Get your PAYBACK
The Payback Challenge is NGPF's annual scholarship contest that gives students a chance to win a $2500 Grand Prize for their educational pursuits while developing an understanding of what college life will be like.
How to enter:
1
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!
2
Students Write a 250-Word Essay OR Create a 90-Second Video
Students should follow the necessary prompt and 2023 Student Template. Refer to the Rules & Regulations.
3
Collect your Students' Responses and Nominate ONE Student Entry for the Payback Challenge Scholarship.
One Teacher = One submission.
Use the 2023 Teacher Submission Form to submit your top nomination! Please forward this opportunity to other high school teachers so that they can complete the project in their classes too!
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
Over $50,000 in scholarships!
Scholarship winners will be announced in December 2023.
The following awards will be provided:
NATIONAL GRAND PRIZE
2 winners at $2,500 each, nationwide. All entries are eligible.
HONORABLE MENTION
30 winners at $1,000 each, nationwide. Remaining entries are eligible.
NGPF GRANT RECIPIENTS
15 winners at $1,000 each, 1 per eligible district listed below.
*CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS:
- Submissions must be written or performed by a student CURRENTLY attending high school in grades 9 - 12 (public, private, charter or alternative) in the United States.
- Entries will ONLY be accepted from CURRENT teachers/educators in the class the project was completed.
- 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 90 seconds.
- Entries must be submitted online, using the 2023 Teacher Submission Form, by Monday, October 16, 2023 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- Entries must be original and unpublished.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 NGPF GRANT RECIPIENTS
As part of NGPF’s commitment to equity, all school districts listed below as NGPF Grant Recipients will be included in a pool of applicants from their same district for 1 additional $1,000 Honorable Mention scholarship. These will only open after ALL applicants have been considered for the National Grand Prize Awards first. 10 submissions minimum will be required by the district for NGPF Grant Awards to be offered.
NGPF GRANT DISTRICTS ARE:
- Fresno Unified School District (CA)
- Long Beach Unified School District (CA)
- San Diego Unified School District (CA)
- San Francisco Unified School District (CA)
- Denver Public Schools (CO)
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL)
- Fulton County Schools (GA)
- Prince George's County Public Schools (MD)
- Detroit Public Schools Community District (MI)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC)
- Guilford County Schools (NC)
- Clark County School District (NV)
- New York City Public Schools (NY)
- School District of Philadelphia (PA)
- Milwaukee School District (WI)
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