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Opportunities for Youth
aMERICA 250 pa sEMIQUIN sCHOLARSHIP pROGRAM
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
aMERICA 250 pa sEMIQUIN sCHOLARSHIP pROGRAM
In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will be awarding $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the 2026/2027 academic school year.
Who
Pennsylvania High School Seniors who are planning to attend an accredited Pennsylvania college or university for the 2026/2027 academic school year
What
Twenty-five $10,000 Scholarships will be awarded throughout America250PA’s six designated regions.
Where
Any Pennsylvania College or University
• Up to 12 to any Pennsylvania Community College
• Up to 13 to any Pennsylvania Post-Secondary College or University
When
Application: September 16, 2025 – January 31, 2026.
Review: February 1 – March 15, 2026
Notifications: By March 30, 2026
Public Announcements: Scholarships will be awarded in April 2026 for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Luncheon Honoring Awardees: Late April in Harrisburg
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
aMERICA 250 pa sEMIQUIN sCHOLARSHIP pROGRAM
The Live Más Scholarship from Taco Bell Foundation supports students ages 16–26 who are pursuing post-secondary education — whether in college, vocational/trade school, or other accredited programs — and empowers them to chase their passions and make a positive impact in their communities.
Scholars are selected not on grades or test scores, but on their creativity, drive, and the potential of their ideas — submitting a brief video or essay about their passion, goals, and what “Live Más” means to them.
Award amounts can reach $5,000–$25,000 per student, and recipients also gain access to mentorship, professional networking, and a community of dreamers and doers helping turn ambition into opportunity.
Applications for the 2026 program must be submitted by January 6, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
Youth Infusion is excited to share this opportunity from one of our partners, the PA Youth Advocacy Network: the 2026 Teen Advocacy Series, a statewide program for teens who want to use their voices to strengthen mental health supports and create positive change in their schools and communities.
This virtual series, held Tuesdays from February 3–March 10, 2025, teaches real-world advocacy skills, connects youth with teen advocates and peers across Pennsylvania, and concludes with participants presenting their recommendations to state government changemakers.
While the series focuses on advocacy related to mental health, it is not therapy; instead, it equips teens with skills, tools, and a strong network to be effective advocates.
Teens who complete the series receive a $150 stipend. Applications are due January 16, 2025.
Rooted in Youth Podcast
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
PA Youth Advocacy Network - 2026 Teen Advocacy Series Application
Rooted in Youth is a youth-led podcast powered by our YLAB Student Ambassadors and sponsored by Project AWARE, providing a platform for young people to amplify their voices and lead meaningful conversations. Each episode features students exploring the topics that matter most to them—mental health, leadership, identity, community issues, and more—while sharing their lived experiences, perspectives, and solutions. YLAB Student Ambassadors also interview speakers for the upcoming NEPA Youth-Led Leadership Conference, share updates throughout the planning process, and highlight key moments from the conference after April. Rooted in Youth ensures that teens are not just heard, but valued as leaders shaping their communities and the world around them.
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
This national pitch competition invites K–12 students to submit a 30–90 second video sharing an idea that improves their school, home, or community.
Why programs love this opportunity:
$1 million in prizes awarded nationwide
Students can apply individually or in teams of up to three
Encourages youth voice, creativity, and leadership
Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
A great fit for programs that focus on leadership development, entrepreneurship, or student-led projects.
Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026.
npr student podcast challenge
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
Calling all student storytellers:
NPR's Student Podcast Challenge is back for 2026. As always, we're looking to award prizes to the best middle school and high school podcasts in America — but we have an additional special prize this year:
To mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, send us podcasts that explore what the phrase, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" means to you.
For this special challenge, our judges will be listening for stories that look back at historical events, take us to historic places, or that explore what it means to be an American. Stories of innovation, of rights and protest, arts and culture, civic engagement and governance, or personal narratives or beliefs.
The 2026 edition of the Student Podcast Challenge will open on Jan. 5 and close on May 31.
You can submit here, whenever you're ready.