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Fencing Forward

Giving back through fencing

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

Congratulations to our Scholarship Recipients

2025 Recipient – Hafsa Marzouk

July 16, 2025

It is an honor and privilege to present our first En Guarde Merit scholarship winner, Hafsa Marzouk. You are an incredible winner who demonstrates leadership, hard work, academic, and athletic dedication. Hafsa, your volunteer work in your communities exemplifies your humble qualities and willingness to help out. Not only that…

Scholarship Overview

The Fencing Forward committee will select one exemplary fencer to receive the Fencing Forward’s En Guarde Merit Scholarship of $1500, in addition to a complete set of fencing gear generously donated by Blue Gauntlet. The selected student must demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, extracurricular achievement, leadership, and commitment to their communities.

Eligibility Requirements:

Be enrolled full-time at one of the high schools located in Illinois during the 2024-2025 academic school year.
Demonstrate a financial need.
Demonstrate academic rigor. Current unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Demonstrate leadership abilities.
Must be a fencer.
Must not have previously received a YFC Grant or Scholarship.
YFC members and families are not eligible for this scholarship.

All Applicants Must:

Answer the following statement:

Everyone belongs to many communities and/or groups defined by shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, interest, race, ideology, intellectual heritage, etc. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community, your place within it, and how that community has shaped you.

Application Dates

This application will open sometime around the USA Fencing Junior Olympics and will close two weeks before the 2026 Summer Nationals.

The En Guarde Merit Scholarship

Page 1 of 7

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.

Your High School

High School Name*

School Address*

School Address 2

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Essay

Everyone belongs to many communities and/or groups defined by shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, interest, race, ideology, intellectual heritage, etc. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community, your place within it, and how that community has shaped you.

Essay*

600 word Max

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

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

References

Please upload up to 3 references letters*

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

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.

Business Email*

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*

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

Learn More!Learn More!