Shelby Shines On Foundation Student Scholarships

The Shelby Shines On Foundation awards $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from each Newton County Public High School and Covington Academy.

These scholarships honor the life of Shelby McWaters, a lifelong Covington resident whose life was marked by kindness, joy, and a deep belief in inclusion and mutual respect for everyone.

The scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated meaningful inclusion of peers with special needs in their schools or communities. Through their actions, these students have helped create experiences that are valuable and rewarding for everyone involved.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: April 10, 2026

All required materials must be uploaded through the online application form.

Before You Start

Make sure you have everything ready before filling out this application.

You will upload all required materials in this form, so it’s best to have everything prepared first.

You will need:

✔ Signed Parent/Guardian Release Form
✔ Teacher or Administrator Recommendation Letter
✔ Your Essay (500 words max) or Video (3 minutes max)

If you don’t have these ready yet, go back to the scholarship page and download the forms first.

Once you have everything together, complete the form and upload your materials below.

Application deadline: April 10, 2026

Student Information

First name

Last name

Phone

High School Attending

Expected Graduation Date

Post-Graduation Plans

Name of Institution

Tell Us Your Story

Shelby believed in kindness, inclusion, and making sure everyone felt seen and valued.

Tell us about a time when you promoted inclusion for a peer with special needs in your school or community.

How did your actions create a meaningful experience for everyone involved? How will you continue promoting inclusion in the future?

You may submit your response as either a written essay or a video.

How would you like to submit your response?

Essay (written response)

Video submission

Required Documents

Upload Parent/Guardian Release Form

A signed Parent/Guardian Release Form is required for your application to be considered.

If you have not completed this form yet, you can download it here:

Download Parent/Guardian Release Form

Upload Teacher/Administrator Recommendation Letter

Your recommendation letter must be written by a teacher or administrator and include school contact information.

If your recommender needs the guidelines, they can download them here:

Download Recommendation Guidelines

I confirm that all submitted materials are accurate and complete.