Funding Your Future
There are many ways to finance your academic journey and expand your skillset along the way. We can help you find the key scholarship and real-world experience opportunities that will help you reach your goals. Explore the scholarships, internships, general financial support resources, and AB540 resources we have amassed for you here, and contact Estella Acuna for further assistance.
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Bracero Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship was created in memory of Eusebio Sanchez honoring María de los Ángeles Sánchez, sponsored by the Ramirez familia. In partnership with UCR Chicano Student Programs and Chicano Latino Alumni, the Ramirez familia founded this scholarship to assist and uplift scholars who are farmworkers or children of farmworkers, formerly or currently unhoused, undocumented, and Chicano/Latino students.
For application information, please stop by the Chicano Student Programs office in Costo Hall, visit the following application link.
Deadline: Monday, April 24th, 2023
Chicano Educational and Cultural Fund (CECF), Inc. Scholarships, Grants and Loans
The CECF has a grant and loan assistance program that helps support the academic goals of UCR students, staff, and faculty. Its scholarship program also awards financial support while recognizing outstanding UCR students active in the Chicano/Latino campus community.
Grant awards are available in the amount of $150 to those participating in workshops or events related to the Chicano/Latino Community, connected to career opportunities, or graduate student preparation seminars offered through the Academic Resource Center. The benefactor must submit a report or give a presentation about the event attended at a CECF board meeting. Print a CECF grant application.
Dr. Manuela and Mr. Randy Sosa Scholarship Fund Endowment
Dr. Manuela and Mr. Randy Sosa Scholarship Fund Endowment will award $500, $1000, and $1500 scholarships to Hispanic students planning to attend a college or university in the fall. Scholarships are available to all Inland Empire and Riverside Hispanic students who are currently high school seniors or students currently enrolled as full-time in a college or university; graduate students included. Applications are accepted between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1. US citizenship is not required
For application information, please stop by the Chicano Student Programs office in Costo Hall, email info@iesfonline.org, or visit this resource page.
MEChA Alumni Scholarship
The MEChA Alumni Association has established a scholarship fund to recognize the academic and community achievement of students who promote “Chicanismo,” a concept that “integrates self-awareness with cultural identity [and includes all] those who acknowledge and work toward the betterment of La Raza.”
The MEChA Alumni Association awards five scholarships of $500 each to multiple types of students including high school and transfer students planning on attending UCR, those currently enrolled at UCR, and different types of students who identify as undocumented, DACAmented, or AB540. Each applicant must meet specific GPA and other requirements. Please email Estella Acuna for more details.
Poder Scholarships
Student organization PODER creates a safe environment for students who identify as undocumented/AB 540. It also holds the responsibility to educate fellow students, youth, the Riverside community and faculty at all educational levels, about laws that allow undocumented students to continue their education.
Each year, PODER (with support from generous donors such as UCR Alumni, Ofelia Valdez Yeager) offers scholarships to students who identify as AB 540, do not qualify for federal or financial aid, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and demonstrate community involvement. For application procedures and deadline, please see the Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Scholarship application.
Tomás Rivera Teachers' Association Scholarship
The Tomás Rivera Teachers Association Scholarship keeps Tomás Rivera’s legacy alive by awarding scholarships to future Inland Empire educators committed to the Chicano Latino community.
A collaboration between Chicano Student Programs and the UCR School of Education, $700 scholarships are awarded to full-time UCR undergraduates in their senior year who have received conditional admittance into the SOE teaching credential program OR current SOE teaching credential students who demonstrate a commitment to service to the Chicano Latino communities and their home community.
Deadline: Monday, April 24th, 2023
UC Regent Ramirez Scholarship
Dr. Marcela Ramirez-Stapleton, former UC Student Regent and UCR alumni, has established a student scholarship program to recognize the academic and community achievements of Chicanx/Latinx students at the University of California, Riverside.
Students are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, financial need, and demonstrated service of the Chicanx/Latinx campus community. The award will be dispersed Spring 2023. Deadline: Monday, April 24th at 4pm, PST.
For application information, please stop by the Chicano Student Programs office in Costo Hall, visit the following application link.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
Actuarial Foundation Scholarships for Minority Students
The Actuarial Diversity Scholarship promotes diversity through an annual scholarship program for Black/African American, Hispanic and Native North American students. The scholarship award recognizes and encourages academic achievements of full-time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree that may lead to a career in the actuarial profession.
American Political Science Association: Minority Scholar Resources
These lists cover a limited collection of public and private funding resources and opportunities for scholarships, fellowships, internships, awards, grants, dissertation assistance and more, for minorities, women, and members of other marginalized groups.
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
Black Excel Minority Scholarships List
This Free Scholarship List, created by Black Excel, and features over 1,000 scholarships.
http://www.blackexcel.org/200-Scholarships.html
California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) Scholarships
The CCNMA Scholarships, including the Joel Garcia Memorial Scholarship and the Frank del Olmo Memorial Scholarship, are awarded annually to qualified Chicano/Latino students who are planning to pursue a career in journalism. To receive notification for the next round of scholarships, sign up for the mailing list or contact:ccnmainfo@ccnma.org.
