Scholarships

Generous community members support the higher education dreams of students throughout Santa Cruz County through financial scholarships.

Welcome Students!

Thank you for your interest in our scholarship opportunities. Please read the scholarship descriptions and eligibility criteria below to learn about the scholarships available to students in Santa Cruz County.

Important Dates

November 22, 2022 - Application opens

Extended - February 15, 2023 - Application deadline 11:59pm PST

February 15, 2023 - Renewal Form Submission Deadline

February through April - Application review period

Early May - All applicants will be notified of their status

Late May & June - High School Awards Nights

Early June - Scholarship Award funds disbursed

Apply

Access the student portal here or click the APPLY NOW button in the 'How to Apply' section on this page.

Need Help?

Click below to visit our FAQs page or contact our Scholarship Coordinator at ksouza@cfscc.org.

Start a Scholarship Fund

Help students achieve their educational goals and leave a legacy that supports local youth for generations to come! We make it easy to establish a scholarship in your name tailored to your specifications. To learn more, click the link below to contact Hilary Bryant, our Donor Services Director.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply & Renew through our Student Web Portal

You can begin your application or renewal form any time on, or after November 22, 2022 using the online student portal. You can save your work as you go so we highly recommend starting your application early.

APPLY NOW!

What You Will Need

It can take up to 3 weeks to obtain the documents needed to complete your application so please allow plenty of time. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

  • FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) -or- California Dream Act Application (non- citizens): All applicants

To request your FAFSA Student Aid Report go to: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

To access your CA Dream Act App, go to: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/

  • Official High School Transcript: All applicants
  • Official College/University Transcript: Incoming Cabrillo and Hartnell sophomores.
  • Letter of Recommendation: All applicants
  • Coach Letter of Recommendation: Select applicants who are eligible for sports scholarships will be prompted to submit a letter from a Coach or Athletic Director

Available Scholarships


The descriptions below provide a summary of the eligibility qualifications established by the generous donors who have provided the award opportunities. Scholarships range in award amount and include both one-time awards and renewable awards. Award amounts are subject to change from year to year.

Barbara J. Thompson Scholarship

Multiple one-time awards of $1,000 or more are available for graduates or current graduating seniors of any accredited high school physically located within the Santa Cruz City Schools District who have a minimum 3.0 GPA, are US citizens who have resided in Santa Cruz County for three of the past four years, and have participated in three of the following activities during their high school term: Employment, Family Care, Community Involvement, Volunteer Work, and Sports.

Bert and Carolyn Post Scholarship

A one-time award of $2,500 is available for a graduating senior from Watsonville High School with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who demonstrates financial need and has the intention of becoming a public school teacher. Priority will be given to applicants who are first in their family to go to college and/or are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Bob & Betsy Darrow Scholarship

Multiple one-time awards of up to $5,000 are available for current graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County who demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Burton Scholarship

Multiple awards of up to $5,000 (renewable annually) are available for graduates or current graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County who have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA for two consecutive years, demonstrate financial need, and are US citizens.

Emmett & Elsie Geiser Scholarship

Multiple awards of up to $1,000 (renewable annually based on academic performance) are available for graduating seniors from Watsonville High School, Pajaro Valley High School, and Aptos High School who have earned at least one letter in an athletic program.

Ernest V. Cowell Scholarship

A one-time award of $1,000-$5,000 is available for a graduating senior or graduate of any public high school in the Santa Cruz City Schools District, who demonstrates financial need, and who will be attending a University of California campus.

Hank Garcia Jr. & Family Scholarship

Awards of $2,000 (renewable annually) are available for graduating seniors from Aptos High School, Monte Vista High School, Pajaro Valley High School, St. Francis High School, and Watsonville High School who have a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and are US citizens.

Isabel Fowler Sewell Scholarship

Five one-time awards of $5,000 are available to graduating seniors from Pajaro Valley High School, or any public high school in Santa Cruz County, who has a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrates financial need, and will be attending college at Cabrillo or an accredited 4-year college or university full-time.

Jack DeBord Memorial Scholarship Fund

One award of $5,000 (renewable annually) is available for a graduating senior from San Lorenzo Valley High School who has a minimum 3.0 GPA, and who has excelled in a team sport at SLVHS. Recipient may attend any accredited community, vocational, or two or four-year college.

John L. Turner Scholarship

A one-time award of $1,000 or more is available for a graduating senior from Watsonville High School or Pajaro Valley High School who has a minimum 2.0 GPA, demonstrates financial need, and is a US citizen.

