ProgramsCollege Scholarships
photo by Tasin Sabir
Thank you for visiting our Scholarship Program page. Click here to see a list of the 2010 Scholarship Awardees.
Scholarship Program Annoucements
Why Scholarships?
About Marcus Foster Education Fund Scholarships
Selection Criteria & Process
2010 Scholarship Application Downloads
How do I Receive Payment of my Award?
Scholarship Announcements
Check out our Scholarship Links Page to see a comprehensive list of scholarships offered by other agencies. Already in college? Have a look at our College Resources page for tips and resources on financial aid, internships, money management, and places to purchase cheap textbooks.
Why Scholarships?
Photo by Rob Her
Every year, youth in Oakland overcome incredible challenges and barriers to attain the dream of a post-secondary education that many others take for granted. If there are any doubts about this fact, our 2009 scholarship demographics illustrate this point clearly.
- 85% of our awardees come from low income backgrounds
- 42% come from single-parent homes
- 55% of our awardees are first generation college students, while only 35% had two parents that had graduated from high school
- 50% had parents who were limited or non-English speakers.
Many of these student’s were Oakland’s top performing scholars, so our demographics say a lot about the incredible odds that our scholars are overcoming to get into college. Jorge Labastida, awardee of the Clorox Partners Scholarship, talks about how he changed his life by deciding to leave life on the streets behind after he witnessed a friend get shot. “I knew that, if I continued hanging out with that crowd, I would end up dead or in jail, so I began participating in programs that would help me get back on track with my schoolwork.” Instead of spending afternoons in the streets, he joined a tutoring program, and also enrolled in many other extracurricular activities. He convinced his counselors to let him enroll in AP classes, and by the end of his junior year, he was the only student in his class to pass the AP History exam. Such numbers and such stories are a gentle reminder of why we give scholarships to Oakland's college bound youth.
2008 Awardee writes about importance of Scholarships
2009 Awardee writes compelling essay about personal circumstances
About Marcus Foster Education Fund Scholarships
MFEF, in partnership with local business, community groups, and individuals, provides scholarship funds to at least 60 graduating high school seniors who are pursuing a post-secondary degree every year.
Graduating seniors may use the scholarships to pursue post-secondary education at a two- or four-year college, or at a vocational training institute. Some scholarship donors choose to maintain a long-term relationship with their students, providing extended internships and employment for them upon graduation.
MFEF receives dozens of letters each year from scholarship students. Here are some of the things that scholarship students have said about the program:
"This semester my class registration, books, etc., have overwhelmed me with their costs. Your money has definitely been appreciated. I know you give this money to many other students in my position, I also know you don't have to. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me an opportunity to go to college and to make myself, your organization, my family, and community proud."
"I am absolutely thrilled to know that I will be able to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles without worrying too much about money. Even though I will have work-study and have already taken out a few loans, the award will help pay the rest of the tuition."
"Thank you again for enabling me to fulfill my dream to attend a black college and study to become an OB/GYN."
Selection Criteria & Process
In order to apply you must:
- Be an Oakland Public School high school senior
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50
- Plan to attend a four-year or two-year institution in the fall following your graduation from high school
- Be an educationally motivated youth that embodies Dr. Foster's vision that education requires the involvement of the whole community
- Attend the annual Scholarship Ceremony in June
- Attend a financial literacy workshop after high school graduation
All applicants must fill out an application which can be downloaded below. Please note that there is a separate application for those who wish to apply for the Port of Oakland Scholarships. The application process usually begins in mid-January of each year, and completed applications are due by mid-March. We mail the application to every high school senior who meets the GPA eligibility requirements, and distribute applications to high school counselors' offices to ensure equitable distribution. Scholarships are awarded by a panel of community members, school counselors, and principals in April, and we mail award letters by mid-May. The Scholarship Awards Ceremony occurs in the beginning of June, just before high schools begin their own graduation ceremonies.
2010 Scholarship Application Downloads:
Marcus Foster Ed Fund Scholarship Application 2010
Port of Oakland Scholarship Cover Letter
Port of Oakland General Application - For All Oakland Seniors
Port of Oakland Children of Employees Application - For children of Port employees
How do I Receive Payment of my Award?
While this is covered in the award letters, we are posting it here as it is the most common question we get from awardees. Please note that this applies to most awards, excluding the UPHigh scholarship. Payments are made directly to scholars, and are sent by check to the address we have on file.
In order to receive payment of your scholarship award, you will need to provide proof of full-time attendance in a 4-year college/university (or in some cases, a 2-year college depending upon the requirements of the award). The verification of attendance document will be accepted in the following method: “Official verification of attendance and degrees” bearing the university seal stating your status as a full-time student available from the University Registrar or Admissions Office.
Once you begin college you may request funds at any time up until three years from the date you received your award letter - in most cases this is the spring semester of your junior year. Your scholarship will be paid out in two installments of 50% the full amount each time you make a request. You may make a request once per semester. Please note that you will need to send us a written update on your progress along with your enrollment documents when you request your second payment (written update details below).
In order to receive the second payment of your award please send a one page minimum single or double-spaced typed letter to us which briefly describes your experience, successes, and challenges up to that point in college (you will mail this along with your proof of enrollment for your second payment). In addition to giving a summary of your experience, you may write about any significant or memorable events in detail.
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