Ammunition for Tuition Scholarship Winner
There are few things more enjoyable in this job than having the privilege of reading student essays and profiles. It was a lot of fun and often very moving experience to read of the accomplishments, ambitions, goals, wit, and creativity that you all were able to display in your 140 characters. This has been the toughest decision so far in the history of Zinch scholarship winners. In the end, there were over 7,000 essays submitted via Twitter and Facebook. And there were hundreds of excellent essays.
Many of you put a lot of thought into telling Zinch why you are more than a test score. These 140-character essays reflected a lot of strength and we feel that your message is worth being heard. Not just by Zinch, but by the world. Therefore, we will be awarding Ammunition for Tuition II in a similar manner, but on a much more public forum. We are in process of selecting those semi-finalists and they will be contacted next week. The Ammunition for Tuition II scholarship essay will be held from Oct 26-28. Stay tuned to see how we will be taking your message to the world and whether you will have the privilege of competing for the $20,000.
Remember, the winner was selected based on BOTH their essay and their Zinch profile. We would like to congratulate the Honorable Mentions first:
Jacob B. A test gives me the ability to show my knowledge to others. Life gives me the ability to spread it to the world. #Zinch
Ty J. 55% graduation rate, hundreds in books, thousands in debt, 1/3 chance of a diploma. Numbers don’t scare me. I’m not afraid of success. #Zinch
Mike R. A test only proves what I can do given a pencil. It never talks about what I can do with an axe, a hose, and a set of turnout gear. #Zinch
Sarah C. Born in Kansas, now I live where rainbows are notorious. Emerald City gleams on my horizon; loss of heart, failing courage, or fallible intellect wont stop me. #Zinch
Melissa D. #Zinch I work to get what I want, even if I know it won’t be easy to achieve. I’m not afraid to fail, I just get up and try again.
Marina M. Give me a shovel and I´ll build a castle, give me a dream and I´ll make it a reality, give me an opportunity and you´ll see me shine. #Zinch
Jordon F. My life’s measured in key lime pies, backstroke flip turns and oboe concertos. I will fall 1000 times if it means I will one day fly. #Zinch
Corinne W. I have spent 20 of my 141,477 hours testing. 99.9998586% of my life has been spent accumulating the relationships, experiences, and actual knowledge that make me, me.
Luis A. A bad test score kept both Einstein and me from college, but it didn’t stop either of us. The most unlikely people change the world!#Zinch
Ramya R. With my music, I educate kids. With my time, I care for people who need it the most. With my life, I can change the world. The world needs me, not my test scores.#Zinch
Megan B. #Zinch They say a picture is worth a thousand words. They didnt say anything about a number painting a picture.
Danielle R. SATs are just footnotes take time to read on #zinch
Cody C. #Zinch I am an everyday hero; a door-holder, a thank you-sayer, a listener. I recognize that every human being is far more than a passerby.
Arman U. We look like some hot dogs waiting to be eaten by colleges # Zinch
Catherine M. Hungry bellies. Dirty. Eager to learn. I tell their stories, raise money for their education. They are my future. I am their hope. We are children of the world.#Zinch
Emily O. Failure is bound to happen, but I will not be bound by failure. I am more than just a test score. #zinch
Karly P. #Zinch I (A+)m a heart (B)eating for a (C-)hallenge. My (D)etermination overrules the (F+)ear of red inked check marks and circled letters.
Marco L. I= ∑ {25/7 attitude + 12 years
[dedication]} = the^(choice) =
options → ∞ + limits → 0 = a lifetime of achievements
≫ any test score Q.E.D.
#Zinch
Benjamin R. Told college was a distant wish-Told I’m too unintelligent for this-Living college one bill at a time-Yet here I am-Warriors paradigm
Amanda N. I am organic an cannot be defined by a number. My individual chutzpah is incalculable #zinch
Lauren S. I am what I ACT upon, not an ACT score. While many SAT aside, I STOOD for all I believed in. I am what I STAND for, not an SAT score. #zinch
Samantha C. #Zinch I have a learning disability but I’m not disabled. I didn’t learn to read until 3rd grade but now I have risen to the top of my class
Kassandra O. Tho Im blind Im a top student,take AP classes,volunteer,have plans 4 my future,tho Ive been going thru hardships I never stop smiling #Zinch
Leah S. I think; therefore I am. To meet all the needs of the world is impossible. To think that you can meet them all is not. #Zinch
Kate B. #Zinch I defy any test that tells me no.
