Creating The Future Scholarship

The "Creating the Future" scholarship was established in 2010 in honor of Dr. E. Paul Torrance, creativity guru and founder of 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.

The application submission window is now closed.
Please check back for more information September 1st, 2021.

Malika Rawal

North Carolina

2020

Malika Rawal, of the North Carolina Affiliate, has participated in FPS since 2013. Her Community Problem Solving work has resulted in the formation of a non-profit to help sanitation through impoverished communities.

Malika says, "When I went to India for the first time around four years ago, I noticed a distinct lack of sanitation that many of the villages had: trash all over the streets, unsanitary water, diminished dental hygiene, and more. On the inside, I was incredibly angry about the lack of attention this issue has, but on the outside, I converted that anger and funneled it into passion and excitement. When I got home, I problem-solved and researched solutions as well as specific communities in need of assistance. I began to picture an organization that could tackle multiple pieces of the problem: an organization that could spread awareness about the lack of sanitation in impoverished communities, conduct workshops to teach this importance, and provide hygiene resources for the underprivileged. With that concept in mind, I founded the HelpHygiene Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization based in Charlotte, NC. We have raised $47K+, supported 40k+ people by donating 45k+ toiletries and 11K+ shoes, installed multiple handpumps and toilets, and empower women by donating sanitary pads. To fulfill our mission abroad, we have 70 members who host drives and workshops to increase education on the importance of hygiene in the US, India, and West/East Africa."

Pranav Senthilvel

Kentucky

2020

As part of the Kentucky Affiliate, Pranav has participated, coached new students, and advocated for FPS since his 6th grade year when his team placed 8th at the International Conference.

In Pranav's own words: "Ever since I can remember, I've loved to create. From building towers out of Lincoln Logs in daycare to brainstorming solutions to biosecurity issues, I've always been captivated by the
ability to take existing knowledge and work towards more.

My first experience with FPS came 7 years ago in the sixth grade. With a team of 3 other new students, I learned the ropes of the future FPS process from developing challenges to writing an action plan. Those skills have followed me on my path through school, giving me the
opportunity to meet amazing friends, discover new ideas, and pursue new solutions both in and out of the official FPS competition.

Inspired by the problem solving approach I learned in FPS, I used these tools to discover an innovative solution to a problem I had witnessed in my community. I discovered that farms in my local community were increasingly damaged by crop diseases, something I learned about
from the Biosecurity topic. Working through the FPS process, I developed a self-driving robot capable of fighting crop disease before it happened. I ended up placing 1st at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, something that would not have been possible without my discovery of FPS.

FPS inspires me to take that same creativity to college and beyond. By utilizing the foundational curriculum of Dr. Torrance's Future Problem Solving Process while expanding my interests through interdisciplinary endeavors, I believe that FPS will truly prepare me to be a creator for
humanity. Through FPS, my interests have been diverse, but one underlying philosophy has connected us: our passion to create."