Volunteer Scholars has streamlined the application process for the President’s Education Awards Program (PEAP). The award is now managed entirely through the Volunteer Scholars member portal, alongside all other Volunteer Scholars awards.
Members no longer need to mail hard-copy applications or send supporting documents through separate emails. Instead, all required materials can be uploaded and managed in one online location.
Through the member portal, applicants can:
- Upload required report cards or transcripts
- Submit qualifying standardized test or college entrance examination scores
- Upload the required statement from the applicant’s counselor, teacher, or academic advisor
- Submit the completed PEAP application for consideration
This change creates a simpler, more organized process for families and allows PEAP documentation to remain with each member’s other award records.
What Is the PEAP Award?
Volunteer Scholars is an awarding organization for the President’s Award of Outstanding Academic Excellence, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s President’s Education Awards Program.
The award recognizes exceptional academic achievement among students completing key educational milestones:
- 6th grade, before entering middle school
- 8th grade, before entering high school
- 12th grade, upon high school graduation
Eligible applicants must be Volunteer Scholars members at the Elite or Elite Senior level. Recipients receive a grade-specific enameled lapel pin and a downloadable, print-ready certificate.
Award eligibility is based on documented academic performance. Depending on grade level, required materials may include report cards or transcripts, GPA information, nationally normed achievement-test results, SAT or ACT scores, and supporting statements or records of student activities.
New Permanent Deadline: August 31
The PEAP application deadline has also been permanently extended to August 31. This change aligns the PEAP award year with the September 1 – August 31 cycle used for other Volunteer Scholars awards.
All required information and supporting documentation must be entered in the online portal by 11:59 p.m. on August 31. Applications submitted after the deadline cannot be credited to the closing award year or carried forward to the next one.
By bringing the PEAP application into the member portal and synchronizing its deadline with other awards, Volunteer Scholars has made it easier for members to organize, complete, and track their award applications in one place.