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports over 1,400 college students each year with annual scholarships of $3.4 million through two nationally recognized programs on behalf of the Coca-Cola system.
http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/
Gates Millennium Scholarships (GMS)
Each year 1,000 talented Gates scholars receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. The program’s goals include reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise and significant financial need; as well as increasing the representation of these groups in the fields of computer sciences, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, and all sciences in general.
For students entering college for the first time in the fall of 2012, the Gates Millennium Scholarship application process is now open. The deadline for all submissions is January 11, 2012.
HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities)
HACU offers internships, scholarships, college retention and advancement programs, pre-collegiate support, and career development opportunities and programs for Hispanic students.
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Scholarships.asp
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading Hispanic scholarship organization, providing the Hispanic community with more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. HSF works to address barriers that keep many Chicanos/Latinos from earning a college degree. In addition to scholarship opportunities for deserving Chicano/Latino students, it offers a broad range of outreach and educational programming to help students and their families navigate through the rigors of college life.
HSF/College Access Foundation Inland Empire Scholars Program
The HSF/College Access Foundation Inland Empire Scholarship Program provides 36 UCR students from the Inland Empire a $3,000 scholarship for four years. Students receive support services aimed at retention to ensure that they persist and graduate with a BA degree. HSF serves as the project coordinator and the University provides direct services to the students. CSP provides academic, social, cultural and educational programs and events.All recipients also join the HSF Scholars Chapter at UCR.
For application information, please contact Estella Acuña at 951-827-3822 or estella.acuna@ucr.edu
IEFA: International Education Financial Aid and Scholarships
IEFA is a resource for finding financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for those US and international students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find a comprehensive college scholarship search and grant list plus international student loan programs and other information to promote study abroad.
IES Abroad Diversity Scholarships
IES Abroad offers four diversity scholarships for those who want to study abroad and are from under-represented groups including racial and ethnic groups, the first generation to attend college, from low-income families, and students with a history of overcoming adversity.
https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Scholarships_and_Aid/Diversity_Scholarships/diversityAid.html
Latino College Dollars
The website is an initiative of the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute and an invaluable source for scholarship information for Latino students. The site provides a tutorial on scholarships and financial aid, and includes links to hundreds of scholarships and financial aid options.
http://www.latinocollegedollars.org/
LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) National Scholarship Fund
Local LULAC Councils, in partnership with local and national businesses, award scholarships to deserving students in their communities. Other funds are also administered through the LULAC National Education Service Center, such as GE Fund and GM Fund Scholarships.
http://lulac.org/programs/education/scholarships/
MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund)
MALDEF empowers members of the Chicano/Latino community to enter the mainstream of American political and socioeconomic life. Their site provides information on immigration, employee rights, voting rights, education and leadership programs. The organization publishes an invaluable scholarship resource guide that contains a wealth of scholarships including general, career-based, women-specific, university-specific and those that do inquire about citizenship nor require a social security number. MALDEF also offers a Law School Scholarship Program for qualified students who show financial need, academic potential and a commitment to the Chicano/Latino Community.
Mexican-American Engineers & Scientists (MAES) Scholarship Program
The purpose of the MAES Scholarship Program is to increase the number of Hispanic students completing their higher education goals. Student Excellence Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to MAES student members in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The scholarship applicants are selected on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, leadership, community service, personal qualities, and completeness of application.
National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)
The NAHJ offers scholarships, internships, fellowships and workshops for Chicano/Latino Students pursuing careers in journalism and media. For more information, please contact: nahj@nahj.org
The Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF)
HEEF serves students who live in Orange County only. HEEF provides multiple scholarships for local students, from many organizations.
Resources include competitive academic scholarships for OC high school and community college transfers who enroll at a four-year college or university, tuition grants for OC graduates to attend community college, and the Luevano Fund awards that grant tuition for elementary students at selected Santa Ana Catholic grammar schools. The OC Hispanic Bar Association also awards several scholarships for OC college graduates hoping to attend law school.
http://www.heef.org/scholarships/
Poder Scholarship
Student organization PODER creates a safe environment for students who identify as AB 540. It also holds the responsibility to educate fellow students, youth, the Riverside community and faculty at all educational levels, about laws that allow undocumented students to continue their education.
Each year, PODER offers its Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Scholarship to students who identify as AB540, do not qualify for federal or financial aid, have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and demonstrate community involvement. For application procedures and deadline, please see the Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Scholarship application.
https://www.facebook.com/poderatucriverside
Roybal Foundation Scholarships and Scholarship Guide
The office staff of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard of California’s 34th District provides resources for students, including a scholarship guide that includes Roybal Foundation scholarships.
http://roybal-allard.house.gov/Students/
Salvadorean American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF)
SALEF is dedicated to promoting civic participation and representation of and within members of. SALEF also promotes giving back to the community and annually awards scholarships to students actively giving back to their the Salvadoran and Latin communities.
