Learn more about our previous winners here! 

John Fisher is devoted to advocating for the rights of suicide victims and their families. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Yet, individuals suffering from depression and other mental health conditions are often overlooked or under-treated within the healthcare system. To raise awareness and inspire change, he established Anthony’s Scholarship, a $2,000 award designed to support education and conversation around mental health and suicide prevention. 

The scholarship is named in honor of Anthony Banhart, a compassionate individual who tragically lost his life after not receiving the urgent psychiatric care he needed. Despite clear warnings from his family and law enforcement, Anthony was released from the hospital without proper evaluation or a follow-up treatment plan. Just three days later, he died by suicide—highlighting critical gaps in emergency mental health care and the need for better intervention systems.

Through this scholarship, students are encouraged to explore how improvements in healthcare and legislation—particularly around access to care and firearm safety—can help prevent suicide. By fostering thoughtful discussion and innovative solutions, Anthony’s Scholarship aims to empower future advocates to create meaningful change and better protect those facing mental health challenges.

Application Deadline: 04/30/2027

Award Amount: $2,000

Eligibility

  • Any current high school senior, vocational student, college student, or graduate student who is enrolled in a two- to four-year post-secondary institution or a vocational program and who is a legal resident of the United States and resides in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia is eligible for the scholarship. 
  • Employees of John Fisher, their immediate families (parent, child, sibling, and spouse), and persons living in the same households of such individuals (whether related or not), are not qualified to take part in the competition. 
  • Applicants for this scholarship must be in good general academic standing and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Application Requirements

  • The candidate must submit a 750-1,000-word essay response to the prompt: Explain how changes to U.S. healthcare laws and/or firearm regulations could help prevent suicide and improve mental health outcomes.
    • Please note that all essays will be checked for AI writing. If AI-generated writing is detected in the essay, the application will be denied.
  • The candidate must submit a professional résumé that lists their professional and academic experience.
  • The candidate must submit a transcript from their current school. First-year college students, graduate students, or individuals who have recently transferred schools may submit an unofficial transcript from their current school, as well as the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school students can submit proof of acceptance to their college or university.
  • Preference will be given to students either from or attending secondary school in the state.

The recipient of the Anthony’s Scholarship: Living with a Sense of Purpose will be chosen during the month following the scholarship deadline. 

For all scholarship-related inquiries, please use this contact form. We are unable to answer scholarship questions by phone, email, or through any other contact forms listed on this website.

Please complete the submission form below to submit your application.