The Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks is starting a new scholarship opportunity aimed at raising awareness about organ donation and transplantation among students.

The Association’s commitment to the Donate Life mission dates back to 1992, inspired by a Circuit Clerk who tragically lost a loved one while awaiting a heart transplant. Over the years, the Circuit Clerks have raised over $20 million for the public education and celebrated over 2 million Kentuckians registering as donors.

“I am thrilled to announce a new scholarship opportunity for students who share a passion for helping others and promoting the lifesaving mission of organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Boyle County Circuit Court Clerk Cortney Shewmaker. “Recognizing that today’s students are the future leaders of our community, we believe that this scholarship will not only support their education but also foster a sense of responsibility towards this noble cause.”

Up to 20 scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2024 for approximately $1,000 each.

According to the scholarship application, “Scholarship awardees will be passionate advocates of organ donation who creatively and independently educate their peers about the lifesaving mission of organ donation and promote the need to register as a donor. You may inspire people to join the state registry (www.registermeky.org) or national registry (www.registerme.org) through various outreach initiatives.”

The projects are meant to be personal, independent and creative, such as writing a heartfelt song about donation and playing it on social media, creating a speech for their school about the reasons people should register, or displaying information in the cafeteria to educate fellow students on the facts of donation and transplantation.

There are toolkits available with additional ideas and tools. Shewmaker said they have designed the scholarship to be inclusive, not requiring a high GPA or extensive extracurricular activities.

The application process is straightforward, ensuring accessibility for all students, regardless of their circumstances.  The deadline for applying is April 5, 2024.

In addition to the chance to receive a scholarship, students will gain transferrable skills through their projects, such as public speaking, marketing, graphics, networking, and media. They will also be a vital part of spreading hope and saving lives through organ donation and transplantation.

“Today 100,000 Americans wait for their lifesaving gift of an organ transplant, and sadly 17 people die each day waiting,” Shewmaker said. “We appreciate the community’s support of this lifesaving mission to reach our vision of a world where no one waits for their lifesaving transplant.”

Learn more and register as a donor at donatelifeky.org and view the scholarship application by clicking here.

A toolkit can be provided and questions answered by emailing Scholarship@DonateLifeKY.org.