Scholarships

SMCCCD Scholarships

Each year, the three colleges of the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) -- Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College -- award institutional scholarships to new, continuing, and transfer students. The scholarship awards are based on academic achievement, financial need or specific interests such as clubs, athletics, and service.

Funding for our scholarships comes from contributions to San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation which ensures that quality, affordable higher education is available to every member of our community. Visit the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation website to learn more.

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Skyline College Scholarships

 

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Please Note: External scholarships have their own terms and conditions. The donor determines which academic costs are covered by their scholarship. For example, some scholarships require the cost of books and supplies appear on a student's college invoice and they don't cover items purchased outside of the bookstore. It's important that you review the Terms and Conditions of your scholarship. The Financial Aid Office is a third party, we assist with the disbursement of these funds and follow the requirements set by the donor. We don't have the authority to override these requirements.  

 

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San Bruno Community Foundation: Crestmoor Neighborhood Memorial Scholarship

 

Founded in 2016, the Crestmoor Neighborhood Memorial Scholarship provides multi-year college scholarships to exceptional San Bruno students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the San Bruno community. The Crestmoor Scholarship honors the community members who most directly endured the destruction of the 2010 gas pipeline explosion that devastated San Bruno’s Crestmoor neighborhood, especially the eight San Bruno residents who lost their lives. It ensures that the tragedy of September 9, 2010, is not forgotten and that the resiliency, teamwork, leadership, and commitment to the community displayed in San Bruno in the aftermath of the explosion are honored in the Scholarship’s annual recipients.

The Scholarship Program’s goal is to assist outstanding San Bruno students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the San Bruno community obtain a college degree. Scholarship Recipients must demonstrate, as the top criteria, deep engagement and involvement in the San Bruno community. Other factors that will be considered during the selection process include, in no particular order, an applicant’s financial need, extracurricular activities, academic record, and examples
of leadership, teamwork, and collaboration. The Foundation may also consider whether an applicant has overcome significant challenges or obstacles and how those circumstances may have affected the applicant’s school activities, other community involvement, or achievement in school

Scholarship awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, required supplies, room and board, and transportation. Scholarship renewals will be contingent upon proof of enrollment for the following academic year and proof of status as a student in good standing at the college. (The Foundation also offers Crestmoor Scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning to enroll at a four-year institution or community college.)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Live in San Bruno or attend a community college located in San Bruno at the time of application
• Plan to enroll, during the fall of 2023, as a transfer student from a community college at an accredited four-year college or university
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, for AB 540 students, the California Dream Act Application

Application Checklist:

• Online Application Form
• Financial need documentation (copy of FAFSA Student Aid Report or, for AB 540 students, CA Dream Act Application Student Aid Report)
• Proof of San Bruno residency (for applicants who do not attend a community college located in San Bruno)
• Official community college transcript
• Certification of Good Standing from community college Admissions & Records Office (You may send your form with G# to Patricia Flores at floresp@smccd.edu)
• Certifications & Authorizations Form

Click here to access the application but do not forget to submit your application by March 7, 2023 at 5:00 PM.

If you missed the Crestmoor Scholarship Informational Workshop, you can click here   to view the presentation.

If you have any quesitons, please call or email the Scholarship Coordinator, Patricia Flores at floresp@smccd.edu or call (650) 738-4390.

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Pivotal Scholarship

Pivotal   is committed to improving the life outcomes for former and current foster youth in Silicon Valley through advancing opportunities for education and employment.  Our scholarship program began in year 2000, and we are currently serving approximately 180 students across California and the United States. Our scholarships help you pay for any expenses you have while you're enrolled in school. If you're a foster youth who's already enrolled in or planning to enroll in a 4-year college or university...you're eligible to receive up to a $5,000 scholarship for each year that you're in school, for a maximum of 5 years.  We'll also pair you with an amazing Pivotal coach who will stick with you throughout your college journey, connects you to free tutoring, and helps you get a job when you're done with school. If you are interested in receiving scholarship funds for the 2023-2024 academic year, we highly encourage you to apply!  

Please make sure you have closely reviewed the scholarship eligibility criteria below before starting the application:

• I meet one of the following foster care requirements:
  1) I was a dependent of the court (foster care or Guardianship including KinGAP) at least 1 day after age 13 in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County.
  2) I was a dependent of the court (foster care or Guardianship including KinGAP)  at least 1 day after age 13 in another county and am living in or attending school in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County.
• I have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or a 2.0 cumulative college GPA
• I have earned a High School Diploma or GED, or will have earned one before the start of Fall 2023
• I have applied for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or Dream Act for the 23-24 academic year by the priority deadline of 03/02/2023 and I am eligible to receive all federal and state financial aid 
• I have been accepted to or will be attending a community college, university, or accredited vocational school for the upcoming academic year

Pivotal will be offering a Drop-In Scholarship Workshop to help students apply, answer any questions in person or via Zoom on March 15, 2023 from 4:00 -7:00 PM. Click here   to register!

The deadline to submit the 23-24 Pivotal Scholarship is Friday, March 31st (before midnight).

Thank you for choosing to make a difference in your life through higher educational attainment! Good luck in the application process! 

If you require additional assistance or have questions, please contact Glenda Castro | glenda.castro@pivotalnow.org

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Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

To qualify for the scholarship, students must be:

• Pell-eligible
• Have a Pell-eligible EFC
• Must be less than 24 years of age
• Or enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parents or guardians death

 For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a “public safety officer” is:

• An individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or chaplain;
• An employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who is performing official duties of the agency, if those official duties:
• are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and
• are determined by FEMA to be hazardous duties;

Check Children and Fallen Heros Scholarship Act for more information regarding this scholarship and to view definitions.

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External Scholarship Opportunities

There are plenty of scholarships available to apply for outside of the district. See a list of scholarships we recommend looking into based on your personal background, interests, and goals.

External Scholarship Opportunities

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Additional Scholarship Resources