By Laura Bohorquez, Mayu Takeda, and Gianna Judkins

“Being a Latina womxn, who is undocumented and unafraid, I had to apply to many scholarships to be able to achieve my educational dreams. After much self-advocacy and community support, I have been able to earn 18 scholarships towards my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington, Bothell. Earning these scholarships has taught me the power of sharing my story of self as a 1.5 generation, undocumented immigrant. My scholarship donors and my community have made an investment into my life as a scholar. Their generous donation and support has allowed me to prioritize my time, by focusing on my studies and giving forward to my community.” -Alejandra Perez, senior at University of Washington, Bothell

The fight towards education equity continues because it includes advocating across the multiple issues affecting our underrepresented communities. One of the issues is making sure that all students regardless of their multiple identities is able to go to school if they choose to. However, some of the barriers impeding that this is possible for our undocumented community is the constant rise in tuition, the lack of access to federal financial aid and the varying state laws that prohibit undocumented community members to pay in-state tuition or attend at all. Because of this schools, private entities, and organizations have continued to invest in all students and have helped countless students go to college by supporting scholarship funds.

Below please find scholarships that have an upcoming deadline and that are open to undocumented students. These scholarships are provided by either foundations, organizations, or individual donors who believe that all students should have the opportunity to compete for resources that would make their educational dreams a reality.

If you would like to include scholarships, resources, news or events in future blogs please email them to Christian Smith, Generation Progress Organizing Associate at csmith@americanprogress.org, or Laura Bohorquez, United We Dream Dream Educational Empowerment Program (DEEP) Coordinator at laura@unitedwedream.org.

We encourage you to keep updated on news, events and resources by following the Ed4all blog and the UWD DEEP resource page.

Scholarship Resources

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs



Geneseo Migrant Center – Aurelio “Larry” Jazo Migrant Scholarship (Closes on 05/15/2016)

The purpose of this scholarship is to serve as a memorial to Aurelio “Larry” Jazo, a long time migrant educator, by offering an annual award in the amount of $1,000 for post-secondary scholarship assistance to a migrant farmworker student who has a recent migration to Illinois.

Ted Rollins Eco Scholarship – Ted Rollins Award (Closes on 06/15/2016)

Ted Rollins awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to one talented student who is majoring in a field related to sustainability. This money may be used to pay for tuition, books or living expenses.

Undergraduate Programs Only

TheDream.US — Opportunity Scholarship (Closes on 6/9/16)

This scholarship is available to high school seniors or high school graduates who seek to earn a career-ready bachelor’s degree at Eastern Connecticut State University or Delaware State University. Students who are currently enrolled in college are not eligible. Please visit the site to check for your eligibility—this scholarship is limited to residents of 16 states and to students who have DACA or TPS.

10X- Digital Marketing Scholarship (Closes on 6/15/16)

10x digital awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to one talented student who is majoring in a field related to digital marketing. This money may be used to pay for tuition, books, or living expenses.

Geneseo Migrant Center – Migrant Farmworker Baccalaureate Scholarship (Closes on 7/1/16)

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support to a deserving student with a history of migrating for employment in agriculture who has successfully completed one year of college. This support will cover expenses beyond what the youth is entitled to in federal/state and other scholarship assistance. This scholarship is designed to assist the youth in obtaining a baccalaureate degree without being encumbered with substantial debt.This scholarship is made available through a generous endowment from a concerned individual for the education of children of migrant farmworkers. The donor wishes to remain anonymous. For additional information on the Fund, please e-mail, phone, or write: Mike Reho, Director, Email: mreho@gvboces.org, Phone: 800-245-568.

CAL Alumni Assocation – The Leadership Award (No deadline specified)

Established in 1934, The Leadership Award is a one-year, merit-based scholarship that recognizes undergraduate students at UC Berkeley who demonstrate innovative, initiative-driven leadership impacting their academic, work, or community environments. Students compete for the scholarship every year, ensuring a diverse and dynamic annual cohort of leaders whose work is relevant and newly inspiring.



