Shah-VE Life Skills Scholarship

Helping Students Prepare for Life

College prepares students for careers.

We hope to help prepare them for life.

Success in life requires more than success in school

The transition from high school to college is one of life’s most important transitions. Along with pursuing higher education, students begin making independent decisions about money, health, relationships, values, and the direction of their lives.

Financial assistance can open the door to education. But money alone cannot prepare students for all the choices, opportunities, and responsibilities that come with adulthood.

Over eight decades as a student, physician, teacher, husband, father, and mentor, I have come to believe that flourishing requires more than financial success. It requires intentionally developing the whole person.

Our Framework for Intentional Living

We believe people flourish when they intentionally develop five interconnected dimensions of life. For this reason, the Life Skills Scholarship created to encourages awareness and growth across five dimensions of a flourishing life.
Young people do not automatically become thoughtful adults simply because they attend college.

The Shah–VE Life Skills Scholarship exists to help students navigate the transition to adulthood by encouraging intentional growth across five interconnected dimensions of a flourishing life.

  • Academic Growth – Learning creates opportunity.
  • Financial Well Being – Financial wisdom creates freedom.
  • Physical Well Being – Health creates energy.
  • Emotional Well Being & Relationships – Healthy relationships create connection.
  • Purpose & Inner Growth – Purpose creates meaning.

How the Scholarship Works.

The scholarship is not designed to tell students how to live. Instead, it encourages awareness, reflection, and conversation so students can make more intentional choices.

Financial Support

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Reflection

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Self Awareness

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Intentional Decisions

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A Flourishing Life

Scholars participate through a combination of:
  • Financial support for their education
  • Financial literacy learning
  • Academic and gratitude journals
  • Periodic reflection and Zoom conversations
  • Guidance from trusted adults
  • Student stories and newsletter contributions
  • An annual gathering and an evolving community of scholars
These experiences are designed to help students pause, think, learn from one another, and make more intentional choices.
Our goal is to help students become thoughtful participants in shaping their own lives.
What the Scholarship Provides

  • $5,000 annual award (renewable for up to three additional years)
  • Introduction to financial literacy
  • Academic and gratitude journals
  • A copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
  • Opportunities for reflection through writing and discussion
  • Ongoing connection through periodic meetings
  • Participation in Scholar advisor pilot program (optional)
Student Engagement
Students are encouraged to stay engaged in their own growth.

This may include setting aside time each week for reflection, learning, or personal development across the five pillars.

Scholarship Renewal

Academic progress
Maintain satisfactory academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Financial literacy
Complete the Khan Academy Financial Literacy course during the first year of the scholarship. Submit screenshot of completed course dash board.

Personal Growth
Remain intentionally engaged in personal development across one or more of the Five Pillars.
Each scholar submits a brief (300-500 words) annual reflection describing an important part of the year’s journey.
A scholar may respond to one or more of the following:
  • What challenged you most this year, and what did you learn from it?
  • Which of the Five Pillars influenced your growth most strongly?
  • What habit, relationship, or experience changed the way you think?
  • In what way did you move beyond your comfort zone?
  • How has the scholarship influenced your choices or outlook?
  • What would you like to strengthen during the coming year?
  • Who are you becoming?

Learning doesn’t end with the scholarship.

Growth Library