Audrey G. My family can’t help me with a hefty art school bill so I have to pay it alone. I’m not complaining-my dreams are worth every penny.#Zinch
Marcus B. #zinch It takes a calculator to pass a test; it takes strength to pass at life. I have both, as well as friends for when the batteries die.
Henok T. I could have cheated. I could have plagiarized. But I didn’t! You can see hard work in a test score but you can never see honesty. #Zinch
Kaitlyn W. #zinch I have made a difference. I can make a difference. I will make a difference. I AM the difference, and I am no test score.
Taylor W. I want to study languages to translate books and the unspoken stories of those whose voices are not loud enough. Empathy is my fuel. #Zinch
Grace M. 2 varsity sports, x2 capt. 6 honor societies, x2 prez. 5 APs. 8 plays. 200+ service hrs. So many numbers, so much more than 1 score. #Zinch
Laura D. As a girl in robotics, I met sexist boundaries; leaping over, I claimed an international prize. Another crack in the glass ceiling! #Zinch
John F. I am a reality with infinite limits outside calculus. I try. Life is a contact sport & I am the impact. I am more than a test score. #Zinch
Patricia S. Going through 2 foreclosures and now waking up everyday on the floor of a strangers house is not going to stop me from attending NSU! #Zinch
Cassaundra E. I stalk dead people & bring them back to life via historical fiction & animated history lessons, & collect oral HERstories of women. #zinch
Brooke H. @Zinch I’m not a penciled in dot on a scantron. I can’t be labeled as right or wrong. I have the questions, not always the answers #zinch
Melissa G. #Zinch I mentor mentally ill sisters. Mom works full time, Dad mentally ill w/ brain damage. I comfort, help, love them. I’d die for them.
Andrew B. I have worn my high school’s colors proudly every day since the beginning of my junior year. They will never go out of style. #Zinch
Laury D. I graduated HS @ 16, my twin & I applied 2 FAU, i got in, she didnt. I denied them if they didnt accept her, they did #zinch
Amanda R. I left high school early to attend the college of my dreams: no diploma, no test scores. Ingenuity reigned my application. #Zinch
Jessica W. Me + Creativity + Expression + Leadership + Individuality + Dreams + Confidence + Imagination + Knowledge =A Life No Test Can Measure #Zinch
Rolando A. I helped found a program that painted murals in my school so that kids can see things other than graffiti. The murals are still here. #Zinch
Shantal F. #Zinch Sometimes I look around and see is doubt firing from every direction, but then I just straighten up and say “Hell, I’m bulletproof.”
Kaitlin S. I’ve fought off ninjas, been a real-life frogger in furious traffic, won a disco dance-off & still managed to ace Chinese Philosophy! #zinch
Brittany A. #Zinch I am a “test tube baby.” Coming full circle is my goal, helping infertile couples my dream. Reproductive endocrinology is my passion.
Sarah S. I am a locksmith in a room full of closed doors, for I will not allow opportunity to slip my grasp. #zinch
Ross N. A WGI world champion bassist, who teaches English to Haitians, almost dies in Portugal and searches for truth through mathematics: me.#Zinch
Angela S. Numbers judge me today based upon what I know, but cannot determine what I will be able to accomplish with that knowledge tomorrow. #Zinch
Alesha I. Refuse to be defined as a #. No test can measure my goals. Singing in the shower is my first step toward center stage #Zinch
And a big congratulations to Kelly Goode, the winner of the $25,000 Ammunition for Tuition Scholarship
Here is her essay:
I am graduating in a class of two… at a school I helped create, from changing state legislature, to hiring teachers. I made history. #Zinch
Congrats Kelly and many sincere thanks to all of you who participated. Everyone here at Zinch has loved getting to know you a little bit better through your essays and has loved sharing our favorite essays with each other. You are more than a test score and being reminded of that makes us want to work harder towards the goal of helping each of you be discovered for who you really are. We believe in you guys and know that while we each face unique struggles that your tenacity and determination will bring the realization of your many goals and a great change in how the world judges its students.
I hope she felt that scholarship was just out of reach, because that’s how it feels for me.
Congrats…
well congrats to the winner…… back to the drawing board. again.
They cut off the first line of my haiku! D:
Anyways, congrats to Kelly–as you can probably tell, we’re all very jealous, hahaha.
Congratulations!
congrats to the winner. Hoping a miracle can happen for me too..
Congratulations to the winner! It feels great to have been an honorable mention, and I can’t even imagine how Kelly feels to have actually won. I’ll just keep trying :)
Great Job Kelly! Great essay too! May all your dreams come true. :D
Congratulations! You deserve it! Best of luck in the future!
In a class of two? Wow.
