Our Programs
EIF Scholars
EIF Scholars is a selective recognition and scholarship program for high-achieving high school seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and the drive to pursue a postsecondary education. Being named an EIF Scholar is an honor, and a springboard.
WHO QUALIFIES
Who Can Become an EIF Scholar
EIF Scholars are seniors attending EIF partner high schools who meet the following criteria:
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA or top 25% of class
- Demonstrated leadership, character, and drive
- Commitment to pursuing postsecondary education
Students are nominated and selected through a competitive application process. Talk to your EIF Advisor on campus to learn more and find out how to apply.
WHAT SCHOLARS RECEIVE
The EIF Scholars Experience
Being named an EIF Scholar means more than a scholarship. Throughout the year, EIF Scholars participate in a program designed to prepare them not just for college admission, but for college success:
- Monthly mentorship sessions with EIF staff and community mentors
- Goal tracking and accountability support
- Exposure to college student role models who have navigated the same journey
- Celebration and recognition at EIF’s annual scholarship reception
Graduating EIF Scholars receive flexible scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. These scholarships are intentionally flexible, covering the costs that financial aid packages often miss: textbooks, moving expenses, supplies, and other essentials that bridge the gap between enrolling in college and actually persisting and thriving there.
EIF Scholars By The Numbers
EIF Scholars have gone on to attend colleges and universities including Dallas College, East Texas A&M, Emory, The George Washington University, Northwestern, SMU, Stanford, Texas Tech, and Tuskegee among many others.
192
EIF Scholars recognized in April 2026, a record high
$150,000+
in scholarships awarded at the 11th Annual An Evening with the Stars
$500–$5,000
scholarship range per EIF Scholar
Source: Education is Freedom 2025–26 school year data.
An Evening with the Stars
Each spring, Education is Freedom hosts An Evening with the Stars, an annual scholarship reception that brings together EIF Scholars, their families, EIF staff and board members, donors, and community leaders to celebrate the extraordinary young people who are changing the trajectory of their lives and their families’ futures.
The evening features scholarship awards, student remarks, and a celebration of the milestone each Scholar has reached. It is one of the most meaningful nights of the year for the entire EIF community.
The 11th Annual An Evening with the Stars was held on April 21, 2026, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, where 192 EIF Scholars were recognized and more than $150,000 in scholarships were awarded. For the first time, the inaugural Hanan Ali Lacy “Carry the Torch” Scholarship was presented, a deeply meaningful addition to EIF’s tradition of honoring student excellence.
STUDENT VOICES
EIF had a significant impact on my high school experience, especially when it came to preparing for college applications and programs. Before EIF, I didn’t really know where to start or how to navigate the college process as a first-generation, low-income student. They guided me every step of the way, from writing essays to submitting applications, and helped me believe that attending a prestigious college was possible.
EIF didn’t just prepare me for college. EIF reminded me that I was worthy of opportunity, capable of excellence, and deserving of a seat at the table. Their dedication changed the way I viewed my future.
SUPPORT EIF SCHOLARS
Help a Scholar Thrive
EIF Scholars scholarships are made possible by the generosity of individual donors and corporate partners who believe that every student deserves the chance to persist and thrive in college, not just enroll.
SPONSOR A SCHOLAR
Your gift of $500 to $5,000 provides a Scholar with the flexible support they need to cover the costs that financial aid doesn’t always reach: textbooks, moving expenses, supplies, and other essentials that make the difference between showing up and staying.
CURRENT STUDENTS: LEARN HOW TO APPLY
Interested in becoming an EIF Scholar? Applications open in August and are due in September. Talk to your EIF Advisor on campus for more details.