Greene & Phillips Gives Back Scholarship

We often talk about difficult situations on this show, but today we’re highlighting something positive happening right here in our community. The Greene & Phillips Gives Back Scholarship is an annual program that helps local students take the next step in their education. Recently David Greene joined Studio 10 to tell us more about it.

This scholarship is something your firm does every year, and it seems to mean a lot to the students who receive it. Why is this program so important to you?
It really is important to us. The Greene & Phillips Gives Back Scholarship is one of the ways we try to give back to the communities we serve. Each year, we award five $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are continuing their education, and it’s always one of the most rewarding things we do as a firm.

And what I love about this scholarship is that it’s not just about grades or athletic performance; it gives students a chance to tell their story.
Exactly. Instead of focusing only on academics, we ask students to submit a short, five-minute video talking about challenges they’ve overcome. That could be anything from family hardships to personal setbacks or obstacles they’ve worked through. It really allows us to see the person behind the application and understand what they’ve learned along the way.

I imagine reviewing those videos can be pretty impactful.
It really is. Throughout the selection process, we learn so much about these students; their resilience, their work ethic, and their goals. It makes the selection process both very challenging and meaningful, and it always reminds us why this scholarship matters.

How are the winners chosen?
After the application deadline, we review all of the video submissions and select ten finalists. Those finalists are then invited to participate in an in-person interview. From there, we choose five scholarship recipients. It’s a process that gives students a real opportunity to share who they are.

And where can the selected winners use their scholarship?
The scholarship can be used at any accredited college, university, or trade school. We want students to feel supported no matter which educational path they choose, whether that’s a traditional four-year college or a skilled trade program.

For students watching who might be wondering whether they should apply, what would you say to them?
I’d say if you’ve faced challenges and learned from them, this scholarship is for you. You don’t need a perfect transcript or any specific background… you just need to be willing to share your story honestly and authentically.

And where can students find the application?
All the details are available on our website at GreenePhillips.com under the Scholarship tab. The application explains how to upload the five-minute video and walks students through each step of the process.

And an important reminder- the deadline is coming up soon.
That’s right. The deadline to apply is February 1st, so we encourage students not to wait until the last minute.