Ancestry’s HistoryMakers Scholarship
To help support the next generation of change-makers, Ancestry launched the HistoryMakers Scholarship in 2022. Administered by Scholarship America, it’s designed for students who are just as passionate about where we come from as where we’re headed.
Ancestry’s HistoryMakers Scholarship
Powered by curiosity. Grounded in history.
Since evolving from a publishing company established more than 40 years ago into the world’s largest online family history platform, Ancestry has been using technology to unlock the past and empower the future. Today, they’re not just preserving stories—they’re building tools that connect millions of people to their roots through science, AI, and data.
To help support the next generation of change-makers, Ancestry launched the HistoryMakers Scholarship in 2022. Administered by Scholarship America, it’s designed for students who are just as passionate about where we come from as where we’re headed.
About the Scholarship
This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals.
Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Eligibility
Applicants to the Ancestry’s HistoryMakers Scholarship Program must:
- Be a high school senior/high school graduate (entering undergraduate study Fall 2025), current college undergraduate or graduate student
- Be enrolled in full-time undergraduate or graduate study at one of the following United States (U.S.) or United Kingdom (U.K.) universities from Fall 2025 semester through Spring 2026 semester:
- United States Universities
- Bowie State University (U.S.)
- California State University, Sacramento (U.S.)
- Florida International University (U.S.)
- Tennessee State University (U.S.)
- United Kingdom Universities
- Queen Mary University (U.K.)
- University of Westminster (U.K.)
- City, University of London (U.K.)
- University of Greenwich (U.K.)
- United States Universities
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent
Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in one of the following fields: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Statistics, Life Sciences, Marketing, Finance, Business Economics, Business Management, Cybersecurity, or User Experience.
Ancestry employees and their immediate family members (spouses, children, and grandchildren) are ineligible.
Awards
Awards
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,500 award. Up to twenty-six (26) awards will be granted.
If any school does not receive enough qualified applications to grant all the awards, those awards may be granted to another eligible school.
Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study.
Recipients may be offered internships during pursuit of their degree and/or career opportunities with Ancestry upon graduation.
Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:
- Academic record
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- 1,000-character essay, answering: What does being a ‘history maker’ mean to you and how will your education play a role in the history you create?
Financial need will not be considered.
Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Ancestry play a part in the selection.
Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in December.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Ancestry. Payment is made by January 2025.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload the following:
- A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
- Student name
- School name
- Grades
- Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
