El Camino High School campus
Students » Counseling » Scholarships

Scholarships

Visit the College and Career Center for scholarship information throughout the year.
 
When applying for scholarships:
  • Apply for as many scholarships as possible.

  • Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements.

  • Follow specific directions related to the scholarship application.

  • Emphasize your  academic achievements, leadership ability, exceptional talents, and community involvement.

  • Write in your own voice.

  • Convey your character, personality, values, and experiences.

  • Ask strong writers to proofread or edit your essay for structure, grammar, redundancy and logic.

  • NEVER pay a fee to apply for a scholarship. 

Use the ECHS brag sheet when requesting a letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher.

Affording College

Scholarship America's Guide on "How to Afford College" in collaboration with U.S. News & World Report. For details on each step, visit: http://www.scholarshipamerica.org
  1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    • Apply for a personal identification bumber (PIN).
    • Complete the FAFSA on the Web.
    • Fill out the FAFSA.
    • Find identification numbers.
    • Calculate total earnings and tax return amounts.
    • Follow directions.

  2. Search for scholarships.
    • Search engines
    • Resource sites
    • Social media
    • School
    • Community

  3.  Begin the application process early.
    • Be prepared.
    • Be complete.
    • Be careful.
    • Be on time.  

  4. Write a compelling essay.
    • Know your audience.
    • Plan far in advance.
    • Make it personal and passionate.
    • Find an editor.

  5. Ask for recommendation letters.
    • Choose the right person.
    • Don't wait until the last minute. 
    • Ask nicely.
    • Say thank you.

  6. Thank everyone who gives you a scholarship.
    • Get out your stationary.
    • Properly address the letter.
    • Start simple.
    • Be personal.
    • Write legibly and spell everything correctly.
    • Allow the scholarship sponsor to share your letter, if comfortable.
    • End with a simple "thank you".
    • Sign it.
Bright Minds
 
Up to $40,000 ($10,000 a year for four years)
Elligiblity:
  • High school senior
  • Diagnosed learning disability
 
Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California
 
$500 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident of Portuguese descent
  • Cumulative 3.5 GPA or above through grades 9-12
  • Three (3) extracurricular activities while in high school
 
A paper application is also available at the career center.
 
Contact Rachel Tatro at 916-396-3182 or [email protected] for more information.
 
Cal Water 
 
$2,500 to $10,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • Minimum 16-years-old
  • High school senior or graduate
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college, university, or vocational-technical school
  • Family residence within Cal Water service area
  • Children of current or former California Water Service Group, Cal Water employee, subsidiary, or board member ineligible
 
CAP Bay Area
 
Up to $5.000 a year for five years
 
Scholarship for low-income Bay Area students. CAP is a leader in empowering low-income students to succeed in college and life through personalized coaching, financial literacy training, and scholarships. 
 
Eligibility:
  • Graduating high school senior
  • Resident of San Mateo County or attending high school in San Mateo County
  • Plans to attend accredited 4-year college or university
  • Expected family contribution (EFC) below $5.000 (i.e., FAFSA or Dream Act Application)
Online application: tinyurl.com/capbayarea
 
 
eQuality Collaborative
 
$6,000 Scholarships
 
Eligibility:
  • High school seniors in Northern and Central California
  • Recent high school graduate in Northern and Central California
  • Demonstrated service to the LGBT+ community
Filipino Advocates for Justice
 
Up to $5,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • Filipino descent (full to 50% Filipino)
  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher
  • High school transcript to be mailed directly by school to the address below
  • Completion of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or parent/guardian's tax return
  • Letter of admission to accredited college or university 
Contact:
Filipino Advocates for Justice
Attention: Scholarship 
310 8th St., suite 309
Oakland, CA 94607
 
Good Tidings Foundation
 
$10,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Resident of Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo Counties
  • Willing to volunteer (2-4 hours) for Good Tidings' Winter Wonderland Toy Giveaway Program 
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college, university, community college, or vocational-technical school   
 
Horatio Alger Association
 
$25,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA
  • U.S. citizen
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university no later than fall semester following graduation
  • Critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income required)
  • Demonstrated co-curricular or community service
  • Integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity.
 
