As we embark on the fifth year of our scholarship program, we continue to reflect, renew, and embrace the beauty and power that comes from a painful history. At the founding of our scholarship fund was a mission to bring value to stories most dismissed in educational spaces, not because they lack potential or knowledge, but due to educational systems merit-based selection practices that are rooted in elitism, white supremacy culture, and a myth of meritocracy.

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Historically, scholarship applications have required students to prove their value through GPAs, letters of recommendation, and written responses justifying their adherence to English grammar. But at Central Valley Scholars, we believe every student is equally worthy, deserving, and has all the power to change the world. So instead, we’ve created a scholarship curriculum that is centered on storytelling.

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Our scholarship fund intentionally reserves opportunities for students most oppressed in our communities, and through a holistic review of the individual and system-wide obstacles students face in applying to scholarships, we’ve created a truly accessible scholarship program that allows all students, especially those who are oppressed, to have equal opportunities to fund their higher education.

For the 2024 application cycle, are proud to offer $17,000 in scholarships for Central Valley students, and are eager for the learnings, love, and power we will gain from our collective stories.

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