Award Amount: $5,000
Scholarship Awarded Annually
The John Jay Fetzer Memorial Scholarship Fund benefits an O’Connor Institute Ambassador high school senior who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement, leadership, civil debate skills, and civics knowledge. Established in memory of a late O’Connor Institute colleague, the Fetzer scholarship is bestowed upon an exemplary member of the O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Civics & Debate Club who personifies the core values of the Institute, such as civility and inclusivity. This page provides an overview and requirements for this special opportunity.
Application Requirements:
Student Eligibility:
- 12th-grade student currently enrolled as an O'Connor Institute Ambassador who has participated in the 2026-2027 program and attended a minimum of two meetings.
- An Unofficial Transcript with GPA
- Demonstrated community service during high school
- Set to graduate in spring 2027
- United States Citizen
Essay Submission:
A written essay, no more than 1000 words, will be required for submission.
The 2027 Theme:
The Power of Civil Discourse | Honoring the Legacy of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
How does Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy highlight the importance of civil discourse in promoting civic responsibility, constitutional principles, and the common good?
In no more than 1,000 words, describe one specific time when you engaged seriously with someone whose views differed from your own.
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- What did it take to speak candidly and to listen fairly?
- What did you do, and what came of it?
- Drawing on that experience, what does Justice O'Connor's example ask of your generation?
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Community Service:
Student participates in one or more extracurricular activities at their school or in the community (e.g., Scouts). Students will be required to provide details of their service, and if selected as a finalist, they will be asked to provide contact information to confirm their hours/participation.