By: Gus Najera, Director of College Success Program
The College Success Program at Fulfillment Fund has been a significant factor in helping our college
students persist and thrive while pursuing their degrees. Through our team of expert college advisors, we provide academic and financial advisement, as well as social-emotional support. Our career readiness initiatives and community-building activities support our students as they build the skills and knowledge they will need when they graduate and start their chosen careers. However, one of the key hallmarks of the College Success Program is our financial support of our Fulfillment Fund Scholars.
Over the past few years, Fulfillment Fund has worked diligently and intentionally to create multi-year scholarship opportunities for students attending a variety of post-secondary options. Where historically we funded scholarships for students attending four-year universities, our Scholarship Program has now expanded to include students attending community college with plans to transfer, students in the process of transferring from community college to a four-year university to finish their degree, and even students who are attending career training certificate programs to prepare for their chosen trade. We have been able to develop and enhance our scholarship program through multiple avenues, including important donations from individual donors, foundation grants, and partnerships with community organizations. While our scholarships are competitive, we are proud to be able to fund close to 100 new scholarship recipients annually, ensuring a large cohort of students enter our program each year.
It is an exciting time for our scholars, as we have been building out new alliances with community organizations that are like-minded in their commitment to helping students receive financial support to achieve their college-going dreams. We are very excited about our most recent partnership with the LA Rams, who developed the Kenny Washington Memorial Scholarship, created to honor the legacy of the first African American player in the modern NFL. This scholarship is open to graduating high school students in Los Angeles and will provide financial and college advising support to 13 college-bound students each year they are in college.
Our Scholarship Program is designed with a two-fold approach. On the one hand, we know that many students count on our scholarships to help defray the costs of college attendance that may not be covered through their traditional financial aid. Transportation, books, and other ancillary costs can add up quickly for college students. Having a Fulfillment Fund scholarship gives our students extra financial support for the duration of their college careers. We also know that they need guidance and support to navigate their college years successfully. Our College Success team works closely with each of them while they are in school, providing advisement tailored to each student’s specific situation and needs.
When a student is awarded a Fulfillment Fund scholarship, they know they not only will receive much-needed financial support for college costs, but they will also have the full support and backing of our entire College Success team. Being a Fulfillment Fund Scholar means having the full resources and services of the organization at your fingertips throughout your college years and beyond.
Scholarship Opportunities for the 2022/23 academic year:
- Fulfillment Fund Scholarship
Deadline: February 7, 2022 - Fulfillment Fund Transfer Scholarship
Deadline: February 28, 2022 - Career Technical Education Scholarship
Deadline: March 15, 2022 - Kenny Washington Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 7, 2022