Santa Cruz County Community Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Scholarship overview

The scholarships below reflect eligibility criteria established by the donors who support these awards. Awards vary in value and may be one-time or renewable. Award amounts are subject to change from year to year.

• Eligibility requirements vary by scholarship and may include financial need, academic standing, school or college enrollment, and career interests.
• Some awards are renewable; renewal conditions are specified in the individual descriptions.
• Review each scholarship’s requirements carefully before applying.

Scholarship details

The awards listed here serve students from a range of schools and educational programs. Some are limited to students at specific high schools or colleges, while others are open to applicants across Santa Cruz County or neighboring counties. Award amounts, renewal terms, and other eligibility criteria are provided in each description.

• Several scholarships require applicants to demonstrate financial need.
• Minimum GPA requirements and eligible educational institutions differ by award.
• The Environmental Scholarship has a separate application and FAQ, despite using the same application portal as the other opportunities.

Santa Cruz County Scholarship Endowment: Multiple awards are available to graduating seniors from any high school in Santa Cruz County, students enrolled at Cabrillo College, or individuals with experience working in a desired trade or career path. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.

Environmental Scholarship: Multiple awards are available to graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing at the University of California, Santa Cruz; San Jose State University; or California State University, Monterey Bay. Applicants should be committed to solutions that benefit both people and the planet. This scholarship has a separate application and FAQ, although applicants use the same portal as for the other opportunities. Please review the FAQ online.

Barbara J. Thompson Scholarship: Multiple one-time awards of $1,000 or more are available to graduates or graduating seniors of an accredited high school physically located within the Santa Cruz City Schools District. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have resided in Santa Cruz County for three of the past four years. During high school, applicants must have participated in at least three of these activities: employment, family care, community involvement, volunteer work, or sports.

Bert and Carolyn Post Scholarship: Two one-time awards of $2,500 are available to graduating seniors from Watsonville High School. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and intend to become public school teachers. Priority is given to applicants who are the first in their families to attend college and/or are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Burton Scholarship: Multiple awards of up to $5,000, renewable annually, are available to graduates or graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County. Applicants must have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA for two consecutive years and demonstrate financial need.

Dr. Robert P. Quinn Memorial Scholarship: A one-time award of $2,500 is available to a graduating senior from Aptos High School. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and plan to attend an accredited community college, vocational program, or two- or four-year college.

Emmett & Elsie Geiser Scholarship: Multiple awards of up to $3,000 are available to graduating seniors from Watsonville High School, Pajaro Valley High School, or Aptos High School who have earned at least one letter in an athletic program. Awards are renewable annually based on academic performance.

Ernest V. Cowell Scholarship: A one-time award of up to $2,000 is available to a graduating senior or graduate of any public high school in the Santa Cruz City Schools District. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and plan to attend a University of California campus.

Giles Family Scholarship: One award of up to $5,000, renewable annually, is available to a graduating senior from any high school in Santa Cruz County who participates in art, craft, or music programs. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled or admitted to Cabrillo College, San Jose State University, or the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Graniterock/Woolpert Family Scholarship: One award of $2,500, renewable annually, is available to a graduating senior from a high school in Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito County. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and plan to attend an accredited community college or four-year college. Preference is given to female students pursuing civil engineering or construction management.

Hank Garcia Jr. & Family Scholarship: Multiple awards of $2,000, renewable annually, are available to graduating seniors from Aptos High School, Monte Vista High School, Pajaro Valley High School, St. Francis High School, or Watsonville High School. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need.

Isabel Fowler Sewell Scholarship: Multiple 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. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and plan to attend Cabrillo College or an accredited four-year college or university full-time.

John L. Turner Scholarship: A one-time award of $1,000 is available to a graduating senior from Watsonville High School or Pajaro Valley High School. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.

Judy Anton Woman of Valor/Lupita Loves to Read Project Scholarship: One award of $1,000 or more, renewable annually, is available to female students who are graduates or graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County, or current students at Cabrillo College. Applicants must reside in the Live Oak or Watsonville area when applying and demonstrate financial need.

Louis J. & Mary Ellen Schultz Scholarship: One award of $2,000 or more, renewable annually, is available to graduates or graduating seniors of any high school in Santa Cruz County. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be enrolled as full-time students.

Live Like Leo Scholarship: Two awards of $2,500, renewable annually, are available to graduating seniors from any high school in Santa Cruz County. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and intend to study abroad while in college.

R.H. Beel Memorial Scholarship: One award of $1,000 or more, renewable annually, is available to graduating seniors from Santa Cruz High School. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement, a history of service activities or volunteer work, financial need, and a willingness to contribute personally to their educational costs.

Richard and Theresa Crocker Santa Cruz County Scholarship: One or more awards of $5,000, renewable annually, are available to graduating seniors from any high school in Santa Cruz County or students enrolled at Cabrillo College. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA or experience working in a desired trade or career path, and must demonstrate financial need. Recipients may attend any accredited community, vocational, two-year, or four-year college.

Simunovich Family Agricultural Scholarship: One or more awards of $1,000 or more, renewable annually based on continued study in agriculture, are available to graduating seniors from any high school in Santa Cruz County or the Pajaro Valley, and to students at Cabrillo College or Hartnell Community College. Applicants must have lived in Santa Cruz County or the Pajaro Valley for at least two years before registration and plan to attend a four-year university to study agriculture.