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High school juniors and seniors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey are invited to share how addiction has affected their lives.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday October 20, 2026
Media Contact: Griffin Gonzales, Mountainside Treatment Center
(231) 794-9450, griffin.gonzales@mountainside.com
CANAAN, CT — Mountainside is now accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Brighter Future College Scholarship, supporting students whose lives have been affected by their own or a loved one’s addiction. Applications are due April 19, 2027.
Addiction rarely affects just one person. According to a 2025 study published in JAMA Pediatrics, about one in four children in the U.S. lives with a parent who has a substance use disorder. Many of those students carry it quietly, without teachers or classmates ever knowing. The Brighter Future Scholarship invites them to put that experience into words and supports their education as they do. By encouraging students to share their stories, the scholarship also helps reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.
“I strongly believe education is a ladder to independence and a better life, and no student should have to stop climbing because addiction is part of their story,” said Laura Maguire, Vice President of Educational Partnerships at Mountainside. “Many of these students keep showing up to class and keep their grades up while carrying something most people around them never see. This scholarship is our way of saying we see them, and we want to help them take the next step toward the future they’re working so hard for.”
To apply, students must submit a 500- to 800-word essay exploring how addiction has affected their lives, how it has shaped their understanding of the disease, and how receiving the scholarship would support their future studies. Students are encouraged to write honestly and in their own voices.
Eligible applicants must be high school juniors or seniors who both live and attend school in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York or New Jersey. Applicants under 18 must obtain parent or legal guardian consent to complete their submissions. Winners will be selected on or before May 15, 2027.
Full scholarship application guidelines can be found on this page.