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15th ANNIVERSARY ESPERANZA FUND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

 

The Esperanza Education Fund provides scholarships to students from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC who are immigrants or the children of immigrants. 

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In 2024, the Esperanza Education Fund is celebrating 15 years of supporting immigrant students in the DMV Area with a special Scholarship Award designed specifically to support high-school graduating students enrolling in 2-year Associate Degree programs at area community colleges.

 

The application opens on May 15, 2024. 

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Scholarship Benefits

SCHOLARSHIP

In 2024, the Esperanza Education Fund will award $20,000 in scholarships for community college applicants. Esperanza will select 4 - 5 scholarship recipients who will each receive $4,000 - $5,000 for their Associate's Degree at a DMV community college. 

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  • In 2024, each scholarship award will be $4,000 - $5,000.

  • Scholarship awards are divided into equal payments that are disbursed each qualifying academic semester of college/university enrollment in an accredited degree program.

    • For example, a scholarship in the amount of $4,000 to a recipient attending a two-year community college will be disbursed as 4 equal payments of $1,000, one payment per qualifying academic semester to equal a total award of $4,000.​

  • Scholarship awards are disbursed directly to the colleges the scholars attend.

MENTORSHIP & SCHOLAR SUPPORT

Scholarship Awardees become Esperanza Scholars

As an Esperanza scholar, you have access to the invaluable resources of mentorship and annual programming. Each Esperanza scholar will

  • Be paired with a mentor who can help them throughout their higher education journey with academic and social support, networking, and career advice.

  • Participate in an annual Career Day with professional development activities.

  • Gain access to cohort program activities to build community among our scholars.

Scholar Benefit
2024 Award Eligibility

​If you do not meet all four criteria, please do not apply. Applications from ineligible applicants will not be reviewed.

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  • Must have been born outside the U.S. OR have two parents who were born outside the U.S.

  • Must be a graduating senior at a high school in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia OR have earned a GED within the last four years and reside in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia

  • Must plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public two-year community college in the US for the academic year​

  • Must have had a household income of less than $100,000

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There are no citizenship requirements for the Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship.

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You are not eligible if

  • You are attending a private college or university.

  • You earned your high school diploma outside the U.S., unless you have subsequently earned a GED in the U.S.

  • You graduated high school the previous Spring.

  • You are NOT attending a two-year community college. 

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Eligibility
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Application
Materials

  • Household financial information

  • Family background

  • Intended college or university

  • High school transcript or GED scores

  • SAT or ACT scores (optional)

  • Extracurricular activities

  • One essay

  • One letter of recommendation

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Sample PDF of Past Application

*For Reference Only

Application Materials

Selection Criteria

CRITERIA

Judges score applications on three criteria: academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and distance traveled

Academic achievement

  • This score is based on applicants’ high school GPA, class rank (if available), SAT or ACT scores (if available), and number of honors/AP/IB courses taken.

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Extracurricular involvement

  • This is broadly defined. For example, someone working 20 hours per week might score highly in this section. High scores might also be awarded to someone who founded or served as president of a club at their school, who has performed a great deal of community service, or who watches their younger siblings every day after school while their parent works.

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Distance traveled

  • This is metaphorical, not literal. Distance traveled is a measure of how much the student has achieved in light of the obstacles they have faced. For example, someone who crossed the border alone two years ago but has nonetheless achieved a 3.0 GPA and joined the soccer team would receive a high score. In contrast, a lower score might go to someone with a 4.0 GPA who was brought to the United States as an infant and was raised by parents who both had college degrees.

Selection Process & Criteria
Timeline

Selection Timeline

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

All applications must be submitted by July 1.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Applications are under review July 1-15.

FINALIST INTERVIEWS

The top 8-10 applicants will be invited to interview July 20 - 31.

 

A panel of approximately five to seven judges will interview the finalists and select the top 4-5 to receive scholarships.

 

Judges score applications on three criteria: academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and distance traveled.

AWARDEE SELECTION

Winning applicants will be informed on August 1. 

Selection Process & Criteria
Timeline
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