About the Todd Mezrah Scholarship
The Todd Mezrah Scholarship was established to support education and innovation by providing financial assistance to outstanding students. Todd Mezrah – a Tampa-based entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of Mezrah Consulting – launched this scholarship as part of his dedication to giving back to the community. Todd Mezrah understands the value of education (he holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama and an MBA from Georgia State University) and is passionate about helping the next generation of leaders and innovators excel in their academic pursuits.
Scholarship Amount: $2,500 (one-time, annual award). The scholarship funds can be used toward tuition, books, supplies, or other education-related expenses. This is a merit-based scholarship awarded based on the quality of the applicant’s essay and overall application, rather than financial need.
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the Todd Mezrah Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Enrollment: Current undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university in the United States. (This includes community college, four-year university, or graduate programs. High school students are not eligible unless they are already enrolled in a college program.)
- Academic Standing: Students of any major or field of study are welcome. There is no minimum GPA requirement for this scholarship; all we require is a passion for learning and a thoughtful application.
- Location: Applicants must be studying at a U.S.-based institution. (U.S. citizens and international students are eligible, as long as they are currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. school.)
- Application Submission: A completed application form and an original essay (as described below) must be submitted by the deadline.
Timing: The Todd Mezrah Scholarship is an annual program. Applications open each year, and the scholarship is awarded to one student per year. The application deadline is October 1 each year (for example, October 1, 2025, for the 2025 award). The winner announcement is typically made by October 15. This timeline allows the selected student to receive the funds in time for the upcoming academic term. (Be sure to check the current cycle’s exact dates on this site, as they may vary slightly year to year.)
Purpose and Values: This scholarship aims to inspire students to lead and innovate. By asking applicants to reflect on leadership experiences and future plans for community or industry impact, the Todd Mezrah Scholarship encourages young people to think deeply about their role in making the world a better place. Todd Mezrah’s philanthropic efforts – through initiatives like the Todd and Shari Mezrah Charitable Fund supporting education and community organizations – underscore the core belief that investing in education and community yields long-term positive change. The Todd Mezrah Scholarship embodies these values by empowering students to reach their potential and become leaders in their communities and fields.
Essay Instructions
A key part of the Todd Mezrah Scholarship application is a written essay. We want to hear your voice and ideas, so take this opportunity to share your experiences and vision with us. Please choose one of the two essay prompts below and write an essay between 500 and 700 words responding to that prompt. The essay must be your own original work, written by you without the use of AI tools. We value authenticity and personal insight, so let your true thoughts and experiences shine through.
Essay Prompts (choose one):
- Option 1: “Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership or took initiative to solve a problem. What did you learn about yourself and others in the process?”
- Option 2: “How do you plan to use your education to make a meaningful impact in your community or chosen industry?”
When writing your essay, be honest and reflective. We are looking for clear storytelling or reasoning, personal growth, and a genuine connection to the topic. There is no “right” answer – the best essay is one that sincerely conveys your experience or aspirations in a compelling way. Make sure to proofread your essay and ensure it stays within the word limit. Once your essay is ready, save it as a PDF file to upload with your application.
Originality Notice: All essays must be original and human-written. Plagiarism or content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification. The Todd Mezrah Scholarship committee will evaluate submissions for authenticity. We encourage you to write in your own voice – it’s your unique perspective that matters most!
Application Process
Applying for the Todd Mezrah Scholarship is straightforward. Just follow the steps below to submit your application. Remember, attention to detail and following instructions are part of the evaluation, so read everything carefully and don’t skip any steps.
- Complete the Online Application Form: Fill out the Todd Mezrah Scholarship application form on our website. You will need to provide basic personal and academic information, including:
- Contact Information: Your full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Academic Details: The name of your accredited U.S. college or university, your current year (undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate level), your field of study/major, and your expected graduation date.
- Short Personal Bio (optional): You may have the opportunity to share a few lines about yourself, your achievements, or your goals. (This is optional, but it helps us get to know you beyond the essay.)
- Prepare Your Essay: Write an essay responding to one of the two prompts listed in the Essay Instructions section above. Make sure your essay is your own work, and remember to save it in PDF format. Give the file a name that includes your name (for example, JaneDoe_ToddMezrahScholarshipEssay.pdf).
- Upload Your Essay: In the application form, upload your finished essay PDF where indicated. Ensure that the file is attached properly before you submit the form.
- Submit Before the Deadline: Double-check that all your information is correct and your essay is attached, then submit the application form before the deadline. After submitting, you should see a confirmation message on the site and/or receive a confirmation email. Keep this confirmation for your records.
- Review Process: After the deadline passes, the Todd Mezrah Scholarship committee will review all complete applications. We carefully read each essay and evaluate applicants based on the content of the essay and how well they followed the instructions. (Tip: Make sure you answered one of the prompts and stayed within the word limit!)
- Selection and Announcement: The committee will select one scholarship recipient from the pool of eligible applicants. The winner will be chosen based on the merit of their essay (clarity, creativity, insight, and relevance to the prompt) as well as overall application quality. The scholarship recipient will be notified via email (using the contact information provided in the application) by approximately October 15. We may also announce the winner on the Todd Mezrah Scholarship website and social media channels.
- Award Distribution: The $2,500 scholarship award will be given directly to the selected student. Typically, the funds can be delivered as a check or through the student’s school financial aid office. The winner will receive instructions on how the scholarship funds will be disbursed. The award is intended to be used for education-related expenses, and we will coordinate with the winner to ensure the funds are applied to their tuition or other qualified expenses.
Throughout the process, we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or encounter any issues with the application (see the Contact section below). We are here to help and want to make sure every eligible student has the opportunity to apply with confidence.