Graduate Programs Only

Bertha Kalm Scholarship (Closes on 5/20/16)

This scholarship is the result of an endowment made by Bertha Kalm on behalf of her parents, Amanda and Charles Kalm. She established the scholarship in 1995 expressly “to support graduate students in any field of instruction, who need financial assistance to continue their education, and who demonstrate a desire to make a difference for humanity.” Awards are restricted to first-year students in a master’s degree program at SJSU. Only members of the faculty who mentor graduate students can forward the name and supporting information of an applicant. Students may not self-submit. Funds available for disbursement in this scholarship account vary from year to year, and the maximum award per student is posted after the scholarship opens. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality of scholarship that established eligibility for admission to the graduate program, a personal statement by the applicant regarding goals to be achieved by the master’s degree, and the mentor’s assessment of the applicant’s potential success. Additional consideration will be given to applicants with financial needs. There will be a maximum of one award per department or school.

UCLA:

Dr. Ursula Mandel Scholarship (Closes on 12/15/16)

Several awards of up to $15,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students in scientific fields related, allied or of value to the medical field. Applicants must have a doctorate as their degree objective. DDS, JD and MD students are not eligible.



Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship (Closes on 12/15/16)

This four-year fellowship program, funded by the University of California Office of the President, the UCLA Graduate Division, and the home department, supports a limited number of students who are entering PhD programs and are interested in a career in college or university teaching and research. The fellowship currently provides a stipend of $25,000 plus tuition and, for the first year only, nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary. Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered. Fellows may not be employed during the first year of this fellowship. During the student’s fourth year, the Graduate Division provides a second year of support at the same funding level. The student’s department is obligated to provide two or more years of equivalent support. Applicants must be nominated by their department/school. Students pursuing MD, DDS, or JD degrees are not eligible for this program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540 (eligibility for undocumented AB540 students is effective January 1, 2013). Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to participate in the program. The intent of this fellowship is to provide access to higher education for students who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to successfully pursue graduate study. Applicants should review the Eugene Cota-Robles Application Instructions and complete both the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and the Admissions Application Diversity Statement. These forms will be reviewed as part of your fellowship application.



Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP) (Closes on 12/15/16)

This one-year fellowship program provides recipients with a $20,000 stipend plus tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary). Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered. Fellows may not be employed during the tenure of this fellowship. The program supports a limited number of entering students pursuing either terminal or professional master’s degrees. Students pursuing doctoral degrees (e.g., PhD, MD, DDS, etc.) are not eligible for funding. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540 (eligibility for undocumented AB540 students is effective January 1, 2013). Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to apply. The intent of this fellowship is to provide access to higher education for students who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to successfully pursue graduate study. Applicants should review the GOFP Application Instructions and complete both the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and the Admissions Application Diversity Statement. These forms will be reviewed as part of your fellowship application. The following programs have special eligibility requirements. If financial need is one of the eligibility criteria, please also submit a copy of the web submission confirmation page of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, for U.S. citizens or permanent residents) or a copy of your UCLA Graduate Student Support Financial Statement (for international students).



Rose and Sam Gilbert Fellowship (Closes on 12/15/16)

Approximately two awards of up to $10,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students who attended UCLA as undergraduates for at least two years and participated on men’s or women’s NCAA athletic teams (intramural teams are not eligible).



Dr. Ursula Mandel Scholarship (Closes on 12/15/16)

Several awards of up to $15,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students in scientific fields related, allied or of value to the medical field. Applicants must have a doctorate as their degree objective. DDS, JD and MD students are not eligible.



Charles F. Scott Fellowship (Closes on 12/15/16)

Several awards of up to $15,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students with baccalaureates from UCLA; consideration may be given to students with baccalaureates from other UC campuses. Applicants must provide evidence that they are enrolled in a course of study that prepares them for leadership in national, state or local governmental administration.



For all of the above awards submit the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students directly to your prospective department by December 15 or by the department’s deadline for admissions. Consult your department for exceptions.

MBAs

Forte Foundation – Forte Fellows Program (No Deadline)

If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, you must first submit an MBA application to a participating school. All schools grant awards for full-time students. Part-time and executive awards are available at select schools. If you are interested in learning more about the Forté Fellowship program at any of our sponsor schools, please contact an admissions representative.

Art

Coffeeforless.com – Hit the Books Scholarship (Closes on 9/30/2016)

With 25 years as a business leader in Philadelphia, we at CoffeeForLess.com know that tough times do not just hit the banks. They hit us all, but we must never lose sight of our biggest investment in the future: the next generation of scholars and entrepreneurs. We at CoffeeForLess.com are introducing the semi-annual “Hit The Books Scholarship” as our way of helping the future leaders of the business world meet their educational goals.