Got ethics? Get money for college.

Scholarships will total $10,000

• 3 for $2,500 each

Scholarship recipients will be announced in mid-May 2026. These scholarships can be used for room, board, books, tuition and fees. These scholarships are not renewable.

To be considered, you must: 

• Be graduating from high school in any of the 19 counties we serve;
• Be attending any two or four-year college, technical college or university beginning in the fall of 2026;
• Be in good academic standing and show proof of community service and leadership while in high school;
• Submit a 500-word essay describing how you handled an ethical dilemma you faced

With your application, you must also submit your:

• 500-word essay* describing how you handled an ethical dilemma you faced. No AI tools can be used in the creation of the essay, even for editing purposes. To ensure integrity, all submissions will be screened for AI-generated content using various online AI checkers. Applicants found to have violated this policy will be disqualified from scholarship consideration. Here's an example of an ethical dilemma from a winning essay.

   

• High School Resume* demonstrating: 
  • Leadership: Describe any extracurricular work or school related activities, including awards/honors or offices you have held
  • Community Service: Describe activities outside of school and within your community, such as church or special community activities. Include your awards/honors or offices you have held
  • Academic achievements: Describe awards received relating to academic achievement and describe post-secondary education plans.
     
• Official transcript*

*Please view the online form for other specific requirements about the type of documents accepted.

• Submissions will not be returned.
• All entries become the property of the BBB Education Foundation of Central & Northwest NC. 
• BBB retains the right to make program rule changes at any time.
• Judging will be conducted by an independent panel of judges.
• All judging decisions are final.
• Recipients’ name and essay quotes may be released to the public and news media for promotional purposes, however BBB will be considerate of sensitive material. Recipients voluntarily and irrevocably grants to the Better Business Bureau, including all BBBs in North America, and the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.  (“BBB”) permission to use the submitted essay that Applicant provides. Such permission includes the right to publish, reproduce, distribute, transmit, copy or otherwise use the submitted essay, in whole or in part, with or without Applicant’s name, for all purposes, in all forms and media throughout the world. Applicant also releases BBB from any and all claims that arise from the use and publication of Applicant’s submitted essay, and waive any and all rights in or claims for compensation.
• Immediate family members of a BBB board member and BBB employees as well as BBB Education Foundation board members are not eligible for the scholarship award.
• Family members of BBB Accredited Business owners are eligible.
• Funds will be distributed directly to the school upon verification of the student's enrollment.
• Questions may be directed to a student's school counselor or by contacting us at 336-632-4979. 

PRIVACY STATEMENT: In compliance with BBB Privacy Policy, BBB Education Foundation of Central & Northwest NC will use any personal information you provide for the purpose for which it is submitted except as otherwise stated. 

You can apply three ways:

• The preferred online method, or 
• print the online application, or 
• pick up the printed application in your school’s counselor’s office. 

Your submission must include your entry form, essay, resume and transcript. If you don't submit all the required information, BBB will not consider your application. Please mail your submission to:

Donna Easter Student Ethics Scholarships
c/o BBB® Education Foundation of Central & Northwest NC 
529 College Rd, Suite G
Greensboro, NC 27410

Applications were due Friday, April 10, 2026 - 5 pm

No exceptions will be made for incomplete submissions or submissions received after the deadline.

If you have questions, please contact BBB President and CEO Kevin Hinterberger at 336-632-4979 or khinterberger@bbbtrust.org