OCCACCF Scholarship Application

Objective

OCCACC Foundation is committed to help our community by reaching out to those students who have succeeded both inside and outside of the classroom - but may have difficulty attending college without financial assistance. We believe that investing in students who are leaders will result in positive and sustainable communities in the future.

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Scholarship Application Requirements

The applicant has a need for financial aid to continue higher education (proof is needed, see below).
The applicant must be graduating from a high school in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and other nearby cities in summer of 2024.
The applicant must possess a current year admission to a community college, college or university in the United States by May 2024.
The applicant is of Chinese descent.
The applicant must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (non-weighted).

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Applicant must submit all information listed below:

Step 1: Complete the application

◽️ Please fill out and sign the Application for Scholarship online

Step 2: Submit documents online

◽️ Proof of financial need (Your FAFSA application)

Note: Guidance for eligibility for Federal Student Aid is available here

◽️◽️ Proof of qualification as low income household

Your signed family’s complete 1040 tax return (not just the first couple pages) including all schedules (if any) for the most recent two years.
Note: Low-income is defined as below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) based on location and family size. See California's Official State Income Limits here

◽️ A recent photo of the applicant.
◽️ Autobiography / Personal statement

The content may include: brief self-introduction of the applicant, his or her family, interests, work experiences, involvement in community service, goals and aspirations, financial situation, and reason for applying to this scholarship.
Typed double-spaced in English; about 500 words.

◽️ Transcript (cumulative)
◽️ SAT or ACT score (recommended, not required)

Step 3: Mail documents

◽️ Your IRS form 4506-T signed by the same filing parent(s) (original signature required) authorizes us to check your tax return. Please use this link and print
◽️ Recommendation Letter

ONE recommendation letter; no more than one page and addressed to the OCCACC Foundation. The recommendation letter may be provided by: a) High school teacher or advisor, b) Current or past manager or employer, c) Organizational leader.
This letter should be printed on letterhead, with the contact information of the person who makes the recommendation, sealed, and sent to us directly to the address below by this person.
NOTE: Recommendation letter from friends or relatives will not be accepted.

Application Timeline and Important Dates

Application deadline will be postmarked no later than April 7, 2024.

Note that this deadline was extended from March 15 to April 7, following the Department of Education's recent announcement about the FAFSA delay in 2024.

There will be a home visit conducted between April 22 to May 10, 2024 for the selected applicants (will call for scheduling).
Finalists will be notified May 13, 2024 to schedule their panel interview.
Panel interviews will take place on May 18 or 19, 2024 for the selected scholarship finalists.
The “OCCACC Scholars” will be announced the week of May 20, 2024.
The Scholarship Award Banquet is scheduled for June 22, 2024. All "OCCACC Scholars" MUST be at the award banquet in person to accept the Scholarship. Scholars who fail to show up at the banquet will be automatically disqualified for the Scholarship.

Application Rules and Regulations

OCCACC Foundation will award around ten (10) “OCCACC Scholars” up to four (4) year Scholarships at $5,000 annually. The exact number of scholarship recipients will depend on how many are qualified under the sole discretion of the OCCACCF Board Directors. Any parental intervention will disqualify the applicant automatically.
To ensure receiving a four year uninterrupted award, each OCCACC Scholar must continue submitting his/her college grades-minimum of 2.5 average GPA for each school year, 3.0 and above is preferred, continuously from the previous year
Checks will be made out annually in the name of the student. The check should only be spent for needs at the school.
The IRS Form 4506-T must bear the original signature. The IRS Form 4506-T and Recommendation Letter should be submitted by mail only at the address below.
Every year the selection of OCCACC Scholars and their eligibility to continue receiving scholarship for the subsequent years until graduation are determined and monitored at the sole discretion by the Board of Directors of the OCCACC Foundation.