Driving Leadership Scholarship

WAGAP launches Driving Leadership Scholarship
Klickitat and Skamania County youth can earn tuition for driver’s education

Bingen, WA (June 18, 2025) – Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is launching the Driving Leadership Scholarship, a new opportunity designed to support young leaders from low-income households in Klickitat and Skamania Counties by removing transportation as a key barrier to growth.

The scholarship provides full tuition for a local Driver’s Education course, helping youth gain the freedom and mobility they need to pursue leadership, job opportunities, education, and community engagement. In addition to meeting eligibility criteria, applicants are asked to share what they are passionate about, how they want to lead, and how access to driving would help them reach their goals.

“We want to hear from youth about what drives them, what they care about, where they want to spend their energy, and we want to help remove the barriers in their way,” said Chris Cazares, Education and Engagement Coordinator at WAGAP. “Driving shouldn’t be what stops a young person from showing up for their future or their community.”

Applications are open to youth ages 15–18 who live in Klickitat or Skamania County and who qualify for free or reduced lunch or other school fee waivers. Essays and the parent acknowledgment form can be submitted in English or Spanish and should be 500-750 words. The deadline to apply is July 8, 2025, and awardees will be notified within two weeks of submission.

“The stories and ideas shared through these scholarship applications will help guide our community education and engagement priorities,” said Sasha Bentley, Director of Equity and Inclusion at WAGAP. “We’re not just supporting youth, we’re listening to them to understand what matters most and where we should focus our efforts moving forward.”

For more information, a flyer is available at bit.ly/wagapdrive. To apply, contact chris@wagap.org.