InspirASIAN
 
Fifteen $2,000 national scholarships and four $1,000 state scholarships
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Minimum unweighted cumulative 3.4 GPA
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Online application: https://inspirasian.us/programs/scholarship-program/
 
Italian Catholic Federation (ICF)
 
$400 scholarship with chance to win $500, $600, and $1,000 in successive years
 
Eligibility:
 
  • High school senior of Italian descent (waived if parents are Roman Catholic and member of (ICF)
  • Of Roman Catholic faith
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.2
 
 
Contact: 1-888-423-1924
 
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) 
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Active national JACL members (individual or Student/Youth level)
  • Involvement in Japanese/Asian American community
Online application or JACL membership: https://jacl.org/scholarships
 
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
 
$2,500 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Japanese descent
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Demonstrated involvement in local community
 
OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) San Mateo
 
$1,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • Asian Pacific American identity
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university
  • Financial need 
  • Demonstrated community service or volunteerism
  • Leadership and creativity
  • SAT scores and/or GPA
Online application: http://www.ocasanmateo.org
 
PB&J
 
$500 to $1,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • ECHS High school senior
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university
Online application: http://bit.ly/pbjscholars2020
 
PFLAG (Parents, Families, Friends, LGBTQ People and Allies United for Equality)
 
$6,000 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Resident of Santa Clara or San Mateo counties or attendee of Santa Clara or San Mateo County high school
  •  Demonstrated support for justice and equality for LGBTQ+ persons
 
Quest Bridge
 
Four-year scholarships worth more than $200,000 to top colleges through early admission with opportunities for financial aid
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Rank in top 5-10% of class
  • Score >1310 on the SAT or >28 on the ACT (if taken)
  • Critical financial need ($65,000 or lower adjusted gross family income required) 
  • Among first in family to attend four-year college or university
Online application: https://www.questbridge.org/
 
San Bruno Community Foundation 
 
$20,000 ($5,000 a year for four years)*
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university
  • San Bruno resident
  • Completion of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application for AB 540 students
 
*Graduating seniors who enroll at a community college will receive $5,000 ($2,500 a year for two years).
 
Contact: 650-763-0775 or [email protected]
 
San Francisco State University
 
More than 700 campus and external scholarship opportunities available. Apply to each scholarship separately based on eligibility requirements. 
 
 
SFSU Resources:
  • Fellowships Office provides assistance in applying for nationally competitive fellowships and CSU as well as systemwide awards: fellowships.sfsu.edu
  • Campus Academic Resource Program helps students write scholarship essays. Call 415-405-0316 carp.sfsu.edu 
  • Students Enrichment Opportunities Office provides funding, academic support, and research experience to students from underrepresented groups interested in biomedical careers: seo.sfsu.edu
  •  Undocumented student resources: https://immigrantsrising.org 
 
San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association
 
$3,500, $2,500, and $1,500 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Plans to pursue legal career
  • 750 word essay with student's name, address, telephone number, and high school describing rationale for choosing this career path.
 
San Mateo Credit Union
 
Two $5,000 scholarships for high school seniors
 
Eligibility:
  • Scholarships for high school seniors and graduates who took a gap year and are enrolling in a college or technical school for the first time.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Unofficial transcript and SAT/ACT scores (if applicable)
Online application: smcu.org/scholarships
 
Application includes 500 word essay about a time when they helped someone in need and explain how creating a culture of giving impacts one's community, school, or family.
   
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
 
Eligibility:
  • High school sophomore, junior, or senior
  • Female
  • Plans to study engineering or computer science in college
Online application: https://swe.org/scholarships/
 
Sons of Italy Western Foundation
 
Academic scholarship for high school seniors and Italian language study grants for high school seniors studying in Italy for the summer
 
Eligibility:
  • Wholly or partially of Italian decent
  • Applicant MUST BE enrolled accredited trade school, college, university, or community college
 
Student Insights
 
Random drawing with chance to win $5,000, $1,000, or $500 scholarship
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Plans to attend accredited 2-year or 4-year university, community college, or trade school
  • Complete 15-20 minute survey
  • No minimum SAT/ACT score
  • No minimum GPA
  • No essay
Online application: http://www.student-view.com/
 
Youth on Course
 
25 scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $20,000 distributed over four years
 
Eligibility:
  • High school senior
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Accepted for enrollment at 4-year college or university.
  • Youth on Course membership
Online application and membership information: https://youthoncourse.org/scholarships/

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