USA Scholarships
Don't Text and Drive Scholarship 2026 - $1,000
The Don''t Text and Drive Scholarship 2026 asks you to say something serious in the space of a tweet, then backs that up with a full essay if you reach the finalist round. Digital Responsibility, founded by Silicon Valley tech workers who wanted young people to understand how technology affects health, safety, and society, runs four technology-awareness scholarships; this one focuses on distracted driving. At five seconds off the road, the distance you travel at freeway speed equals a football field, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reports that texting while driving makes crashes far more likely. The first application step is a 140-character message about why you pledge not to text and drive. Judges pick ten finalists from those short entries, and finalists submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay before one winner receives $1,000. You must be a US citizen or legal resident and either a high school freshman through senior or a current or entering college or graduate student at any level. Homeschooled students qualify, and there is no age limit. The 2026 deadline is 30 September 2026 on digitalresponsibility.org.
What is the Don''t Text and Drive Scholarship 2026?
The Don''t Text and Drive Scholarship 2026 turns a safety lecture into a writing challenge with two very different lengths. Digital Responsibility wants applicants to understand what happens when you look at a phone at highway speed, then prove they mean it in exactly 140 characters before anyone asks for a full essay.
That first line matters more than it looks. Ten finalists are chosen from the short pledges alone, so your message has to stand out in a stack of similar promises. Think of it as completing the sentence that you pledge not to text and drive because… with one sharp reason: a story from your bus route, a statistic you actually remember, or a promise tied to someone specific. Only after that cut do finalists write 500 to 1,000 words.
Eligibility is intentionally broad. High school freshmen through seniors can apply, along with college and graduate students at any level, including homeschoolers, with no published age cap. The hard gate is US citizenship or legal residency. Digital Responsibility groups this award with three other $1,000 scholarships about privacy, screen time, and e-waste, each on its own deadline.
The 2026 cycle closes on 30 September 2026. You will not need a transcript or recommendation for the opening round, which makes this a sensible same-weekend application if you are already polishing essays for other awards. If you like low-friction essay contests, pair it with the Make Me Laugh Scholarship USA 2027 and the Editing Services Scholarship USA 2026. Rules and the application link sit on Digital Responsibility''s scholarships page.
Eligibility
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✓US citizen or legal residentYou must be a US citizen or legal resident of the United States. Digital Responsibility lists this requirement across its scholarship portfolio on digitalresponsibility.org/scholarships.
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✓High school freshman through senior, or any college levelEligible applicants include high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as current or entering college or graduate students at any level. There is no restriction to a single grade or degree type at the first stage.
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✓Homeschooled students welcomeHomeschooled students may apply on the same terms as students in traditional schools. You still need to meet the citizenship or legal residency requirement.
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✓No age limitDigital Responsibility does not publish a maximum age. Nontraditional students returning to college or graduate school can apply if they meet the enrollment and residency rules.
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✓Accredited two-year, four-year, or trade schoolsThird-party scholarship listings describe the award as open to two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and trade or technical schools, which matches Digital Responsibility's broad student audience from high school through graduate study.
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✓140-character first-round messageEvery applicant submits a 140-character statement about texting while driving, essentially finishing the pledge not to text and drive because… Characters, not words, so spaces and punctuation count toward the limit.
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✓Finalist essay if selectedThe top ten applications advance to a finalist round and must produce a 500- to 1,000-word essay on texting while driving. The winner is chosen from that longer piece, so the short message is the gate, not the whole competition.
Benefits
- Award amount $1,000 USD to one winner
- First-round application 140-character pledge message only
- Application fee None listed
- GPA or transcript Not required for initial entry
- Finalist round Top 10 write 500-1,000 word essay
- Renewable award One-time scholarship
- Full tuition Not covered. Flat $1,000 prize
- International students US citizens and legal residents only
Document checklist
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✓Online application formApply through Digital Responsibility's scholarship site. The form collects your details and the 140-character pledge message for the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship cycle.
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✓140-character pledge messageA single statement of 140 characters or fewer explaining why you will not text and drive. Treat it like a headline: one vivid reason or image beats three generic warnings.
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✓500- to 1,000-word essay (finalists only)If you are among the top ten finalists, Digital Responsibility asks for a full essay expanding on your message with depth, creativity, and factual awareness of distracted-driving risks.
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✓Contact email you monitorFinalists are contacted with instructions for the longer essay. Scholarship questions can be directed to [email protected] according to published aggregator listings tied to the official programme.
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✓No transcript or GPA at first stageThe initial application is the form and short message. Digital Responsibility's technology scholarships do not list a minimum GPA or transcript upload for the first round.
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✓No recommendation lettersNeither the 140-character stage nor the standard finalist instructions require teacher or counselor recommendations, which keeps the barrier low compared with merit-heavy national awards.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship?
It is a $1,000 scholarship from Digital Responsibility that promotes awareness of texting while driving. The nonprofit was started by Silicon Valley tech employees who wanted young people to understand technology's consequences for health and safety. The scholarship uses a two-stage format: a 140-character pledge message, then a longer essay for ten finalists.
How long is the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship essay?
The first submission is 140 characters, not 140 words. If you are selected as one of ten finalists, you write a separate essay of 500 to 1,000 words on texting while driving. The winner is chosen from that longer essay.
When is the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship 2026 deadline?
Digital Responsibility lists 30 September 2026 as the deadline on its scholarships page for the Don't Text and Drive award. Other scholarships on the same site, such as the Digital Privacy Scholarship, use different dates, so confirm you are on the correct programme before you submit.
Who is eligible for the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship?
You must be a US citizen or legal resident and either a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate student at any level. Homeschooled students are eligible, and there is no published age maximum.
Do I need a minimum GPA for the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship?
Digital Responsibility does not publish a GPA minimum or require a transcript for the initial 140-character application. Selection at the first stage rests on the quality of your short pledge message relative to other entries.
How are Don't Text and Drive Scholarship finalists chosen?
Judges review all 140-character submissions and select ten finalists based on the content of those short messages. Finalists then compete with 500- to 1,000-word essays, and one winner receives $1,000.
How much is the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship worth?
One winner receives $1,000. Digital Responsibility offers four $1,000 technology-awareness scholarships on staggered deadlines throughout the year, including Digital Privacy, Technology Addiction Awareness, and E-waste scholarships.
Is the Don't Text and Drive Scholarship legit?
Yes. Digital Responsibility is the named donor on major scholarship aggregators and publishes winner features on its site. The programme aligns with the nonprofit's mission to discuss responsible technology use. Contact [email protected] if you need confirmation before you apply.
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