The “Creating the Future” scholarship was established in 2010 in honor of Dr. E. Paul Torrance, creativity guru and founder of the Future Problem Solving Program. FPS is an international competitive program in which students apply a problem solving process to situations involving global issues, to current issues in schools and communities, and to visions of the future through storytelling. The scholarship recognizes a current FPS student who is graduating from secondary school. Applicants generally have many years of participation in competitive Future Problem Solving, often in more than one component. In addition, they have shown exceptional dedication to the program through actions that embody the skills of a creative problem solver and/or support the program in their geographic area.

2012 Creating the Future Scholarship Application

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2011 Scholarship Recipients Announced!

This year, we are awarding FPSPI Scholarships to honor two FPS graduating students who have exhibited exceptional dedication and participation in Future Problem Solving.

We had 25 very worthy applicants this year.  Each applicant's submission included an application, an essay, and two letters of recommendations – one from an FPS coach, and the other from someone attesting to the applicant's real-life application of FPS skills. 

The scholarships are awarded based on the applicants' written essays addressing both advantages and any limitations of their FPS participation, as well as the impact of FPS on their undergraduate and long-term life goals.

Future Problem Solving Program International is proud to announce the 2011 Student Scholarship recipients.  Of the worthy applicants, these two recipients were chosen …

Olivia Zhu
The Harker School, Saratoga, California

Olivia Zhu has participated in Future Problem Solving for six years. During that time, she has attended the California FPS State Bowl and the FPSPI International Conference each year. She has competed in team and individual Global Issues Problem Solving, Scenario Writing, and of course, Presentation of Action Plan, winning many awards. Olivia is an ambassador for FPS. She mentors younger students and has organized other students to do the same. She has prepared materials to introduce parents to FPS, has raised funds to support the California FPS affiliate, and serves as an Affiliate evaluator. Olivia has found connections between her FPS training and almost every aspect of her education, including debate, English and history essays, physics topics, and Jeopardy games! She founded and is President of the FPS club at her school, involving nearly 100 students, and is currently designing a research system for sharing information between teams. Her coach states: “I technically coach her in terms of Future Problem Solving, but in a real sense she coaches all of us in both FPS and in personal ethics and selfless dedication to others.”

Nicole Johnson
Johnson Central High School, Johnson County, Kentucky

Nicole Johnson has participated in Future Problem Solving for eight years. As a competitor in team and individual Global Issues Problem Solving, as well as Scenario Writing, she has been an award-winning participant at her Affiliate state competition and the International Conference every year. Coming from a small town, participation in FPS has exposed Nicole to issues and social relationships on a global scale. She has applied her problem solving skills in many real life situations, including a parent’s illness and the collapse of the roof on her home during a snowstorm. Nicole and her teammates maintain a rigorous schedule of preparation for FPS, usually spending 10-20 hours or more per week in research and practice. Through FPS, Nicole had the opportunity to become involved with a charity organization to collect and send school supplies to children in Pakistan and has been invited to a reception at the Pakistani Embassy for her work. A teammate states: “Through our research and gained understanding of topics we also learn to care. Nicole radiates such love and care for mankind and the environment. She has a passion for everything she does and for all those involved.”