Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship: Empowering Young Activists
The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship, dedicated to continuing Pedro Zamora’s legacy, supports the academic pursuits of young activists working in their communities who carry Pedro’s torch forward in the fight against injustice. These $5,000 scholarships support those who are working toward and committed to making a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS and/or advancing health equity and social justice. Since 2009, more than $700,000 has been provided in financial support to 179 scholars through the generous support from Gilead Sciences and other partners.
Introduction: Honoring a Legacy of Activism
When Pedro Zamora began his journey on The Real World San Francisco in 1994, he had already been an active HIV/AIDS advocate and educator. At the age of 17, Pedro learned that he was living with HIV and dedicated his life to raising awareness and educating his peers on what they needed to avoid infection. At the age of 22, Zamora captivated the nation with his openness, compassion, vitality, and charisma when he appeared on MTV’s The Real World 3: San Francisco in 1994. Pedro spoke openly about his sexuality, status, and activism. Pedro’s work was tragically cut short when he died of an AIDS-related illness in 1994, the morning after the final episode of The Real World aired.
These young activists share the National AIDS Memorial's bold vision: never again will a community be harmed because of fear, silence, discrimination, stigma, or hate.
Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?
The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship strives for equity across all lines. The program supports young students who are actively engaged in health equity and social justice issues. This includes, but is not limited to:
- HIV/AIDS research, prevention, treatment, access, and activism
- Public health and health justice
- Reproductive health
- Serving in peer education, prevention, and community resource programs
- Racial justice
- Immigrant rights
- LGBTQ+ equality and rights
- Environmental justice
- Drug policy and drug sentencing reform
- Employment and economic justice issues
- Housing and homelessness
- Technology innovation that supports justice work
As long as your work is change making in other areas of social justice and health justice, you are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to have HIV/AIDS or be a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The scholarship strives to ensure that young activists from all walks of life have the opportunity to carry Pedro’s torch forward and make a difference in their communities, from increasing scholarship offerings to HBCU and HSI recipients to expanding visibility for LGBTQ+ students.
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Eligible Applicants:
- All current high school seniors, first-year college students, sophomores, and juniors (ages 27 and younger), including those who are finishing their bachelor’s degree, are eligible.
- Community college or four-year university.
- High school seniors are eligible to apply.
Application Requirements: What You Need to Submit
Interested scholars can apply directly through the online application portal. A brief personal statement must be submitted. Applicants must also submit at least two letters of recommendation. These could be from teachers, mentors, program coordinators, supervisors/allies/community leaders, or other adult(s) directly involved in the applicant's health or social justice work, leadership, and on field of study.
- Brief 250 Personal statement: reflect on how your life has been impacted by fear, discrimination, stigma, and or hate. Why do you believe yourself to be a good candidate for this scholarship?
- A written essay not to exceed 1,500 words, in which one or more of the following essay prompts of your choice: Please check the link to see the three essay prompts.
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, program coordinators, supervisors/allies/community leaders, or other adult(s) directly involved in the applicant's health or social justice work, leadership, and on field of study.
The Evolution of the Scholarship: Expanding the Scope of Activism
When the National AIDS Memorial launched the program in 2009, its focus was on selecting scholars who were pursuing careers and community work around HIV/AIDS. Fifteen years later, the program has evolved to also support young students who are actively engaged in health equity and social justice issues beyond HIV/AIDS activism and research. Social justice initiatives can help fight HIV/AIDS by addressing these issues and improving access to healthcare. Therefore, scholarship/award programs are not exclusive to HIV/AIDS work and activism. If your work is change-making in other areas of health, racial, or social justice, please consider applying!
Additional Opportunities: AIDS Memorial Quilt Campus Display Program
For all recipients of the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship, the National AIDS Memorial offers a free and optional AIDS Memorial Quilt Campus Display Program. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is already being displayed on various college campuses, including those attended by Pedro Zamora Scholarship recipients and other targeted campuses (e.g., HBCUs and HSIs). Through the creation of our 'Quilt Campus Display Turnkey Package', students can easily request to have a block of the Quilt (includes six Quilt panels) delivered and set up at their campus. Through this program, we intend to ensure that the AIDS Memorial Quilt reaches more institutions of higher learning each year around the country. These campus Quilt displays will increase our Scholarship recipients' connections to our programs while raising awareness of the history of HIV/AIDS, and the AIDS Movement, among other young students. Pedro has more than 20 panels made in his honor as part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Inspiration from Scholars: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci
For World AIDS Day 2021, some of our Pedro scholars were able to participate in a conversation about their work as future scientists, policy makers, activists, health and social justice advocates can make a difference for the next generation. The scholars were asked a series of questions by Dr. Anthony Fauci, gaining insights from young people about solutions to many issues we face today.
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Important Considerations for Applicants
Although ChatGPT and similar AI programs are valuable tools, they cannot replace a human voice - they cannot tell your story like you can! Your unique talents, goals, values, and personality are what we are most interested in. The application platform uses an AI & tool designed to identify plagiarism and AI use in application essay responses. Provide as much of your own voice as possible, and while we won’t remove applications for AI usage, we will note the percentages in our final decisions for awards.
The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship is not renewable.
Conclusion: Empowering the Next Generation of Activists
The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship is more than just financial assistance; it's an investment in the future. By supporting young activists dedicated to health equity and social justice, the scholarship honors Pedro Zamora's legacy and empowers the next generation to create a more just and equitable world.
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