Is that like..a metaphor?
Congrats!
Kelly,
I am inspired by your short essay. You truly deserve the $20,000! Congrats to you! May you be blessed in many other ways for what you have accomplished in you life!
Nice Job Kelly! Keep up the good work and I hope that you have great year!
Kayla
Her own high school? Man, what does it take and how likely can anyone else get a teacher that’s practically of their own? Good job.
Well done, obviously well deserved!! Congratulations!!!!
I’m a little confused. The email said that I was a semi-finalist for the $20,000 dolar scholarship but gave me directions to compete in the $25,000scholarship. Is it like a run-on scholarship where all the semi-finalists are the same?
Congrats!!!!!
Congratulation!!! You deserve that for what you have done.
Well those seem JUST at the limit of 140 characters. Way to keep to the contest rules…
Congrats Kelly! Best Wishes for your future success.
Congratulations Kelly Goode, it’s amazing that you have done so much for your school, you are well deserved :)…. :D …. :]
Way to go! Congrats!
Congrats!
and yay for me for getting honorable mention! :D haha
congrats
congrats u deserved it
Well deserved!
we all tried for a one in a 7,000+ shot. Odds against each one of us, but hey, one had to be victorious. Congrats to the winner but i’m not going to lie and say that i didn’t wish it was me………
Ive read most of these essays, and they are very worthy
Congrats!!! You’re so lucky and I’m so jealous
I am so thrilled for you!!!! You are an inspiration to everyone. i hope this helps in your college success because you are going to to exceed abundantly in all that you do. God Bless and good luck with everything!!!! Ryan Aston
Congratulations!! :)
Yah!! I got honorable mention!!!
Congratulations, Kelly! You sound like an amazing person; someone I wish I could have known! Good luck with your amazing future!
Congratulations~
Congrats to the winner! You’re an inspiration for my future.
Congrats to the winner. Hopefully your life long goals w/now be accomplished thanks to that scholarship. :)
Wow, thats truly amazing. Good job Kelly. You earn it way more than I do.
Congratulations, Kelly, and best of blessings on your life!
No jealousy whatsoever =D
(okay, so maybe a little… ha!)
Nice job Kelly! It seems like you’ve been through a lot! You really deserve this scholarship! Congratulations!
:)
congratulation for Kelly! You definitely deserved it! =D
Congrats Kelly,
You truly deserve it :)
Congrats Kelly! You once again have made history! You well deserved this scholarship!
Congratulations!!!!! :D <3
congratulations!!! :-)
Congrats love!!! Put it to good use
CONGRATS!!!
WOW
@Danielle:
me too….haha
Congratulations! May God continue to bless you even more throughout your life. ^_^
Congradulations!!!!!!!!!! Take advantage of this chance and do great things, I’m sure you will!!!! =D
Congratz!
Congratulations. Best wishes
Wow, I almost thought you forgot all this, live in Germany and didn’t think about the 7 hours of timeshift that separate us^^ So I looked oh here all day, but never actually found anything! now I finally did…
And I’m impressed! Some of the other honorable mentions I have read before, as well as Kelly’s essay, and I really enjoyed all this so much! It has been somewhat nervewracking to have to wait so long for the results, but in the end, I think you guys all did an amazing job! Congratulations to Kelly and her truly fascinating achievements and good luck to all you others for the next AfT Scholarship; and of course thanks to Zinch for this outstanding opportunity!
Congratulations
congrats!
Congratulations, Kelley!
Still holding out hope for next time. :)
Congrats girl!!!!
Congrats! It feels awesome just to have made honorable mention.
Congratulations Kelly……..I pray I have a stroke of luck someday too.
Congratulations!! I feel happy for you; you deserve the win. ^_~
Congratulations to Kelly and all of the honorable mentions, as well as all participants. May you all continue into the future with much success.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations use it to the best use
Congrats to all, everyone have there days it may be one of our big days next time, never give up
Congratulations, Kelly! Naturally, we’re all very jealous, but you deserved it. :)
congrats! that’s awesome! I know you’ll accomplish amazing feats.
She deserves that and much more! Best wishes to Kelly!
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/new_high_school_a_triumph_for_big_sky/C35/L35/
Here’s an article on Kelly’s situation. The video at the bottom of the page features her being interviewed. Interesting, slightly more in depth than the 140 character take.
That was one BEASTLY essay!! Congrats! :]
Wow! Congratulations Kelly! Your essay sounds soo good.
Congrats Kelly! You deserve it!
I too am in a class of two. I know how you feel…We helped build our school….
Congrats and I hope you succeed.