The San Diego Foundation opened scholarship applications with $3.5 million available for local college students.
Students may access nearly 150 unique scholarships through the Common Scholarship Application through March 8, 2023, including those for four-year universities, two-year colleges, graduate and vocational schools. Graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students, and adult re-entry school students are eligible to apply.
“When we support historically under-resourced college students, we’re fostering equity of opportunity in San Diego and supporting the local talent pipeline that builds our region’s workforce,” said Danielle Valenciano, Director of the SDF Community Scholarship Program in a news release. “Research shows that scholarships reduce students’ work and debt burden, making them more likely to graduate from college and to do so on time.”
According to the nonprofit, the scholarship was made possible by the San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship Program and Community Scholars Initiative, which give more San Diego Students the tools and financial support to continue their education. The program is made possible through donor support of 146 unique charitable funds at the San Diego Foundation.
The Community Scholars Initiative works with local college access organizations to help low-income and first-generation students prepare for, pay for and persist through college.
Last year, the nonprofit organization reported awarding of more than $3.5 million in college scholarships to 989 local students, 69% of which are first-generation college students, or the first in their immediate families, in the 2022-2023 academic year. The San Diego Foundation reported that 93% of the scholarship recipients were considered low-income per their Earned Family Contribution data.
