From The G-Man: Scholarships For Undocumented Students

By Laura Bohorquez and Mayu Takeda

“Being a Latina woman, who is undocumented and unafraid, I had to apply to many scholarships to be able to achieve my educational dreams. After much self-advocacy and community support, I have been able to earn 18 scholarships towards my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington, Bothell. Earning these scholarships has taught me the power of sharing my story of self as a 1.5 generation, undocumented immigrant. My scholarship donors and my community have made an investment into my life as a scholar. Their generous donation and support has allowed me to prioritize my time, by focusing on my studies and giving forward to my community.”

-Alejandra Perez, senior at University of Washington, Bothell

The fight towards education equity continues because it includes advocating across the multiple issues affecting our underrepresented communities. One of the issues is making sure that all students regardless of their multiple identities is able to go to school if they choose to. However, some of the barriers impeding that this is possible for our undocumented community is the constant rise in tuition, the lack of access to federal financial aid and the varying state laws that prohibit undocumented community members to pay in-state tuition or attend at all. Because of this schools, private entities, and organizations have continued to invest in all students and have helped countless students go to college by supporting scholarship funds.

Below please find scholarships that have an upcoming deadline and that are open to undocumented students. These scholarships are provided by either foundations, organizations, or individual donors who believe that all students should have the opportunity to compete for resources that would make their educational dreams a reality.

Laura Bohorquez is coordinator for the Dream Educational Empowerment Program (DEEP). She can be reached at laura@unitedwedream.org. Mayu Takeda is an advocacy associate at Generation Progress and can be contacted at mtakeda@americanprogress.org.

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Hit the Books Scholarship (Deadline 09/30/2015)

Jan Egerton & Don Smitley Scholarship (Deadline 10/09/2015)

Scholarships for 2015 (Deadline 10/07/2015)

La Unidad Latina Foundation Scholarships (Deadline 10/15/2015)

Single Mother’s Scholarship 2015 (Deadline 12/05/2015)

Affinity Plus Foundation Scholarship Program (Deadline 01/29/2016)

Frank Kazmierczak Memorial Migrant Scholarship (Deadline 02/01/2016)

Scholarships (Deadline 03/31/2016)

Gloria Mattera National Migrant Scholarship Fund (Deadline 04/15/2016)

Jean DeGrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship Fund (Deadline 04/15/2016)

Margaret Raley New York State Migrant Student Scholarship (Deadline 04/15/2016)