Financial Aid Scholarships

It takes time and energy to conduct a successful scholarship search, but it is well worth the effort when you are awarded a scholarship to help fund your higher education.

The best ways to find scholarships:

• Check with your high school counselor
• Check with your parent’s employer or organizations with which they are affiliated
• Check with organizations and businesses within your community
• Check with your college or university financial aid and/or scholarship office
• Surf the web

Types of Scholarships

Merit Based Scholarships: Awards based on academic performance and personal achievement.

Merit plus Need Scholarships: Awards based on academic performance, personal achievement, and financial need.

Private Scholarships: Awards based on criteria set by a private, non-affiliated organization or individual.

Institutional Scholarships: Awards based on criteria set by the college or university. These awards can be merit based or plus need based.

Be Cautious of Scholarship Scams

The following are signs of a possible scholarship scam:

• If you are required to pay money to get a scholarship
• If you are guaranteed win a scholarship
• If they say, “everyone is eligible” or “free money”
• If you are contacted for a scholarship you never applied for
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Get more information on scholarship scams.

Scholarship Application Timelines

Applying for many scholarships can be done during any time of the year. However, different awards have different deadlines. For institutional awards, the deadlines are typically early Spring. You should check with your college or university to see what their established deadline is. Regardless, if you are late applying for an award one year, you should note the award and make every effort to reapply next year.

Tips for marketing yourself for a scholarship

Develop a great personal statement or essay

The essay is your ultimate communication tool-make a great impression. Think about this question: What makes you worthy of an investment as a student? Proofread, rewrite, and seek peer reviewers (writing is a process).

Develop a great academic transcript

Consistent academic performance is a good sign. A solid GPA is desirable for most scholarships. A bad semester or year is not the end of the world—If you have overcome challenges, explain that in your personal statement. Otherwise, your application will be confusing to the evaluator.

Demonstrate evidence of leadership or service

Submit documentation of leadership, service, or character. Explain your situation and add flavor as to who you are as a person and aspiring student. Connect your personal story with your career or educational goal.

• CFF Foundation Education Award ($1,500 one-time)
  Deadline: applications accepted year-round, 1 student awarded each quarter
  • Cocodrie Fly Fishing (CFF) aims to give advice and tips on how you can have the ultimate fly fishing experience. Whether you are a beginner or pro, our courses and tips can help you hone your skills. CFF is proud to offer quarterly awards to university and college students!
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • be currently enrolled in a college or university.
    • students of all majors are encouraged to apply!
    • submit an essay and submit application on the website.
  • For more detailed information, please visit the scholarship link.
• LA Tutors 123 Innovation in Education Scholarship ($500 one-time)
  Deadline: 20th of each month
  • We at LA Tutors are passionate about sparking the creative genius in students and would love to commend those outstanding students who have a made a difference in the lives of others in some innovative or technological fashion. In order to achieve this, we have established a scholarship for students who meet certain criteria.
  • The application opens the 1st of each month, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on the 20th of each month.
  • To participate, applicants should:
    • be enrolled as a high school or college/university student.
    • have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or the equivalent).
    • have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others (This could be a website, series of blogs, an app, fundraising event, etc.)
    • submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.

Harold J. West Memorial Scholarship

• Deadline: April 15, 2024 by 11:59 p.m.
• Free $2,500 college scholarship
• $2,500/year renewable scholarship for parents attending or wanting to attend college full-time while working part-time.
• Scholarship Information
  • The Harold J. West Memorial Scholarship aims to minimize the financial burden for parents working to obtain a college degree. The scholarship was established in memory of Harold West, who struggled to find the balance of being a parent, a student, and an employee in his earlier years. Ultimately, his tireless work ethic and positive approach to life not only shaped his success over the course of his career but was an inspiration to those who bore witness to it.
  • The scholarship’s goal is to inspire the next generation of individuals who may find themselves in a similar struggle – striking that difficult balance between family priorities and the ambition to succeed. To that end, the Harold J. West Memorial Scholarship is pleased to award a $2,500 annual scholarship each year for up to four years as long as a 3.2 GPA and full-time student status is maintained.
• Eligibility
  • Open to all majors & ethnicities
  • Must have a child(ren) (marital status irrelevant)
  • Have to be working part time during college – minimum 24 hours
  • Have a minimum cumulative unweighted high school or college GPA of 3.2
  • Attends or plans to attend a University of California(UC), Cal State University(CSU), or community college in Southern California in pursuit of an associate or bachelor’s degree
  • Household income below the county low income level
  • Must be enrolled full-time in college or be a high school senior who plans to enroll
  • Applies to any school expense, including tuition, textbooks, or school housing (if eligible)
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Application (only online applications are accepted)
  • Online application form
  • High School or College Transcripts
  • Family Photo
• Apply online: HJW Memorial Scholarship — Asian Pacific Community Fund (apcf.org)

