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Scholarships

Dirk Derrick Car & Truck Accident Injury Scholarship

Description
Information
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 15

A $1,000 Scholarship For Those Affected By Auto Accidents

The Dirk Derrick Car & Truck Accident Injury Scholarship is an award for any current or soon-to-be undergraduate student in the United States who has had his or her life altered due to an injury from a car or truck accident, be it their own injury, that of a loved one, or an influential individual. The Dirk Derrick Scholarship has a brief submission process, and applicants will be judged on their ability to convey the lasting effect an auto accident has had on their life as well as their journey to overcome those challenges. Applicants may apply via the Google Form below.

Students applying must submit an essay where you explain, present, inspire, or otherwise convince us as to why you deserve to win this scholarship. There are no conditions or outside requirements for this essay. Please keep submissions to 5 paragraphs and 600 words at the absolute maximum. This is not a standardized test. While spelling, punctuation, and general cohesiveness will make your essay easier to read, and therefore judge, you are not being graded. The winning submission will be one which clearly conveys a non-fictional story of your life before and after an auto accident.

Auto accidents can be life changing. At The Derrick Law Firm, we believe in keeping the public safe by bringing firsthand experience to those who haven’t had it, as well as easing the stress of accident victims as they enter one of the most important phases of their lives.

This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship and the winner will be announced on December 20th of each year.

2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
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