Holt Adoptee Scholarship

Adoptees can enter for the opportunity to be awarded $700 toward an educational pursuit!

Every year, adoptees submit work based around a question or theme relating to the adoptee experience. We encourage applicants to interpret the prompt creatively — whether through a self-portrait, an essay, digital art, a zine, a song, original choreography, poetry, a short film, or any other form that inspires you! For non-essay submissions, we ask that you include a brief artist statement describing your piece in 200 words or less.

This opportunity is open to any adoptee (domestic or international, adopted through any agency) who is a 2025 high school graduate and planning to enroll in a higher education program, such as a university, trade school, technical training program or other eligible educational pursuit. Adoptees currently enrolled in such programs may also apply.

In 2025, three applicants will each be awarded a $700 scholarship!

To apply, please send your contact information to Holt International, along with an artistic expression responding to the following prompt:

What is one thing you wish your family, friends, or society knew about the adoptee experience?”

In addition to the three $700 scholarships, we are happy to announce the inclusion this year of a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to an adoptee who is pursuing their dream career in a traditionally underfunded field of study. The Hope Scholarship is generously sponsored by Holt adoptee Mareyuna, who followed her dreams to become a veterinarian, and Mareyuna’s family. Mareyuna and her family felt called to help other adoptees like her who are drawn to a profession that has limited scholarship opportunities available. To be considered for the Hope Scholarship, please include an additional paragraph with your entry about how your proposed area of study will help you pursue your dream profession.

Please email submissions of photos, videos and essays to Elliot Bliss at scholarship@holtinternational.org. Please mail traditional art and mixed media submissions to Holt International at the following address:

ATTN: Elliot Bliss, 250 Country Club Road, Eugene, OR 97401.

Submissions are due by May 31, 2025. Winners will be announced in September 2025, and their submissions will be featured in at least one Holt digital publication and on our social media pages.

Our team can’t wait to see what you create!