All scholarship details are current as of September 15, 2023. Students are encouraged to review the information below and also review the most current information through the Foundation for California Community Colleges here: https://foundationccc.org/our-work/system-support/providing-financial-assistance-and-scholarships/educating-for-change-scholarship/
For the 2023-24 academic year, the application deadline is October 9, 2023.
Supporting incarceration-impacted students.
The Educating for Change Scholarship, made possible through a generous gift from Dr. Joseph Bick and Ms. Stephanie Koop, provides financial support to California Community College students who have a parent incarcerated in a prison administered by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
The scholarship amount per student will be up to $1,000 per academic term. Scholarships may be used to cover education related costs, including but not limited to tuition and fees, books and other instructional materials, computer equipment, internet access, educational tools, and uniforms. Funds will be awarded twice a year based on verification of student enrollment.
Student Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicants must be either:
- (1) A high school senior who plans to attend a California Community College; OR
- (2) A student currently enrolled in a California Community College
2. At the time of application, applicants must have a parent in a prison administered by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
- The definition of parent includes biological or adoptive parent, step-parent, foster parent, or legal guardian
3. Prior to disbursement of scholarship funds, the student must provide proof of enrollment in a California Community College for at least 12 units or maintain an alternate full-time equivalent status
Application Deadline
For the 2023-24 academic year, the application deadline is October 9, 2023.
Application Process
Students will submit their application and all supporting documentation directly to FoundationCCC via the secure online platform Submittable (Opens in a new window). FoundationCCC will verify and confirm that all eligibility requirements are met. All eligible students who submit an application by the deadline will be considered for a scholarship.
FoundationCCC will use a randomized selection process to select the scholarship recipients from the total pool of eligible applicants. The number of scholarships awarded will be based on the amount of funding available for each academic year.
Applicants who are selected to receive an award must provide documentation of enrollment in at least 12 units or an alternate full-time equivalent status prior to release of funds for each academic term. Once a recipient’s enrollment status has been verified, FoundationCCC will disburse funds to the appropriate college, which will disburse funds to the student.
For additional information, including the application process timeline, refer to the Scholarship Guidelines in the Resources Section below.