Bezos Scholars Program @ the Aspen Institute

Bezos Scholars Program: Cultivating Big Ideas

This leadership development program offers pathways for students and educators to put their education into action. Bezos Scholars are top high schoolers and exceptional educators who are selected every year for a sought-after scholarship to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival (June 26 - July 2, 2012). On the Aspen Institute campus, Student and Educator Scholars attend six days of seminars, tutorials, lectures and debates. They share meals and Scholars-only roundtable discussions with some of the most provocative thinkers, writers, artists, entrepreneurs and change-makers from around the world. Each day, dedicated leadership trainings help them understand themselves as leaders and prepare them for the challenge ahead: Creating sustainable Local Ideas Festivals that will transform their schools and communities.

Local Ideas Festivals: Turning Passion into Action

The program is a journey that begins in Aspen each summer and continues throughout the following school year as Scholars return home with inspiration, tools and resources to launch their own big ideas. During the next academic year, Scholar teams apply for $1,000 seed grants for planning their Local Ideas Festivals. Scholars’ passions are mobilizing classmates and community members to conserve water, communicate across cultural differences, increase literacy and address critical global issues.

A Huffington Post feature recently lauded the Bezos Scholars Program for “incubating big ideas and model citizens—one high school at a time.” Learn more about how to Apply.

The application period for 2012 Bezos Scholars ended February 3, 2012. Deadlines for next year's entries will be posted fall of 2012.