Judy Anton Woman of Valor/Lupita Loves to Read Project Scholarship

An award of $1,000 or more (renewable annually) is available to Latina students who are graduates or current graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County, or a current student of Cabrillo College, reside in the Live Oak or Watsonville area at the time of application, and demonstrate financial need.

Laura Segura Scholarship

Three one-time awards of up to $4,000 are available annually to students who have attended Pajaro Valley private or public schools and/or Cabrillo College. This scholarship is intended to support youth or young adults who have been involved with the juvenile justice system (including being on probation, in foster care or otherwise involved).

Louis J. & Mary Ellen Schultz Scholarship

Multiple awards of $2,000 or more (renewable annually) are available for graduates or current graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled as full-time students.

R.H. Beel Memorial Scholarship

Multiple awards of up to $1,000 or more (renewable annually) are available for graduating seniors from Santa Cruz High School who show academic achievement and a history of service activities or volunteer work, will personally contribute to their educational costs, demonstrate financial need, and are US citizens.

Simunovich Family Agricultural Scholarship

One or more awards of $1,000 or more (renewable annually based on continued study in Agriculture) are available for graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County or the Pajaro Valley, or a student of Cabrillo College or Hartnell Community College who were residents of Santa Cruz County or the Pajaro Valley for at least two years prior to registration, and will be attending a 4-year university to study Agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about our scholarships.

Congrats 2022 Winners!

2022-2023 Scholarship Recipients

Meet the 34 local students who received scholarships through Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.

ALPERT SHARING FUND SCHOLARSHIP
Angel Soto, Watsonville High School (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)

JUDY ANTON WOMAN OF VALOR / LUPITA LOVES TO READ PROJECT SCHOLARSHIP Mariah Segura, Watsonville High School (UC Davis)

R.H. BEEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Yazmin Diaz, Santa Cruz High School (Pace University)

BURTON SCHOLARSHIP
Peyton Croghan, St. Francis High School (UC Davis)
Arlette Del Toro, Watsonville High School (UC Davis)
Daniel Espinoza, Harbor High School (UC Los Angeles)
Haley Jiang, Harbor High School (UC Los Angeles)
Marissa Mengheang, Harbor High School (Stanford University)

ERNEST V. COWELL SCHOLARSHIP
Arden Emhoff, Santa Cruz High School (UC Los Angeles)

BOB AND BETSY DARROW SCHOLARSHIP
Sophia Clemente, St. Francis High School (Santa Monica Community College)
Rossy Hernandez, Harbor High School (CSU Monterey Bay)
Alicia Krusee, San Lorenzo Valley High School (University of Arizona)

JACK DEBORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Abby Lahey, San Lorenzo Valley High School (CSU Monterey Bay)

HANK GARCIA JR. AND FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
Mandy LaMere, St. Francis High School (University of Southern California)
Danna Perez, Watsonville High School (Cabrillo College)
Diana Rocha, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Los Angeles)
Melissa Roman, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Berkeley)
Wade Watson, Aptos High School (UC Santa Cruz)

EMMETT AND ELSIE GEISER SCHOLARSHIP
Betzaida Chavez, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Santa Barbara)
Jaylen Dang, Aptos High School (University of San Francisco)
Isaak Vargas, Watsonville High School (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)

ISABEL FOWLER SEWELL SCHOLARSHIP
Sofia Fernandez, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Santa Cruz)
Cynthia Lopez-Fernandez, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Santa Cruz)
Ariana Ramirez-Chavez, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Berkeley)
Aileen Adela Lomeli, Pajaro Valley High School (UC Santa Cruz)
Jesus Avalos-Regalado, Pajaro Valley High School (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)

BERT AND CAROLYN POST SCHOLARSHIP
Valeria Felix, Watsonville High School (Cabrillo College)

LOUIS J. AND MARY ELLEN SCHULTZ SCHOLARSHIP
Jackeline Barrientos, Harbor High School (UC Los Angeles)

SIMUNOVICH FAMILY AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP
Miguel Sanchez-Ramirez, Watsonville High School (CSU Monterey Bay)

BARBARA J. THOMPSON SCHOLARSHIP
Mackenzie Hearon, Harbor High School (Cabrillo College)
Morgyn Michelson, Harbor High School (UC Los Angeles)
Zulma Ramirez-Ortega, Harbor High School (UC Los Angeles)
Joel Sosa-Udave, Harbor High School (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)

JOHN L. TURNER SCHOLARSHIP
Ashley Mazon, Watsonville High School (UC San Diego)