<p> <strong>(Charlotte, North Carolina)</strong> – A <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/moneymetals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leading U.S. precious metals dealer</a> has teamed up with the nation’s leading sound money groups to award eight new students with more than $10,000 in scholarship funding.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Money Metals Exchange</a>, <a href="https://vocal.media/authors/sound-money" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sound Money Defense League</a>, and the <a href="https://soundmoneyfoundation.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sound Money Foundation</a> are proud to present the <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/scholarship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sound Money Scholarship</a> — the first gold-backed scholarship of the modern era.</p>
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<p>Nearly 300 applicants across 4 continents, more than a dozen countries, and more than 40 states, entered this year’s scholarship contest. Applicants were tasked with writing essays on topics pertaining to <a href="https://vocal.media/trader/what-is-sound-money" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sound money</a>, the Federal Reserve, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and other timely prompts. The winners are as follows:</p>
<p><strong><u>High School/Undergraduate Division:</u></strong></p>
<p>First Place: David Brady, Jr., Florida Southern College – $2,500</p>
<p>Second Place: Adrian de Leon, American Public University – $2,000</p>
<p>Third Place: Elijah Badgett, iLead Hybrid Exploration – $1,500</p>
<p>Fourth Place: Dominick Brown, Corland Jr./Sr. High School – $1,000</p>
<p>Fifth Place: Adelaide Garnett, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts – $500</p>
<p><strong><u>Graduate Division:</u></strong></p>
<p>First Place: Benjamin Seevers, West Virginia University – $2,000</p>
<p>Second Place: Jose Juan Gonzalez Ortiz, Babson College – $1,000</p>
<p>Third Place: Sarah Hinton, Johns Hopkins University – $500 </p>
<p>This year’s blue-ribbon panel of judges for the Sound Money Scholarship comprised of Chris Powell (Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee), Tho Bishop (Mises Institute), and Dr. Paul Cwik, (Mount Olive University).</p>
<p>Executive director of the Sound Money Defense League Jp Cortez said, “Our yearly Sound Money Scholarship contest continues to grow. Between our sound money policy efforts, paid <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/scholarship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scholarships</a> and <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/fellowship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fellowships</a>, and other informational resources like the <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/resources/sound-money-index" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sound Money Index</a> and the <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/uploads/content/SoundMoneyReview-2026.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sound Money Review</a>, we are proud to work alongside Money Metals to provide these services for savers, investors, and anyone interested in <a href="https://www.soundmoneydefense.org/sound-money-explained" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gold and silver as money</a>.”</p>
<p>Starting in 2016, <a href="https://www.inc.com/profile/money-metals-exchange" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">these organizations</a> set aside 100 ounces of physical gold for a scholarship fund, at the time valued around $120,000. Today, as a result of excessive money printing and deficit spending, that gold is worth more than $440,000. Each year, the groups award tuition assistance scholarships to outstanding students who display a thorough understanding of economics, monetary policy, and sound money.</p>
<p>Applications for the 2026 Sound Money Scholarship are now open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students with an interest in economics, specifically the free-market tradition. Applicants do not have to be economics majors to be eligible to receive this scholarship.</p>
<p>The deadline to submit applications for the Sound Money Scholarship is October 31, 2026.</p>
<p> For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/scholarship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">moneymetals.com/scholarship</a> or email <a href="mailto:scholarship@moneymetals.com">scholarship@moneymetals.com</a>.</p>
