About the Scholarship: 

HFC's Humans of Dementia Scholarship is open to high school and college students in the U.S. and Canada who have been impacted in some way by Alzheimer's disease. This scholarship focuses on storytelling as a tool to drive awareness and inspire change about Alzheimer's disease.  By focusing on the person and not the disease, Humans of Dementia aims to bring light to and elevate the conversation around Alzheimer's disease so we can reduce the stigma and shame often surrounding loved ones living with the disease. 

HFC awards 12 scholarships: 6 for high school students and 6 for college students. Awards for the written profile and photo essay categories include three cash awards of $1500 each, along with a Virtual Awards Reception.

2026 Submission Period Ends May 1, 2026 (11:59pm PT)

Written Submissions:

Think of someone in your life who has lived with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. This could be a relative, friend, or someone in your community—someone you know personally (not a public figure).

This is your opportunity to share their story. Highlight who they are beyond their diagnosis - their humanity, character, accomplishments, and impact. Be creative and personal in your storytelling. All submissions must be original without the use of AI (all entries will be screened through AI detection tools).

These are optional prompts to inspire your reflection—not a checklist.

•  Describe the person so vividly that the reader feels they are right there with you.
•  Share what their life was like before Alzheimer’s—work, passions, daily routines.
•  Include early memories or meaningful stories that reveal their essence.
•  Highlight traits, habits, or achievements that made them special.
•  Reflect on how their journey with Alzheimer’s unfolded—both the joyful and challenging moments.
•  Quote their sayings or expressions, and what they’ve come to mean over time.
•  Share what you’ve learned from them and how this experience has shaped your outlook on life and relationships. 

Take your time. The goal is to honor the person, not just their diagnosis.

Photo/Multimedia Submissions:

You’re invited to tell a story through photography—about someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or any part of the experience connected to it.

Your photos can explore any angle: living with the disease, caregiving, emotional moments, treatment, research, or personal items that hold meaning. Think beyond clichés—show us something real, unique, and personal. PHOTOS MUST BE ORIGINALS (see multi-media category if using photos of photos).

You can use any style, such as:

•  Candid moments
•  Portraits or environmental portraits
•  Still-life images (like a loved one’s belongings)
•  Documentary-style photos
•  Double exposures

Photos can be color or black & white, film or digital. You can shoot with a camera or a smartphone—whatever helps you tell your story.

You may submit up to three (3) single images.  Entrants will be judged on a single image only. Still images only (no video or multimedia).

Format: minimum of 2000 pixels (on long side), 72 dpi, jpeg  

File Name:  First Name_Last Name_001; First Name_Last Name_002, First Name_Last Name_003  

Captions: PDF or Word document with file name and caption 

Accompanying Written Brief: Must include: One paragraph about you and your relationship to the person and image(s). 

For multimedia submissions, you can create a meaningful visual narrative using photos of old photographs, letters, personal objects, scrapbooks, drawings, or any combination of still, non-video images. This is your chance to tell a story in a creative way—even if you can’t take new photos yourself.

What You Can Include:

•  Scanned or re-photographed images from family photo albums
•  Photos of meaningful objects or places connected to the person
•  Handwritten notes, recipes, cards, or other keepsakes
•  Your own drawings, collages, or mixed media elements
•  Captions, written reflections, or short quotes (optional but encouraged)

Submission Guidelines:

•  You may submit still images, presented together as a visual story.
•  All content must be still—no video or animation.
•  You may use digital tools to lay out your story (like slides or a collage), or simply submit the images with or without captions.
•  You can use your phone or any digital camera to capture or re-photograph items.

To Enter: 

1. Carefully read the Eligibility Requirements and Rules
2. At the bottom of this page, click "create account."
3. After you set up your account, you will be directed to the submission form.

To Be Eligible You Must: 

• Be enrolled in high school or college in the U.S. or Canada.  Home-schooled students are eligible to enter. Graduate students are eligible to enter.
• Feature someone currently living with or who has passed away from Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.
• Submit no more than one entry per category.  You may submit one entry in both categories (one written and one photo entry).
• Keep your written submissions to no more than 750 words - must be original content. No AI-generated content will be considered for award.
• Include parental consent in your application if you are under the age of 18.

Any questions can be sent to: humans@wearehfc.org

Written Entry Rubric:

• Dignity and Depth - Portray the individual with depth and nuance. Articulate the individual's unique essence and avoid generalizations.
• Strength of Narrative - Weave together a compelling life story that flows naturally, and goes far beyond creating a chronological list of events and facts about the person’s life.
• Detail and Research - Strive to include strong anecdotes, cover meaningful events in the individual’s life with detail, include precise naming for important locations, events, and people if relevant to the story.
• Creativity - Bring a unique and creative approach to telling the individual’s life story that enriches the quality of the piece.
• Syntax and Grammar - Be sure to carefully edit for clarity and correctness and avoid typos and grammatical errors.
   

Photo/Multimedia Entry Rubric:

• Dignity and Depth - Portray the individual with depth and dignity. Capture the individual's unique essence and avoid generalizations.
• Detail and Research - Strive to include a strong image of what dementia looks like, cover meaningful moments in the individual’s life, include people if relevant to your story.
• Creativity - Bring a unique and creative approach to capturing the individual’s life.
• Technicality - Show us your technical knowledge with a point of view and technical composition.
• Grammar - Be sure to carefully edit your captions and proposal for clarity and correctness and avoid typos and grammatical errors.

Click here to read the complete Official Rules.

Click here to read the Official Terms.