FOZA Scholarship for Awareness of Maternal Suicide
Offered by Friends of Zayne Adams (FOZA, Inc.)
About this scholarship
The FOZA Scholarship for Awareness of Maternal Suicide provides $1,000 in education support to a student whose mother died by suicide connected to postpartum depression or another maternal mental illness. Friends of Zayne Adams created the award to support children left behind and to reduce silence surrounding maternal suicide. The current cycle is for Black, Latinx, or Indigenous U.S. citizens and permanent residents who will be graduating high-school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors and who have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students may attend an accredited four-year institution, two-year or community college, or trade school, and all majors are eligible. The application requires a current official transcript, confirmation of the mother’s death by suicide, and a one-page essay of approximately 500 words on why community service is important to the applicant. Indigenous applicants also state their tribal affiliation. FOZA may conduct a personal interview and request detailed verification from the potential recipient; submitted documentation is kept secure and destroyed after the award. The winner must permit the organization to publish their name, story, essay excerpts, and photo or video as part of its awareness work. Applications are accepted continuously, with the next review beginning November 1 and a December 1, 2026 consideration cutoff for the January 2, 2027 award.
Eligibility
- Have lost a mother to suicide connected to postpartum depression or maternal mental illness
- Identify as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Native American or Indigenous
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a graduating high-school senior or a college freshman, sophomore, or junior in the upcoming academic year
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Attend an accredited four-year college, two-year or community college, or trade school
- Provide an official transcript, confirmation of death by suicide, and the required community-service essay
- State tribal affiliation if applying as an Indigenous student
- Agree to the recipient publicity requirement and complete verification if selected
- Submit by December 1, 2026 for the next award review