Matt Fong AAPF Scholarship

• Deadline: April 15, 2024
• The Asian Americans in Public Finance (AAPF) is proud to sponsor the Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship for college students in California interested in a career serving the public sector.
• The Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship honors the memory of former California State Treasurer Matt Fong, for his dedication to public service, active involvement in state politics, and direct impact he had opening opportunities for Asian Americans in the public finance industry.
• Two scholarships will be awarded ($5,000/each). This scholarship is being administered by the Asian Pacific Community Fund on behalf of the AAPF.
• Eligibility:
  • Grade level: Full-time undergraduate at a four year college/university (in the state of California) in 2024-25
  • Ethnic heritage: Asian heritage (at least 50%)
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Major: Social Science, Accounting, Business Administration, or related fields
  • Preference given to those with interest in public sector work or those with community service and community advocacy
• Application checklist:
  • Application Form
  • Transcript
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • Online interview (to be scheduled if selected as finalist)
• Application Process
• AAPF:  https://www.apcf.org/matt-fong-aapf-scholarship-open

The 2024 Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund

• Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
• $75,000 in Renewable Scholarships
• Ten $7500 Scholarships Available for High School Seniors and 1^st Year College Students Planning to Attend College as a Full-Time, Degree – Seeking Student in the fall of 2024
• Scholarship Information:
  • The Taiwanese American Scholarship Fund (TASF) focused on helping economically challenged Taiwanese American youth fulfill their dreams of obtaining higher education. The scholarship is open to high school seniors planning to attend college in the fall of 2024 and first-year college students continuing their education in the fall of 2024.
• Eligibility:
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (holder of a permanent Resident Card) AND direct blood descendant of a Taiwanese citizen
  • High School seniors or first-year college student residing in the United States
  • Plan to attend a university or college as a first- or second-year student in the fall of 2024 (if selected, must submit college acceptance letter for verification)
  • A minimum cumulative unweighted high school/college GPA of 3.0
  • Demonstrated financial need for the scholarship (must be able to show 2022 or 2023 tax return should applicant be selected for award)
  • Open to ALL MAJORS
• Applicant Requirements:
  • Applicant Form
  • Three References
  • High School Transcript
• The scholarship awards will only be used to cover the cost of tuition for attending a college/university. What is considered cost of tuition varies by institution.
• Apply Now: For more information and to apply please visit: www.tascholarshipfund.org
• All materials must be RECEIVED by 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2024. Anything received (whether mailed, emailed, or faxed) past that date and time will not be considered, regardless of postmark.
• Questions or Inquires? Contact by phone: (213) 624-6400 ext. 6. Contact by email L kfan@apcf.org

NOCCCD Black Faculty & Staff Scholarship Spring 2024

• Application Deadline: April 15, 2024, at 5 p.m.
• Six (6) $350 scholarships to be awarded!
• This fund is established to help underrepresented students continue their education.
• Scholarship Requirements
  • A resident of the state of California
  • A member of an underrepresented student population
  • All majors eligible
  • 12 or more units completed at Cypress, Fullerton, or NOCE (North Orange Continuing Education) and enrolled at least part-time for spring 2024
  • 2.5 GPA or higher. Submit official or unofficial transcript
  • Letter of recommendation from a Cypress, Fullerton, or NOCE faculty/staff member
  • Must have a goal of transferring to a four-year college or university and/or completion of a Certificate (CTE) program of study.
• Apply via form: Black Faculty & Staff Association Scholarship Application (Spring 2024)
• All supplemental documents must be sent to Dr. Queen Peterson at qpeterson@fullcoll.edu and Dr. Arnette Edwards at aedwards@fullcoll.edu.