The 2026 Train Smarter Scholarship is sponsored and administered by The Godfrey Method LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey. The purpose of the Scholarship is to support a graduating high school senior in the Class of 2026 who intends to pursue higher education in the field of dance.

One scholarship award in the amount of $2,500 will be granted to a qualifying applicant who enrolls in Fall 2026 as a declared major in Dance Performance, Dance Education, Dance Science, or Dance Medicine at an accredited college or university. The award is non-transferable and is limited to the amount stated herein.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a graduating high school senior in Spring 2026, must be accepted to and enroll in an accredited college or university beginning Fall 2026, must declare a major in one of the four eligible fields identified above, must submit a complete application by the stated deadline, and must provide all required documentation upon request. Current college students, students deferring enrollment beyond Fall 2026, students pursuing majors outside the four eligible fields, and immediate family members of The Godfrey Method LLC owners, employees, or review committee members are not eligible. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time and to disqualify any applicant who does not meet the stated requirements.

Applicants must submit a completed online application form, one essay of 500 to 750 words responding to the prompt provided in the application, one letter of recommendation, an unofficial high school transcript, and proof of college acceptance. If proof of acceptance is not available at the time of application submission, it must be provided prior to award distribution. Incomplete, false, or misleading applications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

The application period opens April 1, 2026 and closes May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Sponsor is not responsible for technical failures, internet disruptions, incomplete uploads, lost submissions, or corrupted files.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee appointed by The Godfrey Method LLC. The committee will evaluate eligible applicants based on overall merit, including the quality and depth of the submitted essay, demonstrated academic commitment, leadership, alignment with the values of the Scholarship, and commitment to continued education in dance or dance-related sciences. The selection process is holistic, and no single factor guarantees selection. All determinations regarding eligibility and selection are made at the sole discretion of the Sponsor and are final.

The selected recipient will be notified on or about June 1, 2026 by email and or telephone. If the selected recipient does not respond within fourteen calendar days of notification, Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate recipient.

Prior to distribution of funds, the selected recipient must provide proof of high school graduation, official proof of enrollment for Fall 2026, confirmation of declared major within the approved fields, and any required tax documentation. Failure to provide required documentation may result in forfeiture of the award.

The $2,500 scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient’s accredited college or university upon confirmation of enrollment and subject to the institution’s acceptance of third-party scholarship funds. The award may be applied toward tuition and mandatory academic fees only. The award will not be paid directly to the student. If the recipient fails to enroll in Fall 2026, the award will be forfeited. If the recipient changes their declared major to a field outside the four approved categories prior to disbursement, the award will be forfeited.

This Scholarship is a one-time award for the 2026 academic year only. It is not renewable and does not extend beyond a single disbursement. The Sponsor has no obligation to provide additional funding in future semesters or academic years, even if the recipient continues enrollment in an eligible field of study.

The recipient is solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with the Scholarship award. The Sponsor does not provide tax advice, and recipients are encouraged to consult a qualified tax professional regarding any reporting obligations.

By applying, applicants agree that if selected as the recipient, The Godfrey Method LLC may use the recipient’s name, photograph, high school name, college name, declared major, and excerpts from the submitted essay for promotional, marketing, and public relations purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

All submitted essays and materials remain the intellectual property of the applicant. By submitting an application, applicants grant The Godfrey Method LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish excerpts for scholarship-related promotional purposes if selected as the recipient.

Personal information collected through the application process will be used solely for scholarship administration, applicant communication, and internal recordkeeping. Sponsor will not sell or distribute applicant information to third parties except as required by law.

By applying for the Scholarship, applicants agree to release and hold harmless The Godfrey Method LLC, its owners, officers, employees, affiliates, and representatives from any claims, damages, losses, or liabilities arising out of participation in the Scholarship or acceptance of the award, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Scholarship will be administered in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state law. The Scholarship is awarded without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Selection is based solely on the eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria set forth in these Terms and Conditions.

Sponsor reserves the right to modify or cancel the Scholarship in the event of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to technical failures, insufficient eligible applications, or other unforeseen events. Any material changes will be posted on the official Scholarship webpage. Modifications will not retroactively alter eligibility requirements for applications properly submitted prior to the effective date of such changes.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Submission of an application constitutes full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.