about the education, training, certification, licensing, GED, or credentialing opportunity they wish to pursue; the organization providing the program; and the anticipated cost.
Applicants will also identify one eligible Endorser. The Endorser will submit a separate endorsement directly to THWF. The applicant’s application will not be considered complete until the required endorsement has been received.
Tell Us Your Story
We want to hear about the person behind the application. Applicants will be invited to tell us about the experiences, responsibilities, challenges, sacrifices, growth, or people that have shaped them; why pursuing their chosen education, training, or credential is important; and what they hope it will help them accomplish.
This is not an academic writing competition. Perfect grammar, perfect spelling, and a perfectly written essay are not what THWF is looking for. We want applicants to tell their story honestly and in their own voice.
Applicants are not expected to have perfect academic, employment, or personal histories. Honesty, personal accountability, growth, and a demonstrated commitment to moving forward matter.
THWF may request reasonable documentation necessary to verify eligibility, program enrollment or acceptance, program costs, credential requirements, or other information relevant to an award.
Funding & Application Periods
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship is a funding-dependent program. Scholarship opportunities will be offered as funding becomes available through donations, grants, sponsorships, and other approved charitable support.
The number of scholarships awarded and the amount of each award may vary from one application period to another based on available funding and the documented qualifying costs of selected recipients.
There is no guaranteed annual award amount or guaranteed number of scholarship recipients.
THWF may open one or more application periods throughout the year. Each application period will include an opening date, application deadline, and any additional information applicants need to know.
Applications will only be accepted during an officially announced open application period. Applicants who are not selected may apply again during a future application period if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
THWF reserves the right to postpone, extend, close, or cancel an application period when necessary because of available funding, application volume, organizational capacity, or other circumstances affecting responsible administration of the program.
What Happens After You Apply
Once an application and the required Endorser submission have been received, THWF will review the application to determine whether the applicant meets the scholarship’s eligibility requirements.
Eligible applications will then move through the Future Leaders review process. Applicants will be considered based on the established selection criteria, including character, personal growth, determination, leadership potential, perseverance, service to others, the applicant’s goals, and the strength and credibility of the Endorser’s firsthand observations.
Applicants who advance as finalists may be asked to provide additional information or documentation so THWF can verify the proposed education, training, certification, licensing, or credentialing opportunity and its qualifying costs.
Finalists will be reviewed through THWF’s established scholarship review process, with final scholarship awards requiring approval by the THWF Board of Directors.
Applicants selected to receive an award will be contacted directly by The Hidden Warriors Foundation with information about verification and the next steps necessary for payment.
Scholarship funds are paid directly to the approved educational, training, testing, certification, licensing, or other qualifying organization on behalf of the recipient. Funds are not paid directly to the recipient.
Submission of an application, completion of the eligibility requirements, or selection as a finalist does not guarantee a scholarship award.
Your Story is Yours
We understand that applying for the Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship may involve sharing personal experiences, challenges, setbacks, financial circumstances, or other information that applicants may not normally share publicly.
Information submitted as part of the scholarship application and endorsement process will be used to administer the Future Leaders Scholarship, evaluate eligibility, review applications, verify information, communicate with applicants and Endorsers, and process approved awards.
Your personal story does not become THWF’s story to tell simply because you applied for a scholarship.
Applicants are not required to publicly disclose personal hardships, criminal history, family circumstances, financial circumstances, or other sensitive experiences as a condition of receiving an award.
Scholarship recipients may be invited to allow THWF to celebrate their achievement through our website, social media, newsletters, events, or other Foundation communications. Public recognition is completely voluntary and is not a condition of receiving a scholarship.
THWF will obtain appropriate permission before publishing a recipient’s name, photograph, personal story, educational plans, or other personally identifying information. Choosing not to participate in public recognition will not affect an applicant’s consideration or award.
Future Leaders Scholarship Applications
Applications are currently closed.
The Hidden Warriors Future Leaders Scholarship is being prepared for its first application period. Applications will open as scholarship funding and program capacity become available.
When an application period opens, this page will be updated with the application dates, deadline, available award information, and a link to the official application.
Please check back for future application opportunities.