2025-2026 Scholarship Winner
2025-2026 Money Fit National Scholarship Winner
Congratulations to Janya Cesaire, winner of the 5th Annual Money Fit National Scholarship. Janya will receive $1,000 for education-related expenses while attending St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Congratulations, Janya!
Congratulations, Janya Cesaire
Janya Cesaire has been selected as the winner of the 2025-2026 Money Fit National Scholarship. She will receive $1,000 for education-related expenses while attending St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Thank you to every student who participated. Information about the next scholarship cycle will be posted when available.
Key scholarship facts
These are the main dates, limits, award details, and rules for the completed 2025-2026 scholarship cycle.
2025-2026 winner
Janya Cesaire, a student attending St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Award
Janya will receive a $1,000 scholarship for education-related expenses.
Application window
The contest entry period ran from Sept. 1, 2025 through July 15, 2026.
Deadline
The deadline was 11:59 PM HST on July 15, 2026. Late entries were not accepted.
Entry limit
Only one entry per student was permitted. Multiple entries resulted in disqualification.
Selection method
One winner was selected through a digitally randomized drawing from all eligible entries.
Why Money Fit offers this scholarship
The Money Fit National Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students interested in pursuing a Money Fit life. Scholarship funds are intended for education-related costs, such as tuition, books, or supplies.
The application asks students to think about personal finance principles. The award is not based on a perfect grade point average, resume, or essay score. One winner is selected at random from eligible entries.
Eligibility at a glance
For the 2025-2026 contest, eligible applicants were required to be United States citizens or legal residents, reside in the United States, have permanent residence in a state listed in the rules or the District of Columbia, and meet the student requirements below.
Age and school status
- Ages 14 to 20 as of July 15, 2026.
- Enrolled in grades 9-12.
- Or enrolled full-time, with 12 or more semester credit hours, in the first or second year of college.
- Or enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program.
- Or attending a home-school program in the equivalent grades listed in the rules.
Important entry rules
- Only one entry was allowed per student.
- Incomplete, late, noncompliant, or duplicate entries could be disqualified.
- Employees of Money Fit by DRS and their family members were ineligible.
- Scholarship judges and their family members were also ineligible.
How the 2025-2026 drawing was completed
After the application period ended, Money Fit reviewed submitted entries for eligibility, removed duplicate or noncompliant submissions, and completed the random drawing.
1. Applications closed
The online application closed at 11:59 PM HST on July 15, 2026. No additional entries were accepted.
2. Entries were reviewed
Money Fit reviewed submitted entries for eligibility, completeness, compliance with the rules, and duplicate submissions.
3. The winner was selected
After eligible entries were entered into a digitally randomized drawing, Janya Cesaire was selected as the winner.
Money Fit National Scholarship Drawing General Rules
The following sections preserve the rules that governed the 2025-2026 scholarship drawing. Timing language within the rules reflects the terms in effect during the contest.
Beginning on Monday, September 1, 2025, and running through Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Money Fit by DRS will host a scholarship contest in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.
Only one entry per student is permitted. Entries that are incomplete, submitted late, do not answer all required questions, contain information other than as requested, or otherwise do not comply with these Official Rules and Regulations will be automatically disqualified.
By entering the Scholarship Contest, entrants agree that Money Fit by DRS will own and administer 100% of the copyright in all entries submitted, with the perpetual right to use such entries. These entries must be solely the work of the entrant. Money Fit by DRS may edit for grammar, modify for style, and distribute the submitted entries with no additional notification or permission from the entrant. Entries will only be used to further the educational mission and goals of Money Fit by DRS.
To enter, eligible students must access the application website and complete the survey following the Submission Guidelines. Money Fit by DRS will not accept or consider entries that are mailed or emailed. Entrants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations and to accept and be bound by the decisions of Money Fit by DRS, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters of the Contest.
The scholarship contest is open to United States citizens or legal residents who reside in the United States, have permanent residence in a state listed in Section 1, and are students no older than 20 and no younger than 14 as of the deadline of the Scholarship Contest Period.
Eligible applicants must meet one of the following school enrollment requirements:
- Attend school in the United States.
- Be enrolled in grades 9-12 or enrolled full-time, with 12 or more semester credit hours, in the first or second year of college, attending public, private, religious, or charter schools.
- Be enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program.
- Be attending a home-school program in the equivalent grades listed under the rules.
Employees of Money Fit by DRS and their family members are ineligible. Scholarship judges and their family members are also ineligible.
Each submission must include answers to the 20 multiple-choice questions and must be submitted by 11:59 PM HST on July 15, 2026. Only online submissions will be accepted for the contest. Completing all 20 questions is required. The specific answer choices do not affect chances in the random drawing.
After the Contest Period, Money Fit by DRS will use a digitally randomized program to select the prize winner. Entries will be evaluated based on eligibility. Applicants with multiple entries will be disqualified and eliminated from the drawing. The winner will be announced on the contest site on or before August 1, 2026.
Money Fit by DRS reserves the right in its sole administration of the Contest to disqualify any individual it finds or believes to be tampering with the entry process or the administration of the Contest, or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules and Regulations.
The winner will be announced on the contest site on or before August 1, 2026. The winner must provide publicity photos, contact information, and school information in order to receive prize money. The winner will receive the prize based on the selection process outlined in Section 4.
Scholarship funds are intended for education-related costs, such as tuition, books, or supplies. The $1,000 scholarship is paid within three months of announcement. Award recipients who withdraw or graduate before distribution forfeit the scholarship.
Financial education should help students ask better money questions
A scholarship can help with education costs, but the larger lesson is also worth naming. Students who learn how to think about spending, borrowing, saving, credit, and tradeoffs are better prepared for the financial choices that come with school and early adulthood.
Money Fit’s financial education work is built around practical decisions, not shame or pressure. The goal is to help students build habits that can serve them long after one application or one semester.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025-2026 application still open?
No. The application period closed at 11:59 PM HST on July 15, 2026. Late, mailed, emailed, or otherwise noncompliant entries are not accepted.
Who won the 2025-2026 Money Fit National Scholarship?
Janya Cesaire was selected as the winner. She is attending St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were required to be United States citizens or legal residents, ages 14 to 20 as of July 15, 2026, and meet the school and residence requirements in the scholarship rules.
How was the winner selected?
One winner was selected by random drawing from all eligible entries. Completing all 20 questions was required, but the specific answer choices did not affect a student’s chances in the drawing.
Could a student enter more than once?
No. Only one entry per student was permitted. Multiple entries resulted in automatic disqualification.
What can the scholarship be used for?
Scholarship funds are intended for education-related costs, such as tuition, books, or supplies.
When are scholarship funds distributed?
The $1,000 scholarship is paid within three months of the winner announcement. Award recipients who withdraw or graduate before distribution forfeit the scholarship.
When will the next application period open?
A date has not been announced. Money Fit will update this page when information about a future scholarship cycle is available.
Congratulations to Janya Cesaire
Janya has been selected as the winner of the 5th Annual Money Fit National Scholarship and will receive $1,000 for education-related expenses. The application period is closed, and information about the next scholarship cycle will be posted when available.
