USA Scholarships
Power of Listening Scholarship 2026 - $1,000
The 2026 Power of Listening Scholarship is a $1,000 award from Herman & Wells, a Pinellas Park and Clearwater personal injury practice that built its brand around hearing clients before arguing cases. The firm invites high school seniors, vocational students, college students, and graduate students who are legal US residents in any state or Washington, DC, and who plan to attend an accredited vocational programme or two- or four-year post-secondary institution. You need a minimum 3.0 GPA and good academic standing. The application centers on a 750-to-1,000-word essay explaining why active listening by professionals matters to the people they serve and how it can improve decisions in a complex or high-stress environment. Herman & Wells checks essays for AI-generated writing and will deny applications where AI text is detected. You also submit a professional resume and transcripts, or proof of college acceptance for high school applicants. Preference is given to students from or attending secondary school in Florida, though students nationwide may apply. Employees of Herman & Wells and their immediate families or household members are ineligible. Apply through the form on hermanwells.com before November 30, 2026. The recipient is chosen during the month after the deadline, and scholarship questions must use the contact form on the scholarship page.
What is the Power of Listening Scholarship?
Herman & Wells runs a personal injury practice across Pinellas Park and Clearwater, and the firm''s marketing line is blunt: ready to listen, ready to win. The Power of Listening Scholarship asks students to take that idea seriously outside the courtroom. You are not summarizing a TED talk. You are supposed to explain how professionals who actually hear people, in hospitals, classrooms, agencies, or law offices, make better decisions when the stakes are high.
The money is modest at $1,000, but the bar is real. You need a 3.0 GPA, a resume, transcripts or acceptance proof, and an essay between 750 and 1,000 words that survives an AI check. Herman & Wells will reject drafts that look machine-generated, so write from experience: a nurse who paused to repeat back symptoms, a teacher who de-escalated a hallway fight, a caseworker who caught a detail everyone else missed.
Florida students get a nudge in selection, yet the eligibility list covers every state and DC, which matches how many Florida firms run national essay scholarships to widen the applicant pool. If you are comparing awards, the Mediation & Conversations Scholarship on this site uses a similar structure with a different conflict theme and an earlier autumn deadline.
Block time before Thanksgiving 2026. Upload everything through the form on hermanwells.com, then watch your email in December when the firm names a single recipient for the cycle.
Eligibility
-
✓Legal US resident in any state or DCYou must be a legal resident of the United States living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia when you apply.
-
✓Enrolled or enrolling in post-secondary studyEligible applicants include high school seniors, vocational students, college students, and graduate students who are enrolled in or will attend a vocational programme or accredited two- or four-year college or university.
-
✓Minimum 3.0 GPACandidates need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and good academic standing. Submit transcripts that reflect your current record.
-
✓Not a Herman & Wells insiderEmployees of Herman & Wells, their immediate family members, and people living in the same household are not eligible to participate.
-
✓Original listening essay without AI textYour 750-to-1,000-word essay must be your own work. The firm states that essays flagged for AI writing will be denied.
-
✓Complete online application by November 30, 2026Submit the essay, resume, transcripts or acceptance proof, and the web form before the published deadline on hermanwells.com.
Benefits
- Award amount $1,000
- Number of awards One recipient per cycle
- Selection focus Essay on active listening in professional settings
- Geographic scope Nationwide with Florida preference
- Study levels covered High school senior through graduate student
- Full tuition coverage Partial funding only
- Herman & Wells employees and households Not eligible
- AI-assisted essays Disqualifying if detected
Document checklist
-
✓750-to-1,000-word essay on active listeningExplain why active listening by professionals is important to the people they serve and how it could improve decision-making or outcomes in a high-stress or complex environment.
-
✓Professional resumeList academic and professional experience, jobs, activities, and leadership roles that support your essay theme.
-
✓Transcripts or acceptance documentationSubmit transcripts from your current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or recent transfers may pair an unofficial current transcript with the latest official transcript from their prior school. High school seniors may submit proof of college acceptance.
-
✓Online scholarship application formComplete every field on the Herman & Wells scholarship form linked from hermanwells.com/power-of-listening-scholarship.
-
✓Contact information for notificationUse an email you check in December 2026 because the recipient is selected during the month following the deadline.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Power of Listening Scholarship?
It is a $1,000 annual award from Herman & Wells for US students who write thoughtfully about active listening by professionals and how it improves outcomes for the people they serve. The firm ties the theme to client advocacy in personal injury law.
Who is eligible for the Power of Listening Scholarship?
Legal US residents in any state or Washington, DC, who are high school seniors, vocational students, college students, or graduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA and enrollment in a vocational or two- to four-year post-secondary programme may apply. Herman & Wells employees and their households are excluded.
When is the Power of Listening Scholarship deadline?
Applications are due November 30, 2026 through the form on hermanwells.com/power-of-listening-scholarship. The recipient is chosen during December 2026.
What essay prompt does the Power of Listening Scholarship use?
Write 750 to 1,000 words explaining why active listening by professionals is important to the people they serve and how it could improve decision-making or outcomes in a high-stress or complex environment.
Does Herman & Wells allow AI-written essays?
No. The official page states that all essays are checked for AI writing and that applications with detected AI text will be denied. Write the essay yourself.
Do I need to live in Florida to win the Power of Listening Scholarship?
Florida is not required. The firm gives preference to students from or attending secondary school in Florida, but applicants from all states and DC are welcome.
How much is the Power of Listening Scholarship worth?
One student receives $1,000 per cycle according to the 2026 scholarship page on hermanwells.com.
How do I ask questions about the Power of Listening Scholarship?
Use the scholarship contact form linked from the Power of Listening page. Herman & Wells states it cannot answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or other general contact forms on the website.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website