Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship at College of Graduate Studies 2025

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a graduate student in good academic standing, enrolled in a master's, doctoral, teacher credential, or advanced certificate program at SJSU.
• Have at least one semester remaining in their graduate program after the semester in which the application is submitted.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Hispanic community through community service, leadership, and activism.
• Show financial need, as the scholarship is intended to assist students who may face financial challenges in completing their graduate studies.

Scholarship Value and Benefits

• The scholarship offers a $7,500 award, which will be disbursed to the recipient’s bursar account at the beginning of the fall semester following the award.
• This financial support is intended to assist the recipient in completing their graduate education while continuing their contributions to the Hispanic community.

Application Process

To apply for the Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship, students must follow these steps:

• FAFSA or CA Dream Act Form: Applicants must submit a copy of their completed FAFSA form for the 2024-2025 academic year or a CA Dream Act form, which must be on file with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.
• Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of two letters of recommendation (up to three letters are allowed) must be submitted.
• The letter writers should speak to the applicant’s commitment to the Hispanic community through community service, leadership, and activism. Letters should be sent to graduate-scholarships@sjsu.edu with the subject line “Garcia Scholarship - Letter of Recommendation for [Your Name].”
• Personal Statement: Applicants must submit a personal statement (up to 1,000 words) detailing how they have demonstrated a commitment to the Hispanic community through service, leadership, and activism.
• The statement may also include any special circumstances that affect the applicant’s financial need and how the scholarship will support their graduate education.
• Application Form: A completed application form (PDF) must be submitted by the student.

Application Timelines

• Application Deadline: Friday, April 11, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. PST.
• Application Review Begins: Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
• Award Announcements: The awardees will be announced during the last week of instruction, Monday, May 12, 2025. Recipients will be contacted directly.