Regions Riding Forward Scholarship 2027: $8,000 Quarterly, 15 States, Essay or Video & September 30 Deadline
Regions Riding Forward Scholarship: $8,000 per award, open to residents of 15 US states, age 16+ with 2.0+ GPA. Four quarterly contests per year. Written or video essay. Next deadline September 30, 2026.
Focus keyword: regions riding forward scholarship
Quick answer: the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship is a merit-based quarterly contest run by Regions Bank (headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama). It pays $8,000 per award, gives out 4 awards per quarter (2 written + 2 video) – up to 16 wins per year – and is open to legal US residents of 15 states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX. You need to be 16 or older, have at least a year (or 18 semester hours) of college left, and hold a 2.0+ GPA. The Q-3 2026 deadline is September 30, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM CT; the 2027 cycle follows the same quarterly rhythm with the same four window end-dates (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31).
What Is the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship?
This is a state-and-community essay competition, not a corporate giveaway: Regions Bank, a bank headquartered in Alabama, uses it to recognize students in the South and Midwest footprint. Over roughly 15 years the program has paid out over $1.5 million to 400+ students. No purchase and no banking relationship is required – it is a pure merit entry.
Two things separate it from most scholarship contests: (1) the award is paid directly to your college, not to you, and (2) the rulebook is very explicit about originality – AI use is not permitted and will disqualify the entry.
Award Amount and Structure
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount per award | $8,000 |
| Awards per quarter | 4 (2 written-essay + 2 video-essay) |
| Awards per year (max) | 16, one pool per quarterly window |
| Payout | Check written to the winner’s designated accredited college |
| Payout use | Tuition and undergraduate-related expenses only – not for grad/post-undergraduate |
| Use-by date | End of the 2027-28 academic year (for awards issued in the 2026 cycle) |
| Application fee | None |
Eligibility (15 States, Age, GPA)
- You are a legal US resident of one of the 15 eligible states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.You are age 16 or older.You have at least one year (or 18 semester hours) of undergraduate college remaining before graduation.If you are not yet enrolled, you must begin your freshman year no later than the start of the 2027-28 academic year.You hold a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (or “good standing” if your school does not report a GPA).You have not won a previous Regions Riding Forward quarterly contest.Your entry must be in English, original, made solely by you, with no AI use.
Quarterly Contest Schedule 2026-2027
| Quarter | Entry window | Deadline (11:59:59 PM CT) | Winners announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-1 2026 | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | About May 31, 2026 |
| Q-2 2026 | Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | About Aug 31, 2026 |
| Q-3 2026 (OPEN NOW) | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026 | September 30, 2026 | About Nov 30, 2026 |
| Q-4 2026 | Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | December 31, 2026 | About Feb 28, 2027 |
| Q-1 2027 | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 | March 31, 2027 | About May 31, 2027 |
| Q-2 2027 | Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2027 | June 30, 2027 | About Aug 31, 2027 |
| Q-3 2027 | Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2027 | September 30, 2027 | About Nov 30, 2027 |
| Q-4 2027 | Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2027 | December 31, 2027 | About Feb 28, 2028 |
The same four end-dates repeat every year, so the 2027 cycle deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2027. If you are a high school senior graduating in spring 2027, the Q-3 2027 (Sep 30, 2027) and Q-4 2027 (Dec 31, 2027) windows are the ones where your “freshman year start no later than 2027-28” requirement is met.
How to Apply (Essay or Video)
- Go to the official Regional Bank essay-contest page: regions.com essay-contest-scholarship page.Start the Quarterly Contest application at the ISTS portal: aim.applyISTS.net/RidingForward (program key RidingForward).Choose your format: Written essay (500 words or fewer) OR Video essay (3 minutes or less, 1 GB or less, MP4/MPG/MOV/AVI/WMV, no music, no explicit material).Your essay must be about an individual you know personally who lives in your community and how that person inspired you in an extraordinary way.Review the application and submit before 11:59:59 PM CT on the quarter’s end date. The Q-3 2026 deadline is September 30, 2026.If you are selected, you will be asked to confirm your college name (the check goes there) and submit proof of enrollment.One entry per person per quarter. You can enter again in a later quarter.
This program sits in the same “essay + community impact” lane as many healthcare and community-service awards. If you are comparing options, our Tylenol application guide covers a larger $10,000 graduate-level program that runs through the same ISTS portal.
Rules on AI Use and Originality
- The entry must be in English.It must be original work made solely by you.No AI generation is permitted – the program says this explicitly in the rules.Plagiarism is disqualifying.Prior winners of the quarterly contest are not eligible in the same cycle (re-entry is allowed in a different quarter).
If you are weighing your time across multiple essays, the Alaska Performance Scholarship is a state merit contrast: no essay at all, up to $28,000 – if you live in Alaska.
FAQs
How much is the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship?
$8,000 per award, with four awards per quarterly contest (2 written + 2 video), for a maximum of 16 wins per year. The check is written to your college, not to you.
Who can apply for the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship?
US residents of 15 states (AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX), age 16+, with 1+ year of college remaining and a 2.0+ GPA. If you are not yet in college, you must start no later than the 2027-28 academic year.
What is the deadline for Regions Riding Forward in 2026?
The 2026 schedule is quarterly on the last day of March, June, September and December, each at 11:59:59 PM CT. Q-3 2026 is open now, deadline September 30, 2026. Q-4 2026 closes December 31, 2026.
What is the Regions Riding Forward deadline for 2027?
Same four dates every year: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2027, each at 11:59:59 PM CT.
Can I use AI to write my Regions Riding Forward essay?
No. The official rules prohibit AI use and plagiarism; either one disqualifies the entry.
Does Regions Riding Forward require a banking relationship?
No. You do not need a Regions account, purchase, or any banking relationship to enter.
Final Verdict
Regions Riding Forward is one of the best-value quarterly essay programs in the South and Midwest: $8,000 per win, 16 wins per year, no application fee, and the award goes straight to your school. The 15-state footprint excludes some states (notably the Midwest-North and West), and the AI-ban means you actually have to write it. The Q-3 2026 window is open now with a September 30, 2026 deadline – that is the next real chance to enter, and the same four end-dates carry into 2027.