Davis Senior High School PTA - PTA Student Awards

PTA Student Awards

2025 PTA Student Awards - Program Description

Senior Student Awards

This PTA award is not a college scholarship but an award to recognize student growth during high school and can be used for any purpose to help a graduate begin their next steps. Financial need and U.S. citizenship are not required.

Submission material can be either traditional (e.g., personal statement essay or story), there is no word count requirement or more creative formats (song, dance, poem, TikTok video, etc.) -- your choice! Make sure all submissions have settings for public access for review. Submissions will be reviewed by committee and approved by the PTA executive board in May.

Please respond to the following prompt:

Dear 10th grade self,

Here is what I want to tell you about my high school experience, and what I have learned. I hope that it will help you navigate DSHS.

PLEASE INCLUDE PERSONAL DATA:

Student ID#
Best way to contact you (cell phone or email)
Payee Name for check (this can be a trusted adult who has a checking account)
Address to mail award check to (must cash by August 31, 2025 or will be voided)

Please note that students must be eligible to graduate this summer. Submissions will be shared with DJUSD ninth graders and on the DSHS PTA website.

Email complete information and any attachments to dhsptacollegeessayhelp@gmail.com by Friday, April 12. Winners will be notified via email or PTA listserv announcement.

Sophomore & Junior Student Awards

The DSHS PTA seeks applications for awards to DSHS sophomores and juniors. Amount will vary up to $250 per student for a maximum budget of $2,500 to be awarded. Our goal is to support as many students as possible. This PTA student stipend is being used to further the legacy of Thong Hy Huynh, a DSHS student who was stabbed to death on May 4, 1983. As part of the memorial, PTA is asking students to submit applications that address how they understand and can promote the values of diversity, social justice, and equal rights in the DSHS community.

DSHS sophomores and juniors may apply for an award themselves, or on behalf of a DSHS club, and must include a plan for the funding and must send a report or present results in person at a PTA meeting during the 2025-26 school year. Submissions without a funding plan will be considered incomplete.

Submission material can be either traditional (e.g., personal statement, essay or story; no word count requirement) or more creative formats (song, dance, poem, TikTok video, etc.) -- it's your choice! Remember, the theme of your submission should be centered around personal growth in your experience or understanding of inclusion and how it impacts a community.

Submissions will be reviewed by committee and approved by the PTA executive board. Financial need and US citizenship are not required. Previous recipients used the funding to support a virtual study room, DSHS climate club, run a cooking or lacrosse camp, attend summer school, start an origami club, or plant trees at Harper Junior High School.

PLEASE INCLUDE PERSONAL DATA:

- Student ID#
- Best way to contact you (cell phone or email)
- Payee Name for check (this can be a trusted adult who has a checking account)
- Address to mail award check to (must cash by August 31, 2025 or will be voided)

Email the information requested including attachments (make settings public) to dhsptacollegeessayhelp@gmail.com by Friday, April 12. Winners will be notified via email or PTA listserv announcement in June.

Congratulations to the following students who followed the program guidelines above to create award-winning essays.