Covenant Eyes Scholarship: Eligibility, Impact, and Insights
Covenant Eyes awards an annual scholarship to full-time college students. Covenant Eyes members who will attend college as a full-time student for the 2024-2025 school year may be eligible to apply. For information on eligibility and the scholarship application, visit the Scholarships page. Each year, Covenant Eyes holds a scholarship contest for current members who are enrolled as full-time students. This year, we had over 850 applicants! These amazing students answered questions about integrity using today’s technology, their struggles with pornography, victories, and their experiences using our software and personal accountability. I had the privilege of serving on the committee that selected the winners this year. As an educational content writer for Covenant Eyes, I’m well-versed in all the porn stats. But the students’ stories revealed the people behind the data. I asked my colleagues on the scholarship committee to share their thoughts, and here are five things that stood out to us.
Eligibility for the Covenant Eyes Scholarship
The Covenant Eyes Scholarship is an annual award presented to full-time college students who are members of Covenant Eyes. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled as full-time students for the academic year. The scholarship page provides comprehensive details regarding eligibility criteria and the application process.
The Scholarship Contest: A Glimpse into the Lives of Students
The Covenant Eyes scholarship contest is an annual event that attracts a large number of applicants. This year, over 850 students participated, sharing their experiences with technology, integrity, and personal accountability. The essays submitted by these students offer valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating the digital world.
Key Insights from Scholarship Essays
The scholarship committee identified several recurring themes in the essays, shedding light on the impact of pornography on young people and the effectiveness of various strategies for combating addiction.
The Reality of Early Exposure
The 2022 Common Sense Media report on teens and pornography found that most kids see porn for the first time around age 12. Other reports have found the average age to be as young as 9. Reading through the scholarship essays, this awful reality came to life. Many students were exposed to pornography soon after receiving their first mobile device. Of the students who struggled the most, very few discussed their initial exposure with a parent or trusted adult. In the absence of ongoing discussions about sexuality, even warnings about pornography sometimes motivated students to seek it out. One of the most important things we can do for our kids is engage in regular discussions about the temptations of pornography. Simply trying to shield children from exposure is not enough. And if children don’t feel safe talking to their parents, where will they turn?
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The essays revealed that many students were exposed to pornography shortly after receiving their first mobile devices. A significant number of those who struggled the most did not discuss their initial exposure with a parent or trusted adult. In some cases, warnings about pornography, in the absence of ongoing discussions about sexuality, even motivated students to seek it out.
It is crucial for parents to engage in regular discussions about the temptations of pornography. Simply trying to shield children from exposure is not enough. Children need to feel safe talking to their parents about these issues.
A Deeper Understanding of the Nature of Addiction
One encouraging theme we noticed this year was a deeper understanding of the effects of pornography. At Covenant Eyes, we’ve worked hard over the past decade to educate people regarding the neurological and biological effects of pornography. So, while today’s youth see pornography at increasingly younger ages, they also have a higher IQ regarding bondage to pornography. With many of these students, educational resources about pornography addiction helped them find freedom. As a young parent, this encouraged me to think about the types of conversations I will need to have and how I can equip my children to resist temptation through education.
Many students demonstrated a deeper understanding of the neurological and biological effects of pornography. Educational resources about pornography addiction helped many of these students find freedom.
The Mental Health Effects of Porn
In this year’s essays, struggles with pornography strongly correlated with mental health issues. Many students who identified as “porn addicts” also expressed feelings of depression, anxiety, and shame. This tracks with much of the research being done on the effects of pornography over the past decade: Porn and Anxiety: What Does the Research Tell Us The Relationship Between Porn and Depression: Is It Real? Why do I feel shame from watching porn? These issues make it challenging to break free. We need to have a gracious and gentle spirit in our approach to those trapped by pornography.
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Struggles with pornography were strongly correlated with mental health issues. Many students who identified as "porn addicts" also expressed feelings of depression, anxiety, and shame. These issues make it challenging to break free. It is important to approach those trapped by pornography with a gracious and gentle spirit.
The Importance of Personal Relationships
Perhaps the most important insight from these essays was the importance of relationships. This came through in many ways from hundreds of different students. Software tools alone-even accountability software like Covenant Eyes-cannot protect students from pornography. However, when tools are used in the context of personal relationships, they became very effective both for preventing exposure and breaking addiction. For many students, Covenant Eyes catalyzed deep and meaningful conversations with their parents and trusted friends. I hear from lots of parents who want “set it and forget it” kinds of solutions for the digital dangers facing their kids. This is a mistake. Tools have an important role, but only in the context of relationships. Technology cannot replace people.
Personal relationships play a crucial role in preventing exposure to pornography and breaking addiction. Software tools alone cannot protect students from pornography. However, when tools are used in the context of personal relationships, they become very effective. For many students, Covenant Eyes catalyzed deep and meaningful conversations with their parents and trusted friends.
The Freedom of Being Accountable
Addiction thrives in secrecy. In nearly every essay, students found that sharing their struggles set them on the path to victory. It’s not enough to warn kids about the dangers of pornography. It’s not enough to put limits on their access to technology. We need to cultivate a desire to be accountable-a willingness to own our mistakes and understand that true freedom comes when we have nothing to hide.
Sharing struggles and being accountable are essential for overcoming addiction. Addiction thrives in secrecy. It’s not enough to warn kids about the dangers of pornography. It’s not enough to put limits on their access to technology. We need to cultivate a desire to be accountable-a willingness to own our mistakes and understand that true freedom comes when we have nothing to hide.
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Covenant Eyes: Supporting Integrity and Community
In addition to the scholarship program, Covenant Eyes actively supports various community and non-profit organizations.
Nehemiah Ministries Retreat Center
The increasing pressures of Christian ministry on marriage and family relationships, combined with the continual deterioration of the culture’s moral fabric, foster a devastating attrition rate among those in full-time ministry. Nehemiah Ministries is a retreat center dedicated to the support of families involved in Christian leadership. They provide free workshops, counseling, and a retreat center in Owosso, MI.
Nehemiah Ministries is a retreat center dedicated to supporting families involved in Christian leadership. They provide free workshops, counseling, and a retreat center in Owosso, MI.
Coram Deo Academics
Coram Deo Academics is a home-school cooperative based in Owosso, MI, supported by Covenant Eyes and many of its employees. Its mission is to educate youth in a historic Christian worldview through a classical education curriculum in the light of God and His holy Word.
Coram Deo Academics is a home-school cooperative based in Owosso, MI, supported by Covenant Eyes and many of its employees. Its mission is to educate youth in a historic Christian worldview through a classical education curriculum in the light of God and His holy Word.
Additional Information
Keith Rose holds a Master of Divinity degree and BA in Sacred Music. Keith worked with the Covenant Eyes Member Care Team for 15 years. He has also served as a Bible teacher, pastoral assistant, music director, and elder at his local church. He's now the editor of the Covenant Eyes blog and the author of Allied: Fighting Porn With Accountability, Faith, and Friends. He lives in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife Ruby and their children. Contact Keith with blog inquiries.
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