Zaching Against Cancer Foundation
Spirit Award Scholarship Application – 2026

The Zaching Against Cancer Foundation (ZACF) is proud to present eight Spirit Award Scholarships to Maryland students who have excelled in high school while overcoming personal hardships relating to cancer. Hardships include being a cancer survivor, a caregiver for someone with cancer, or a relative of a person with cancer. For 2026 ZACF will provide eight $2,500 scholarships to Maryland high school students in public or private schools who are planning to attend a two- or four-year college or trade school.
1) Scholarship Criteria to Submit Application:

• Must be a senior in high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Must plan to attend a two or four-year college/university or trade school within the following academic year of receipt of the scholarship
• Must have overcome some sort of significant hardship, medical challenge, and/or family issue relating to cancer during their life
• Not a family member of a Zaching Against Cancer Foundation Staff, Board or Scholarship Selection Committee Member

2) Application Deadline:

The application deadline is March 15, 2026, and ABSOLUTELY NO APPLICATIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.

3) Application Procedure:
Complete and return all the following information via mail or email:
• Application for ZACF Spirit Award (MUST BE TYPED)
• Three Nomination Forms – two must be from teachers or other school staff (one of these must be from a teacher) – please request these ASAP so they do not delay your application review
• High School Transcript
• Letter of recommendation (optional but encouraged)

 

2026 ZACHING SPIRIT AWARD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

SECTION 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name
Address
Parent/Guardian Name

SECTION 2: ACADEMICS

Please be specific and note each separately. (i.e. Member of National Honor Society, National Merit semi-finalist, etc.)

SECTION 3: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Describe any activities you participate beyond academics (i.e. work, athletic teams, student government, class officer, editor or staff of school newspaper or yearbook, member of the concert band, religious or community organizations.
Athletics/Extracurricular
Use the + to add rows
Sport(JV or V) /Club/Activity
Years
Position Held (Captain/Editor)
 
Community Activities/Work
Use the + to add rows
Organization
Years
Position Held Description of Duties
 

SECTION 4: ESSAY QUESTIONS

Please answer the following question on a hardship, medical challenge, and/or family issue that you have overcome relating to cancer during your years before graduating High School. Hardship could include being a cancer survivor, caregiver, relative, or friend of someone who battled cancer. Please limit each response to 1,000 words or less. To read ZACH LEDERER'S STORY, please visit www.zachingagainstcancer.org .
CERTIFICATION
Please type your name as your signature
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Please type your name as your signature
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Please note, you may either upload the completed nomination forms yourself, or share the submission link with the nominator so they can submit the forms directly.
Max. file size: 16 MB.
Max. file size: 16 MB.
Max. file size: 16 MB.
Max. file size: 16 MB.