Crafting Your Essay for the Mary E. Kreppel Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a well-rounded essay, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Reflect on your life experiences that have shaped your educational journey. Consider family influences, significant events, or challenges that motivated you to pursue higher education.
• Achievements: List your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Focus on metrics and specific outcomes, such as leadership roles, projects completed, or community service hours logged.
• The Gap: Identify what you currently lack in your educational journey and how the scholarship will fill that gap. This could include financial support, access to specific programs, or opportunities for personal growth.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that highlight your values and character. Consider anecdotes that showcase your resilience, creativity, or commitment to community service.

Creating an Outline

Organize your thoughts into a structured outline. Begin with an engaging introduction that presents a concrete moment or scene from your life. Then, allocate sections for each of the four material buckets, ensuring each paragraph focuses on one main idea. Conclude with a reflection on how this scholarship will empower you to make a difference in your community or field of study.

Drafting Voice and Style

When drafting your essay, aim for an active voice that engages the reader. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your points, avoiding vague statements. Each paragraph should flow logically to the next, creating a cohesive narrative that reflects your journey and aspirations.

Revision and “So What?”

After completing your first draft, take a step back and review your work. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each section: What does this reveal about me? Why does it matter? Ensure that your essay not only tells your story but also connects your experiences and aspirations to the mission of the scholarship.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of several common pitfalls:

• Avoid clichés and generic statements that do not add value to your narrative.
• Do not use passive voice when an active subject exists; this weakens your writing.
• Steer clear of vague expressions of passion without evidence to support them.
• Ensure all facts and figures are accurate and verifiable; do not invent details.