AB 540 Scholarship Resource Guides:
Animo, financing your college education is in your hands!
Animo, el financiamiento de tus estudios universitarios esta en tus manos!
To Our Students, Parents & Educators:
Student fees in California's public colleges and universities each vary by institution:
- Annual Junior College/Community College Fees: $700
- California State University Fees: $4000
- University of California Fees: $7542
The main reason why most AB540 students are unable to enroll into the Cal State or University of California school systems is because they don't' apply to the numerous AB540 scholarship opportunities.
As a result, we put together a broad list of resources that you can personally contact or apply to for scholarships.
Scholarship Resources
Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund:
The Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund gathered numerous scholarship opportunities available across the US and compiled the results into a helpful resource guide. The awards in the guide specifically mention whether or not each award applies to AB 540 youth. Scholarships available on the list are mainly monetary awards, however, one scholarship pays for the cost of air travel.
Salvadorian American Leadership Education Fund:
SALEF, known as the Salvadorian American Leadership and Education Fund, awards a variety of scholarships specifically for Latino and Salvadorian American youth preparing to enroll into a college after high school. AB 540 students are eligible for the scholarship opportunities that range between $500-$2500 and are eligible for the following awards:
- Health Career Scholarship
- Two Nineteen Scholarships are specifically for AB540 students attending a Community College in California. These scholarships are renewable as long as recipients maintain a minimum GPA.
- Community Service Four-Year Scholarship provides financial assistance to selected scholars for four consecutive years, as long as they maintain a 3.0 GPA. Four-year scholars are selected from the current years' awardees. No additional application required.
Father Rutilio Grande Scholarship is specifically offered to students interested in the fields of Theology, Philosophy, Religious studies and/or an emphasis in Cultural Studies, Environmental Studies or Social Justice.
A.R.E Scholarship Fund for Undocumented Students:
The Association of Raza Educators Scholarship was established to assist graduating AB540 and undocumented students from low income families. The scholarship is specifically for LAUSD or surrounding Charter School students in Los Angeles.
The Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and a group of sponsors published a national scholarship resource guide for AB 540 students as well for US residents and U.S Citizens. The PDF resource guide breaks down the award opportunities into various student categories. However, the Latino College Dollars website allows students to include general personal information in order to retrieve a roster of scholarships opportunities. The PDF resource guide also provides brief descriptions of the financial aid opportunities available in the U.S system of higher education for students, parents and educators.
Paying for College Student Resource Guide:
By courtesy of US Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, this helpful resource includes scholarship, internship, fellowships, books and website resources that assist students with the process of paying and enrolling into college. The resource guide includes fewer than ten scholarship opportunities for AB 540 students and updates are made annually to make sure students have access to the latest services available to varied student populations.
Scholarships for Hispanics was launched to promote Latinos professional interests in the field of publishing. This web resource has grown and now includes scholarship resources for Latinos interested in a variety of majors. Keep in mind that you are asked by the website to make a log in name and password. This log in name allows you to see the scholarship opportunities available for AB 540 students as well as US Citizens and residents.
Futuros Educational Services: Scholarship List
In addition to providing AB 540 college consulting services and workshops, the Futuros Educational Services network provides a scholarship resource guide last updated in 2006.
Fast Web allows AB 540 students to search for scholarship opportunities by answering a short list of questions. The student is presented with a list of eligible scholarship opportunities and deadlines.
Loans
GreenNote is an innovative new company that was built to help students obtain loans for education via social networking rather than through traditional lending methods.
Using the GreenNote online platform, students connect with their social network-friends, family, friends of family, community leaders and others-to ask for small student loans. GreenNote helps formalize everything into legally binding loans and handles all the details from loan documentation to repayment plans.
The benefits are significant. Students gain access to low-cost loans, currently at 6.8% compared to private lending alternatives that typically range from 8.5% to 20%. The lenders also earn a return on their money while helping a student get an education.
Support Services
The College & Financial Aid Guide for: AB540 Undocumented Immigrant Students
The Univesity of Southern California Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis along with a group of scholars and AB 540 advocacy organizations arranged a financial aid guide for students, parents and educators. This guide was the first of its kind and is easily accessible in Spanish and English. Counselors and educators should reference the guide in order to advise and guide students as they begin their high school college plans.
Futuros Educational Services:
College advising is the primary purpose of Futuros. The organization advices low-income and AB 540 students on the various actions youth must take in order to prepare for college. The services offered by Futuros guide the students through the application process and helps them apply for financial aid. The objective is to make sure that students lacking college readiness resources are college-ready and successfully navigate through higher education process. Futuros also understands the difficulty AB 540 students face to find money for college. AB 540 students are guided through the process of developing an academic portfolio used to solicit donations from private donors. Paz Olivarez is the founder of Futuros. You can contact Paz to have her volunteers provide AB540 support services to your counselors and educators.