Ortega Foundation Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Miami Foundation
Program summary
Purpose and origin
The Ortega Foundation Scholarship honors founder Jose Antonio Ortega, Sr. and supports academically accomplished Miami‑Dade County high school seniors who need financial assistance to attend college. The program is intended to expand access to undergraduate education for students with strong academic records. Awards are competitive and intended to recognize merit alongside demonstrated need.
Key takeaways:
- Scholarship established in honor of Jose Antonio Ortega, Sr.
- Targets academically accomplished Miami‑Dade County high school seniors
- Focuses on expanding access to undergraduate education
- Awards reflect a combination of merit and financial need
Award details
Funding and permitted use
The Ortega Foundation will award up to $7,000 per year for each recipient, renewable for up to four years. Scholarship funds must be applied toward the recipient’s institution’s official cost of attendance. These awards are restricted to undergraduate‑level studies only.
Key takeaways:
- Up to $7,000 per year, for a maximum of four years
- Funds applied to the institution’s official cost of attendance
- Awards are for undergraduate programs only
Eligibility requirements
Who qualifies
To be eligible, applicants must be Miami‑Dade County residents, graduating high school in Spring 2026, and have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5. Only high school seniors meeting all three conditions may apply. Ensure you meet these baseline requirements before beginning the application.
Key takeaways:
- Must be a Miami‑Dade County resident
- Must be a high school senior graduating Spring 2026
- Minimum unweighted GPA: 3.5
Application and deadline
How to apply
All applications must be submitted online via the Miami Foundation scholarship portal at miamifoundation.org/scholarships by 11:59 p.m. on the posted deadline. The Ortega Foundation cannot accept mailed, faxed, or emailed applications. Review your submission carefully to confirm all fields and attachments are complete before finalizing.
Key takeaways:
- Apply online at miamifoundation.org/scholarships
- Submission deadline: 11:59 p.m. on the posted due date
- No mailed, faxed, or emailed applications accepted
- Double‑check the application for completeness before submission
Selection process and criteria
Evaluation and decision-making
A Scholarship Advisory Committee will review and rate applications, then make final award decisions. Reviewers consider academic achievement and financial need alongside applicant materials such as essay responses, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and a short personal video. Strong, well‑articulated submissions that demonstrate both merit and need are most competitive.
Key takeaways:
- Reviewed and rated by a Scholarship Advisory Committee
- Evaluated on academic achievement and financial need
- Required materials considered: essay questions, personal statement, letter of recommendation, and short personal video
- Final awards determined by the committee’s evaluations