For decades, scholarships have helped students afford to go to college. And with student debt at an all-time high, they are needed now more than ever before.
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Until recently, however, nearly every scholarship has been reserved for those who are either athletically or academically accomplished. Even equity-based scholarships such as Chevron\u2019s<\/a>, which is strictly awarded to Native American students, require applicants to have a high GPA or SAT score. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so exciting that companies like Taco Bell, Nikon and Dr. Pepper have created scholarships that prioritize a student\u2019s passion. Passion-based scholarships don\u2019t measure a student based on what they\u2019ve accomplished in the classroom, on the court, or on the field. Instead, they award students for their unique skills, talents and desire to pursue them. Take Miles Spearmen, a recipient of Taco Bell Foundation\u2019s Live M\u00e1s scholarship<\/a>, for example. When Miles picks up his trumpet, he says it feels like a \u201crelease.\u201d He doesn\u2019t worry about school, grades, or anything else. He just focuses on how he can get better. And if there\u2019s a song in his head, he\u2019s going to learn it. He said he\u2019s always had aspirations to pursue music in college. But for a while he struggled to find the financial support to help him chase his dream. Each time he applied for a local scholarship, he was turned away. After his final high school senior concert, however, he was granted a life-altering reward — a $25,000 Live M\u00e1s scholarship<\/a>. Instead of being recognized for how fast he could run a 40-yard dash or how well he could craft an essay, Miles was rewarded for showing such dedication to his passion. \u201cSomeone actually believes in me,\u201d Spearman said in a video. \u201cNot just my parents, not just people that have been with me for six years, but someone who looked at a two-minute video believed that I could really make a difference with music. That really changed my perspective … I can actually do this.\u201d
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