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Fencing Forward

Giving back through fencing

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

Congratulations to our Scholarship Recipients

2025 En Guarde Merit Scholarship winner Hafsa Marzouk receiving the Fencing Forward award for leadership and athletic excellence.

2025 Recipient – Hafsa Marzouk

July 16, 2025

We are privileged to award our very first En Guarde Merit Scholarship to Hafsa Marzouk. Hafsa, your dedication—both on the strip and in the classroom—is nothing short of inspiring. What truly sets you apart is your heart for service; your volunteer work reflects a genuine humility and a desire to…

Excellence on the Strip. Leadership in Life.

The Fencing Forward committee will select one exemplary fencer to receive a $1,500 Merit Scholarship and a complete set of fencing gear generously donated by Blue Gauntlet.

We are not looking for a talented athlete; we are looking for a student who balances academic rigor with a deep commitment to their community and the sport of fencing.

What the Application Entails

To help you prepare, please note that the online application is divided into the following six sections:

About You: Basic contact information and your fencing background.
School: Your current academic standing and official transcript.
Family & Financials: Information to help us understand your financial need.
Extracurriculars: A summary of your leadership roles, community service, and achievements outside of fencing.
References: Contact information for two individuals (coaches, teachers, or mentors) who can speak to your character.
The Essay: Your response to the 2026 prompt (see below).

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the 2026 award, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Current Enrollment: Be enrolled full-time as a Junior or Senior in high school during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Academic Excellence: Maintain a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5.
Active Status: Must be a currently active fencer.
Demonstrated Need: Be able to demonstrate financial need.
Exclusions: Previous recipients of Fencing Forward (formerly YFC) grants/scholarships and family members of Fencing Forward staff are not eligible.

The 2026 Essay Prompt

We believe that how you handle yourself when no one is watching defines who you are. Please provide a thoughtful response to the following:

Describe a moment when you acted according to your values even when it was difficult. What does that moment reveal about the quality you most want to be remembered for?

Important Dates

Application Opens: February 21, 2026 (Following the February NAC)
Application Deadline: June 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM (CST)

A Final Thought: At Fencing Forward, we believe a scholarship is a vote of confidence in your character. Whether or not you are selected, we hope the words you wrote today serve as a compass for the person you are becoming.

En Garde. Ready. Move Forward.

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

Page 1 of 8

About You

Name*

Email address*

Phone*

Date of Birth*

Gender*

Male

Female

Other

Address*

Address 2

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Current Grade Level*

Expected Date of Graduation*

Cumulative GPA*

Please upload your unofficial school transcript*

Max file size: 2 MB. | Allowed file types: pdf | Min number of file: 1

Where do you fence?*

The scholarship is to support fencers. We understand that not all fencers can afford to belong to a club. However, all fencer do fence somewhere, please let us know where you fence.

Form saved

Your High School

High School Name*

School Address*

School Address 2

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Form saved

Essay

Describe a moment when you acted according to your values even when it was difficult. What does that moment reveal about the quality you most want to be remembered for?

Essay*

600 word Max

Form saved

Extracurricular

List your community service activities and volunteer work:

*You can list up to 5 services.

Service Name 1

Position

Duration

Service Name 2

Position

Duration

Service Name 3

Position

Duration

Service Name 4

Position

Duration

Service Name 5

Position

Duration

List your extracurricular activities, including sports, clubs, and organizations:

*You can list up to 5 activities.

Activity Name 1

Position

Duration

Activity Name 2

Position

Duration

Activity Name 3

Position

Duration

Activity Name 4

Position

Duration

Activity Name 4

Position

Duration

List any awards or honors you have received:

*You can list up to 5.

Awards or Honors 1

Awards or Honors 2

Awards or Honors 3

Awards or Honors 4

Awards or Honors 5

Form saved

Family

Father*

Father’s Email*

Father’s Phone*

Father’s Occupation

Mother*

Mother’s Email*

Mother’s Phone*

Mother’s Occupation

Living in same household?*

Yes

Home Address*

Home Address 2

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Father’s Address*

Father’s Address 2

Father’s City*

Father’s State*

Father’s Zip Code*

Mother’s Address*

Mother’s Address 2

Mother’s’s City*

Mother’s State*

Mother’s Zip Code*

Household Income*

Less than $20,000

$20,000-$50,000

$50,000-$100,000

More than $100,000

Form saved

References

Please upload up to 3 references letters*

Max file size: 2 MB. | Allowed file types: pdf

Form saved

Acknowledgement *

Scholarship winners will be announced no later than June 12, 2025. At that time, each scholarship awardee must email one digital photo to Youth Fencing Chicago to be used in a press release to local newspapers and YFC website. Winners MUST attend an award presentation during the USA Fencing Summer Nationals in Milwaukee, WI ( final date and time to be determined). If the winner will not be attending the USA Fencing Summer Nationals, the winner must notify YFC immediately. If the winner is unavailable to attend the ceremony, the scholarship will not be granted. Awardees will be photographed at the award presentation and the photographs will be used in press release to local newspapers and will also be posted on the YFC website.

Acknowledgement*

I acknowledge that I have read the above and accept the conditions stated.

Release of Information Waiver *

Applicant information will be shared between Youth Fencing Chicago and its donor(s). Applicant grants permission for YFC to contact applicant’s high school and other relevant contacts for verification of information contained in this scholarship application, including their academic transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and all attachments. By signing this form, you also provide permission for Youth Fencing Chicago to use your image in publications, press releases, website, and other media that are used to distribute information about Youth Fencing Chicago and its programs.

Release of Information Waiver*

I hereby grant Youth Fencing Chicago permission to contact my high school and other contacts to verify the information contained in this application and all attachments.

Certification of Accuracy *

Certification of Accuracy*

I hereby declare that the information provided in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false information may result in the disqualification of my application.

Digital Signature*

Email*

Thank you for applying to the Fencing Forward Scholarship. Our mission is to break down barriers, but the real work happens when students like you take what you’ve learned—discipline, focus, and empathy—and apply it to the world around you.

We are honored to be a part of your story. Keep pushing, keep lunging, and always keep moving forward.

– The Fencing Forward Team

Are you a fencing club or organization? Learn more about our Community Grant Program.

Learn More! Learn More!

Fencing Forward

Home

Take Action

The Stories

Fencing Forward

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

Congratulations to our Scholarship Recipients

2025 Recipient – Hafsa Marzouk

Scholarship Overview

Excellence on the Strip. Leadership in Life.

What the Application Entails

Eligibility Requirements

The 2026 Essay Prompt

Important Dates

En Garde. Ready. Move Forward.

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

About You

Form saved

Your High School

Form saved

Essay

Form saved

Extracurricular

List your community service activities and volunteer work:

List your extracurricular activities, including sports, clubs, and organizations:

List any awards or honors you have received:

Form saved

Family

Form saved

References

Form saved

Acknowledgement *

Release of Information Waiver *

Certification of Accuracy *