Scholarship Application

Yes! As long as you still meet our Eligibility Requirements (listed above), you can apply again this year for a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship. Please take a careful look at our Scoring Rubrics to make your application as strong as possible! This is especially important if you have applied before but were not awarded a scholarship! Our rubrics provide you with a roadmap for submitting your best possible application.

After each year’s application window closes in April, our Scholarship Review Committee carefully reads all applications to decide which applicants will receive a scholarship. We contact all applicants via email or U.S. Mail by early June. If you applied but have not heard anything by mid-June, feel free to send an email to liz@rubysrainbow.org.

With proper documentation, Ruby’s Rainbow can send the scholarship funds directly to the university or program you are attending. Applicants (or their parents/guardians) can also receive scholarship funds directly via reimbursement for tuition, books, or other qualified expenses by submitting documentation, including paid receipts. If you are awarded a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship, we’ll send you more information about the necessary paperwork for tuition or other fee reimbursement.

Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000 per awarded individual. We award our larger scholarships in conjunction with major supporters and businesses. (This is part of why we highly recommend submitting extra supporting materials with your application, such as videos, scans of artwork or writing, etc., to help us get to know you better! These “extras” make for stronger applications, which are more likely to be awarded larger scholarships! For more information, please check out our Scoring Rubrics before applying!)

Please note that all scholarship funds awarded must be used within one year.

Yes! If you’re a high school student who is planning to graduate in the spring/summer of the year you apply for a scholarship and are at least 18 years of age (or will be by August 1), we’d LOVE to read your application!

Yes! We ask that you fill out as much of the application as you can without help to the best of your abilities. We recognize that you may need assistance from a parent, guardian, or friend, but we want to read your own responses so we can get a full picture of your accomplishments, goals, and personality!!

After completing as much of the application as possible independently, a family member or friend can add anything they feel is needed to help us get to know you better. One family member is also welcome to submit a letter to share any additional information or inspirational stories.

We’d love to get to know you better!! You can submit photos, artwork, drawings, poems, a video of you doing something you are proud of, a personal video you made… the possibilities are endless!! We want to get a clear vision of your personality, accomplishments, favorite activities, and goals…so be creative!!!

Please ensure any video links you submit are not password-protected. Otherwise, our scholarship committee won’t be able to review them! Videos should be less than or equal to two minutes long.

For your Ruby’s Rainbow application to be considered complete, you must submit the following:

• A completed Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship Application
• An applicant essay
• Parent/Guardian Information (if applicable)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Two references
• A copy of high school diploma, certificate of completion, or equivalent proof of enrollment in post-secondary educational program (see application for more options and details)
• At least one photo of you
• Other supporting materials, if desired (e.g., photos, drawings, videos, etc.)

All of the above materials must be submitted by the April deadline for your application to be reviewed. If any of these items are missing, we can’t consider your application.

While videos and other extra supporting materials aren’t required, they are strongly recommended due to the competitive nature of the application process! We encourage you to submit something that will help us get to know you better and give us a clear vision of your personality, strengths, accomplishments, and goals. We can’t wait to read your application and get to know you better!!

We love to hear from others about how you have inspired them or touched their lives!! A few examples of people you can ask are longtime friends, teachers, employers, co-workers, or religious leaders. Please ask them to keep recommendation letters to one page in length.

No. Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarships are specifically for students with Down syndrome. This focus allows us to better serve and support the Down syndrome community in honor of Ruby.

No, we encourage you to apply even if you are still considering postsecondary programs or courses but haven’t been accepted to one yet. Scholarship applications received past the deadline will not be considered. So, even if you are just thinking about applying to a postsecondary program, submit your application on time just in case!

Click the green Apply link above to submit your application and supporting materials online. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Central Time on the April deadline to be considered.

The application window for the 2024 Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship will open on January 1, 2024. The application deadline will be Monday, April 15, 2024. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Central Time on that date; no application can be submitted for review past that deadline.

All Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship applications are evaluated by our Scholarship Review Committee — a group of caring individuals who know the Ruby’s Rainbow mission and values very well and are committed to supporting them. The Review Committee uses the criteria detailed in our Scoring Rubrics to evaluate all applications based on five different categories: Personal, Accomplishments, Goals, Community Impact, and Extras. Applicants may be awarded between 0 and 5 points in each of these categories. Please see the rubrics page for more information.

Applications for a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship will open in January of each new year for funds to be granted for the fall of that same year. Check our Apply page for exact dates. You can also contact Liz@rubysrainbow.org or call 512-879-7801 with any questions.