Scholarship Information:

Purpose
The Cal-SOAP College Access Scholarship aims to make post-secondary education financially accessible to academically talented, low-income and first-generation college students in the North Valley Cal-SOAP service area who are continuing on their pathway through higher education.  By providing financial support to students with historically low college-going rates, the North Valley Cal-SOAP Consortium and the College Access Foundation of California seek to increase college participation, persistence and graduation rates. This in turn will lead our students and their families to experience higher quality social and economic lives through their educational attainment.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be currently enrolled 12th grade or community college students of the North Valley Cal-SOAP Consortium as of Feb. 15, 2010.  The North Valley Cal-SOAP Consortium serves students in the Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties who are from low-income families; will be the first in their families to attend college; or are from schools or areas with documented low-eligibility or college participation rates.
2. Applicants must plan on attending an accredited post-secondary institution (community college or four-year university) in the 2010-2011 academic year.
3. Applicants who are currently attending a community college AND who will continue to attend a community college in the Fall 2010 term, must attach a signed educational plan indicating university transfer focus.
4. Applicants must plan on enrolling in 6 or more units, beginning in the Summer or Fall term 2010.
5. Applicants must have obtained, at minimum, a 2.0 cumulative GPA for the 2009-2010 year.
6. Priority will go to applicants who have a documented financial aid need.

Awards
The total awarded to new applicants will equal $100,000.00 with most recipients receiving $1,000 and some receiving $500.  Recipients will be notified by May 2010, and actual disbursements will occur after proper verification of enrollment has been submitted. 

Application Form
Applicants must submit the 2 page Cal-SOAP College Access Scholarship application form. It is highly recommended that the entire application be completed via computer or typed – no additional attachments other than the required documents listed below will be accepted.  Downloadable and fill-in applications are available on the North Valley Cal-SOAP website at http://www.northvalleycal-soap.org

Required Documents - Student Aid Report, Transcript, Release Form and Educational Plan for Community College Students  (AB 540 Students are not required to submit the SAR).
All applicants must attach a copy of their most current transcript (unofficial okay) AND applicants who are currently attending a community college must attach a copy of their Signed Educational Plan. All Applicants must attach a copy of Page 1 of their Student Aid Report (SAR) from their 2010-2011 FAFSA and  a completed and signed Release of Confidential Information Form.

Deadline
Application packets must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2010.  Faxed, emailed, incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. Also applications missing any of the required documents will not be considered.

Address
Mail or hand-deliver your completed 2010-2011 Cal-SOAP College Access Scholarship application packet prior to 4:30pm, Friday, April 30, 2010 to the central Cal-SOAP Site at the following location:

Cal-SOAP Program – Yuba College
2088 N. Beale Road, Room B102
Marysville, CA 95901
530-749-3858