Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship

Offered on behalf of The Evergreen State College Foundation, this scholarship is intended for Evergreen students at all undergraduate class levels. The scholarship is awarded to an individual student for one year.

Rachel Corrie, a lifelong Olympia resident, Evergreen student and community activist, was killed by an Israeli military-operated bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza, on March 16, 2003, while defending the home of a Palestinian family against unlawful demolition.

The scholarship is for students dedicated to gaining a better understanding of peace and justice efforts around the world. A focus on the Middle East is valued, but it is not required to be considered for this scholarship. Applicants must show how they will use their studies to explore and promote human rights and social justice through community activism, scholarly analysis and/or political advocacy.

Areas of interest may include: peace, social justice and conflict resolution studies; international relations; Arab culture and Arabic language; US policy in the Middle East.

Additional requirements

* Letter of application explaining your qualifications and why you wish to be considered for the scholarship. The letter should focus on (1) your interest in peace and justice; (2) how the scholarship will help you; (3) a short description of your intended studies; and (4) an explanation of how your analytical or creative work reflects your interests. Include a short description of how you plan to incorporate your studies into the community and/or international context described above. (Your letter can be up to two pages in length.)

* Include a sample of analytical or creative work that you have produced which conveys your commitment to and interest in social justice. This could be an analytic essay, prose, art, poetry, photography or anything else which you feel conveys your message about social justice issues. This piece of work should not be longer than five pages. In your application letter, make sure you include a short statement (about a half-page or couple paragraphs) about the relevance of your analytical or creative work to your application. Applications that do not include a statement of relevance will not be reviewed. If you’re submitting art or photography, do not send originals. (No DVDs, but links to online videos are acceptable.)

* One additional letter of recommendation (two in total) from individuals, other than relatives, who are familiar with your qualifications. If you are currently a college student, we would like to see a letter from one of your recent faculty members.

* Financial need will be valued in our review, but it is not a requirement for the Rachel Corrie Scholarship.