Dear CISD Class of 2026,

Dignity for All Texas Students is a Southlake-based 501c3 non-profit organization focused on fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging in Carroll ISD schools and the Southlake community. This year Dignity is excited to award a $1,000 scholarship to the Class of 2026 CISD graduate who submits the best 500-word essay on the following topic: 

Describe a time you did not act as an upstander. What influenced your decision to stay silent, and what would you do differently today? How has this experience shaped your character and the way you respond to injustice now?

"An upstander is a person who recognizes injustice, knows their personal strengths and uses those strengths to create change." (https://humanrights.ca/upstander)
 
"An upstander is a person who chooses to take positive action in the face of injustice in society or in situations where individuals need assistance." (https://www.niot.org/blog/lets-define-upstander)

2026 Dignity for All Texas Students Senior Scholarship Eligibility Requirements and Timeline:

• Carroll Senior High School seniors graduating in the Spring of 2026 and planning to attend an accredited college or university are eligible to apply.
• Essays will be judged based on organization, content, creativity, and grammatical structure.
• Applications will open on February 15, 2026.​
• Applications must be submitted by midnight CST on March 28, 2026.
• The Dignity for All Texas Students 2023 Scholarship recipients will be notified on or before April 25, 2026.​
• The presentation of the award will occur at the Senior Awards Ceremony.
• Award funds will be sent directly to the accredited college/university upon enrollment in Summer or Fall 2026.

Directions:

1. All portions of application must be filled out. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 
2. Applications must be submitted by midnight CST on March 28, 2026.
3. After your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.
4. Your name cannot appear on any portion of the application with the exception of the cover sheet of this form and on your Recommendation Request Form. 

There are two requirements to submit this application. 

1. An essay. (Maximum 500 words.)
2. A Recommendation from an adult: this recommendation must come from a teacher, coach, or other meaningful adult that can complete the recommendation portion of the application. 
   
   

The student's name or identifying information (he or she) must not be written on any portion of these two required submissions.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, it is your responsibility to contact the Dignity for All Texas Students Scholarship Board (DignityScholarships@gmail.com) 

Dignity for All Texas Students' mission is to foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Knowing we are stronger together, we champion efforts to celebrate and advocate for diversity and inclusion is Southlake Carroll ISD schools and community to prepare students for successful futures. 

On the next page you will be asked to upload your essay and submit your request for a recommendation. The essay topic can also be found on the next page. You will need to have your essay ready to upload in one of the acceptable formats (pdf, doc, or docx) and the contact information for your recommendation request. 

Do NOT include your name or identifying information in your essay. 

Adult Recommendation

A letter of recommendation from an adult, such as a teacher or coach, is a requirement in order to submit your application. When you submit this application, a separate request will be emailed to the adult using the contact information you provided. The email will direct the adult to fill out a recommendation form which will ask:

How do you know the applicant? How long have you known the applicant? Tell us about the character of this applicant.

It is your responsibility to follow up with the adult to ensure the recommendation is submitted by