The Be More Than
A Responsible Driver Scholarship

The Be More Than A Responsible Driver Scholarship

Compete for a share of a scholarship fund totaling at least $10,000, awarded to the most impactful student campaigns promoting responsible driving.

Empowering Young Voices to Lead Life-Saving Change

The Ethan Falkowitz Foundation proudly invites high school juniors and seniors to participate in our annual Be More Than A Responsible Driver Scholarship — a competition that challenges students to create impactful, student-led social media campaigns promoting responsible driving, inspired by the life and legacy of Ethan Falkowitz.

Ethan was 14 years old when his life was tragically taken by a drunk driver. He was known for his proactive kindness, passion, how he made others feel and the way he made every moment count. This scholarship honors Ethan by empowering students to do the same — using their voices, creativity, and platforms to raise awareness and save lives.

APPLY HERE

Eligibility

• Open to all high school juniors and seniors in the United States
• Participants must create and publicly share a social media campaign focused on the dangers of irresponsible driving, including but not limited to drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding (must remain public for whole judging period)
• Campaigns may incorporate Ethan’s story, name, or legacy
• Submissions must be original and follow the guidelines below
• Rules are Subject to Change and Exclusions May Apply

Guidelines

• Campaigns must be posted publicly on a major social media platform, tag @ethanfalkowitzfoundation (Instagram) or @theethanfalkowitzfoundation (Facebook), and include the hashtag #BeMoreThan
• Entries may include videos, reels, animations, image series, or other creative formats
• Content must be original, appropriate for all audiences, and created by the applicant(s)
• Group submissions are allowed; scholarship funds will be divided evenly among winning team members
• Submissions must remain public throughout the judging period
• Social media engagement (likes, shares, comments) will be considered, but is not the only factor in determining winners
• Submissions must not exceed 60 seconds
• Applicants must also be compliant with all social media age (and any other appropriate) requirements
• AI Use Guidelines
  • Students are welcome to use AI for brainstorming, research assistance, or organizing ideas
  • Final submissions must be the student’s own original work — AI should not be the primary author

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by the Foundation, based on the following:

• Creativity & Originality – Is the concept fresh and compelling?
• Clarity of Message – Is the call to action clear and powerful?
• Emotional & Educational Impact – Does the content move and inform the viewer?
• Incorporation of Ethan’s Legacy – How well is Ethan’s story or message integrated?
• Effort & Presentation – Does the work reflect dedication and polish?
• Social Reach – How well did the campaign engage its audience?

Winners Will:

• Be featured on The Ethan Falkowitz Foundation’s website and social media channels
• Be celebrated at The Ethan Falkowitz Foundation Gala (date to be announced)
• Receive a scholarship award (amounts and number of winners to be announced)
• Be featured on various marketing channels (specific channels to be announced)
• Receive scholarship awards from a fund of at least $10,000.

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: Sunday, March 1st, 2026
• Winners Announced: March 19th, 2026

Permission

• By entering this contest, applicants grant The Ethan Falkowitz Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute their submitted content (including text, images, and video) for the purpose of administering, promoting, and publicizing the scholarship. Applicants retain all ownership rights to their work. However, the Foundation may feature winning or notable entries on its website, social media, press releases, and other promotional materials without further compensation or notice.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the scholarship, the submission process, or Ethan’s story, please contact us at garyfalkowitz@gmail.com.

APPLY HERE

Corporate Sponsors

FAQs

Q: What social media platforms can I use?
A: You can post your campaign on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or X (formerly Twitter). Just make sure your post is public and includes the hashtag #BEMORETHAN. Please be sure to tag @theethanfalkowitzfoundation (FB) or @ethanfalkowitzfoundation (IG) to your post so that we could see it.

Q: Can I enter as part of a group?
A: Yes! Group submissions are welcome. If your group is selected as a winner, the scholarship amount will be split evenly among the members listed in your submission.

Q: Can I submit more than one entry?
A: You may submit only one campaign per person or group, so make it count!

Q: Is there a maximum group size?
A: We recommend keeping groups to 3 students to ensure clarity of roles and fair evaluation, but there is no strict cap.

Q: Can I use music in my video?
A: Yes, but only royalty-free or original music unless you have permission to use copyrighted material. Posts with unlicensed music may be disqualified.

Q: What if I don’t have a big following?
A: That’s okay! While engagement helps, we’re also judging your creativity, message clarity, and emotional impact.

Q: Where can I learn more about Ethan’s story?
A: To learn more about Ethan, please visit the foundation page here.

Q: Can I post my campaign across multiple platforms?
A: Yes — and we encourage you to! Just make sure each version uses the hashtag #bemorethan and @ethanfalkowitzfoundation and at least one of them is submitted through our form.

Q: Will there be more than one winner?
A: Yes — We will select multiple finalists, and from those, one campaign will be awarded first place. All finalists will receive scholarship awards and recognition, with the first-place winner receiving the largest amount. Finalists may include both individual and group submissions, and group awards will be shared equally among team members.

Q: Have any other questions at all?
A: Please do not hesitate to email Gary Falkowitz at Garyfalkowitz@gmail.com.