Payback Challenge

The Payback Challenge is NGPF's annual scholarship contest to help students earn money for their educational pursuits while developing an understanding of what college life will be like.

Read the contest rules and regulations at the bottom of the page on participation eligibility. If you are a FEE Grant recipient, there are entry minimums; see below for details. Submissions are due Friday, November 19, 2021.

How to enter:

1

Teachers Complete Registration Form

Once you've filled out the 2021 NGPF PAYBACK Challenge Registration Form, you will receive the 2021 Submission Template for your students as well as detailed next steps for the scholarship via email.

2

Have Your Students Play PAYBACK in class or at home

Short on laptops in your classroom? PAYBACK is now mobile-friendly!

Do you have native Spanish speakers in your class? PAYBACK can also be played in Spanish!

3

Students Write a 250-Word Essay OR Create a 2-Minute Video

A prompt for the essay/video will be included in the 2021 Submission Template

4

Teacher Collects Student Responses & Nominates ONE Student Entry for the Payback Challenge Scholarship.

One Teacher = One submission.

If you have more than one great essay, you can have any other teacher in your school submit it on your student's behalf. Please forward this opportunity to other high school teachers, too! You will receive an email with instructions on how and where to send in nominations AFTER you register (see STEP 1 above)

Watch our quick video to learn more about the contest

For more Paying for College activities, lessons, and resources, check out the Unit Page!

SCHOLARSHIPS

$75,000 in cash prizes available!

Scholarship winners will be announced in December 2021. The following awards will be provided:

NATIONAL GRAND PRIZE

2 winners at $2,500 each. All entries are eligible.

HONORABLE MENTION

45 winners at $1,000 each. Remaining entries are eligible.

FEE GRANT DISTRICTS

25 winners at $1,000 each (5 per district). FEE Grant districts eligible. See below for more details!

*CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS:

Submissions must be written or performed by a student CURRENTLY attending high school - grades 9 - 12 (public, private, charter or alternative) in the United States.
Entries will ONLY be accepted from CURRENT teachers/educators.
Each teacher/educator can ONLY nominate one student entry.
No limit on the number of teachers/educators in a school or district that can participate.Essays must be no more than 250 words.
Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes.
Entries must be submitted online, using the 2021 Submission Template, by Friday, November 19, 2021 at 11:59pm local time.
Entries must be original and unpublished.
Plagiarized entries will be rejected.
Entries must be written or performed by one person.
Co-authored responses not accepted.
Copyright of all entries will be assigned to NGPF.
Teachers may not nominate a student that is also their family member.

ABOUT FEE GRANT RECIPIENTS

As part of NGPF’s commitment to equity, all school districts that have been awarded a Financial Empowerment & Equity (FEE) Grant will be included in a pool of applicants from their same district for 5 chances to win $1,000 Honorable Mention grants. These will only open after ALL applicants have been considered for the National Grand Prize Awards first.

NOTE: Teachers in FEE Grant districts must have a verified NGPF Teacher Account to be eligible. 15 entries minimum must be submitted per district in order for the district to qualify.

FEE GRANT DISTRICTS ARE:

Denver Public Schools (CO)
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL)
Prince George's County Public Schools (MD)
Clark County School District (NV)
Milwaukee School District (WI)

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