Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship

An opportunity for students to find their civic heroes.

The Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship is paused for 2026. If you would like to receive updates as the Foundation assesses the future of the scholarship, please contact us at foundation [at] supportspl [dot] org.

From 2014 to 2025, the scholarship encouraged local students to write essays about an individual or group of individuals from Washington State who have demonstrated civic courage on an issue of importance to the community at great personal, political, or professional risk.

Read the past winning essays and watch the video below to hear from previous winners about the inspiration they drew from the library and what civic courage means to them!

The Legacy Behind the Scholarship

Learn more about Stimson Bullitt, a great civic leader. Click here.

Inspiration, Examples, and Research Assistance

Research assistance is available from librarians at all Seattle Public Library locations. The Foundation also supports free one-on-one tutoring at the library through the Homework Help program.

Helpful online resources are available for research, including SPL Special Collections, SPL African American Collection, HistoryLink.org, BlackPast, and the University of Washington Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project.