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Identity-Based Scholarship Series: Scholarships for Hispanic Students

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Robyn Stewart College Finance Expert

Written by Robyn Stewarton September 13th, 2024

For over a decade Ms. Stewart has counseled families on how to save, plan, and pay for higher education. Prior to joining College Coach, she was a financial aid officer at the College of the Holy Cross and an education advisor at two TRIO program locations. Ms. Stewart works with the Massachusetts Education Finance Authority (MEFA) to present paying for college workshops to hundreds of families across the state. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst and has a master in counseling from Northeastern University.

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Scholarships are a way to close the gap between the cost of attendance at a college and a family’s own resources. Among the many scholarships that students can apply for are those that are established to support students based upon the ways they define themselves. There is no comprehensive list of identity-based scholarships; professional associations, companies, non-profit entities, religious organizations, political groups, and colleges and universities are among the many sponsors of scholarships that may be awarded in part based upon a student’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or presence of a disability. Bright Horizons College Coach wants to help ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to the resources they need to achieve their educational goals and has therefore launched this monthly scholarship series to help students pinpoint funding opportunities based upon their unique identities. Check out the below resources, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover funding sources that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier. In celebration of the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month, we look at scholarship resources for Hispanic students. Note that the below list is not exhaustive, but is intended to provide a starting place for Hispanic students to launch their scholarship searches. Your high school’s counseling office, general scholarship search sites like www.scholarships.com, and college websites can also provide useful scholarship information.
  • The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) helps students further their education by providing scholarships and other resources to ensure student success after high school and throughout college. Students are encouraged to review the site for scholarship details and eligibility requirements.
  • The National Association of Hispanic Nurses awards college scholarships to students enrolled full time in accredited nursing programs at all levels. Awards are given on a variety of factors, including financial need, merit, supporting documentation, and area of specialization. Award recipients must be active members in good standing.
  • The League of United Latin America Citizens offers several college scholarships for Hispanic students. In keeping with a mission of education excellence, the LULAC National Scholarship Fund was formed.
  • The Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Youth Award Program is open to high school seniors of Hispanic heritage who are accomplished both in and out of the classroom. Award winners receive a grant to be used for college or for a community service program that addresses pressing social issues.
  • Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley hopes to grow and foster diverse tech workforce in the Silicon Valley. The website offers resources for students and families, ranging from college scholarships to a leadership academy, internships and career readiness programs, expert panels, and more!
Remember, students are expected to report outside scholarships they receive to their college, and receipt of scholarships may impact other parts of a student’s financial aid award. It is best practice to reach out to the Financial Aid Office at your college for clarification of awarding policies. Best of luck, and please see the awarding organization’s website for full scholarship details and program opportunities.
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