Xerox Technical Scholarships for Minorities
Xerox’s Technical Minority Scholarship awards between $1,000 and $10,000 to qualified minorities enrolled in a technical degree program at the bachelor level or above.
http://www.xeroxstudentcareers.com/why-xerox/scholarship.aspx
INTERNSHIPS
American Political Science Association: Minority Scholar Resources
These lists cover a limited collection of public and private funding resources and opportunities for scholarships, fellowships, internships, awards, grants, dissertation assistance and more, for minorities, women, and members of other marginalized groups.
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Congressional Internship Program (CIP)
The purpose of the CIP is to expose young Latinos to the legislative process and to strengthen their professional and leadership skills, ultimately promoting the presence of Latinos on Capitol Hill. CHCI offers three internship sessions each year that offer Chicano/Latino college students job opportunities in congressional offices on Capitol Hill. For college graduates, they offer unique fellowship opportunities in Washington, D.C., at congressional offices and federal agencies focusing on public policy in areas critical to the United States. They also offer scholarships for high school students and provide educational resources online.
HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) National Internship Program
HACU offers undergraduate and graduate students summer and semester-long paid internships at federal agencies and private corporations in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country. These 10 and 15-week internship programs allow college students to gain professional development experience that will enable them to make career choices. This program provides more than 600 internship opportunities annually, with nearly 40 federal agencies and major corporations.
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/HNIP.asp
Hispanic Heritage Foundation Internship and LOFT
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Hispanic College Fund [ANCHOR TO HISPANIC COLLEGE FUND], has created Latinos On Fast Track, or LOFT, to "systematically identify, prepare and place emerging Latino professionals in industry-specific jobs to bolster the Latino management presence in America's workforce."
National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)
The NAHJ offers scholarships, internships, fellowships and workshops for Chicano/Latino Students pursuing careers in journalism and media. For more information, please contact: nahj@nahj.org
GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT RESOURCES
Blue and Gold Opportunity PlanCalifornia residents whose families will earn less than $80,000 for the 2011-12 academic year will have their UC system-wide fees covered by grants and scholarships from UC or other sources if they qualify for need-based financial aid. UCR’s Financial Aid Office can answer any questions you might have about the program.
College Board: Pay for College
College Board promotes excellence and equity in education at K–12 programs and higher education institutions, and by providing students with a path to college opportunities, including financial support and scholarships.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/index.html
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid is an office of the U.S. Department of Education that ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally-funded financial assistance for education beyond high school.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center is a national nonprofit and an excellent resource for a broad range of information on immigration issues. It offers training opportunities, seminars, advice, policy, and bilingual services.
LatinoGraduate.net
This is the website for the Latino Scholastic Achievement Corporation, an educational nonprofit sponsored by Disney. It includes scholarship information and advice on getting accepted and finishing college as well as links to scholarship sites and search engines.
https://www.latinosinhighered.com/
SallieMae College Answer: The Planning for College Destination
This site helps you get a head start on preparing for the world of continuing education. You'll find pointers on the entire process from preparation to getting loans. College Answer also has interactive tools that enable you to analyze the affordability of schools, compare financial aid award letters and search for scholarships.
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
Southwest Travel Award Program
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Southwest Airlines regularly accept applications for their travel award program. Round-trip airline tickets will be given to students with socioeconomic needs for travel to college.
http://www.hacu.net/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&Forms_FormTypeID=-156
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
California residents whose families will earn less than $80,000 for the 2011-12 academic year will have their UC system-wide fees covered by grants and scholarships from UC or other sources if they qualify for need-based financial aid. UCR’s Financial Aid Office can answer any questions you might have about the program.
College Board: Pay for College
College Board promotes excellence and equity in education at K–12 programs and higher education institutions, and by providing students with a path to college opportunities, including financial support and scholarships.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/index.html
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid is an office of the U.S. Department of Education that ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally-funded financial assistance for education beyond high school.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center is a national nonprofit and an excellent resource for a broad range of information on immigration issues. It offers training opportunities, seminars, advice, policy, and bilingual services.
LatinoGraduate.net
This is the website for the Latino Scholastic Achievement Corporation, an educational nonprofit sponsored by Disney. It includes scholarship information and advice on getting accepted and finishing college as well as links to scholarship sites and search engines.
https://www.latinosinhighered.com/
SallieMae College Answer: The Planning for College Destination
This site helps you get a head start on preparing for the world of continuing education. You'll find pointers on the entire process from preparation to getting loans. College Answer also has interactive tools that enable you to analyze the affordability of schools, compare financial aid award letters and search for scholarships.
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp
Southwest Travel Award Program
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Southwest Airlines regularly accept applications for their travel award program. Round-trip airline tickets will be given to students with socioeconomic needs for travel to college.
http://www.hacu.net/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&Forms_FormTypeID=-156