Johnston Zeigler Safrit Scholarship-2026

The Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship recognizes local high school seniors who are leaving a mark on their community. Through this scholarship, Teen Health Connection is investing in future leaders, changemakers, and advocates.

The selected youth will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship to the college or university of their choice.

Explore the History

Application Process

What are the qualifications?

  • High school senior who will be college-bound the following academic year.
  • Applicants are assessed exclusively on their impact in the community. Their applications are reviewed based on the 3 guiding principles: leadership, advocacy, and service.
  • Factors such as GPA, standardized testing scores, number of activities reported, organization affiliation, or volume of previous awards are not considered during the selection process.
  • Current members of Teen Health Connection’s Teen Advisory Board are not eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must live in Mecklenburg County or counties contiguous to Mecklenburg County which includes Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, and Gaston counties in North Carolina and York County in South Carolina.

What does the application include?

  • Student’s anticipated graduation date
  • Student contact information
  • Guardian name and contact information
  • One essay question
  • Three letters of reference
  • Applications are submitted online on Teen Health Connection’s website
  • Submission period is from October 1st to December 1st at 12:00 pm

How to Apply for the Scholarship

Submit (3) References

Ask three non-family members (such as a teacher, coach, mentor, or community leader) to complete reference forms for you. Make sure you collect all three forms.

Reference Form

Write Your Essay (1,000–1,500 words)

Essay Question:

Describe the contributions to your community that you are most proud of.

This could be in school, your neighborhood or rec center, your faith community, your sports team or after-school club, an organization you volunteer for, or any other setting where you demonstrated leadership, service, and advocacy.  

Prepare your essay following the scholarship guidelines below:

  • What was the community problem or issue you addressed?
  • What action(s) did you take to address the issue?
  • How did you demonstrate leadership, service, and advocacy?
  • What impact did you make?
  • What have you and others gained through those experiences?

Complete the Online Application

Fill out the application form below and upload your documents:

  • Your three reference forms
  • Your essay

Submit the Form

Double-check your information and uploads, then click Submit to complete your application.

Apply for the Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Do I need to be a patient at Teen Health Connection to apply?

No.  All teens in Mecklenburg or surrounding counties may apply for the scholarship. Teens do not need to be a patient or have participated in any programs or services previously.

Do I need to be a Mecklenburg County resident?

No.  All teens living in Mecklenburg or surrounding counties may apply for the scholarship.

Is GPA taken into account?

No. GPA is not a factor we consider. The applicant’s commitment to leadership, advocacy, and service is most important.

If there are any questions about the application or if you are interested in learning more about this award, please contact us at Madison.Davis2@TeenHealthConnection.org