Eligibility Requirements

In order to apply for the SAI Scholarship, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1.     Hispanic as defined by the Federal Register: "Directive 15: Race and Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting" that defined a Hispanic to be "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race" (p. 19269) (This is determined by the information included in the application and whether the applicant identifies with an Hispanic culture)

2.     Live in Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo (roughly covering the area of the Cal- Pac Conference in the Southern California area). (Residency will be determined by the address included in the application)

3.     Attending or will attend an accredited community college, 4 year college or university or vocational program as a full time student in the next academic school year for the first degree or program.

4.     Full-time enrollment (minimum 12 units per semester) in a regular degree program is required.

5.     Has a minimum required cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in high school and/or college

6.     Complete the SAI application process

• Scholarship applicants do not need to be US Citizens. Permanent residents or undocumented students will will be considered. The desire is that undocumented students be AB540.      
• Graduate and PhD candidates are not eligible for SAI scholarships.      
• An individual may receive only one SAI scholarship.     

Required Documents

Completing and submitting the SAI application on-line (which also contains space for the required 500 word essay) and two letters of recommendation must be emailed by application deadline date are required to apply for the SAI Scholarship:

The following supplemental documents must be available upon request by the SSC:

• Copies of official high school and/or college transcripts
•  FAFSA report or Federal Income Tax Returns of parents and/or students for year applying
  
  

Guidance on Documents Requested

500 Word Essay

The essay should be no more than two pages, double spaced typed, 12 font. The topic should cover why it is important to the applicant to graduate from college. The essay should also include challenges, life obstacles, role models, short and long term goals.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendations can be from teachers, coaches, community members, pastors, employers, and even family members who will attest to the applicant’s character, passion, drive, potential and accomplishments to date. 

Transcripts

If the applicant is a high school student, s/he should have high school transcripts for all four years.  If the high school student has taken college courses, then it is recommended that s/he obtain transcripts for the college work.

If applicant is in the first year of college after high school or after receiving a GDE, s/he should have high school transcripts for all 4 years plus for all college courses taken. 

If s/he has completed more than 1 year of college as a full time student, high school transcripts are not required, only college transcripts of all college classes taken.  If s/he is returning back to college after less than 4 years, transcripts of all college classes taken are required.  If s/he is returning back to college after more than 4 years, no college transcripts are required.

Applicants must have copies of transcripts of all school work as required above available to send upon request by the Student Services Committee.

If the applicant does not have the minimum 2.5 GPA, copies of transcripts of all school work as required above must be sent with the application with an explanation with compelling reasons why the grades are below a 2.5 GPA.  (They may be single parent raising a family, working full time and going to school.   Perhaps they have a learning disability. Or maybe their first two years were a disaster and pulled their average down, but their last two years were significantly better. )

Financial information 

The applicant’s financial information can be obtained by going to the free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website: www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Applicants must have the FAFSA report available to send upon request by the Student Services Committee.

If the applicant cannot apply for any federal student aid, and is a dependent student, then copies of the parent’s Federal tax information or tax returns should be available to send upon request by the Student Services Committee. If the applicant is not a dependent student, then only the student’s Federal tax information or tax returns should be available.