Getting ready and rising up: Asian American scholarships

It’s Fall, and I always get sentimental around this time of year. I love the holidays and the chance to reconnect with old friends and family to catch up with them. It’s also the time of year when I want to make sure our high school juniors and seniors are getting the support they need to prepare to go on to college. This can be a very challenging process, especially for many who’ve never had a family member attend college.

For Asian Pacific Islanders, there’s a pressing need for greater education. Over 30 percent of many of the Southeast Asian communities are reported to be living in poverty, such as the Cambodians, Hmong, and many Lao. Comparatively speaking, only 12 percent of the general population lives at or below the federal poverty level. Almost 50% of of the Asian Pacific Islanders attend only at the community college level, not four year institutions. But many of these institutions have not aligned their services and opportunities to take the distinct cultural needs of the Asian Pacific Islander communities into account.

One particular concern is finding and applying for scholarships. The reality is, there are very few available today that make a big dent in the average tuition costs from when many of our communities first began attending college. It breaks my heart to see so few Lao youth applying for even these few opportunities. I was able to complete my studies and complete a doctorate in Education because of support from scholarships. I know how much of a difference they can make in a student’s life firsthand.

From what we do know, there’s a strong need to develop scholarships to reach those most in need in our community. The general consensus has been to prioritize help to those Asian Pacific Islanders who are living at or below the poverty level, and who would be the first in their families to attend college. Friends who know families with children who fit these criteria may need to help them to apply for these programs.

We are also recognizing the importance to ensure that scholarships helping Asian Pacific Islanders address our community’s diversity. As we discuss often, Laos, for example, has over 160 recognized ethnicities from the highlands, midlands and lowlands. But they, like many others, have often had limited access and opportunity to be represented on college campuses. We can turn this around.

The majority of scholarship programs place a strong emphasis on selecting candidates who have a stong background in community service, leadership and academic achievement. Grades alone are not enough, today. Participation in extracurricular activities is positive, but our students need to demonstrate that they have a strong sense of civic character. A willingness to help others not just in their personal circle of friends and families, but who can see the importance and logic of helping others around the world. 

It’s never too young to start building a philanthropic mindset of generosity and compassion. For Lao American students, I would even note that these values are firmly embedded in our culture. But Lao American families and communities need to do more to give our students a chance to practice that sense and joy of service meaningfully. They need opportunities to build confidence and networks of friends and allies now who will be a big part of their journey in the years to come.

There are three key places for Asian Pacific Islanders to begin looking for scholarships this year. One of them is the Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund. For 10 years, the Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund has been strengthening communities across the country. APIASF’s mission is “to make a difference in the lives of AAPI students by providing them with resources that increase their access to higher education which serves as the foundation for their future success and contributions to a stronger America.” The deadline for applying is January 10th. You can learn more about their criteria at: http://www.apiasf.org/scholarships.html and they also have many other good leads for college students to consider.

The Ravens Forward Air Controllers who served in Laos during the Vietnam War have the Distinguished Raven FAC Memorial Scholarship. It’s presented annually to “a qualifying descendent of a Lao or Lao-Hmong individual who served in the Royal Laotian Military or Hmong forces in defense of the Kingdom of Laos between 1960 and 1975.” Their deadline for applying is February 28th. http://www.ravens.org/scholar/scholarship.htm The funds are provided to assist with tuition, lab fees, books, and other direct educational expenses. 

The Gates Millenium Scholarship is highly competitive. The deadline is January 15th, but it’s an amazing opportunity. Each year they  select 1,000 talented students to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship for any college or university of their choice. Gates Millennium Scholars are also provided with personal and professional development through their leadership programs along with academic support throughout their college career. You need a 3.3 GPA and must be either African American, American Indian – Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American. https://scholarships.gmsp.org

Although Minnesotans aren’t eligible for it, I want to call attention to the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund. Each year they choose a different state to give funds for scholarships. This year it will be for Southeast Asian students in North Carolina. The scholarship’s founders were all Nisei, second generation American-born descendants of Japanese immigrants. During World War 2 they were held in American internment camps because of institutionalized racism and political distrust. The NSRCF honors the Nisei and pays tribute to the individuals and organizations who reached across racial differences and wartime hatred to help the Nisei students. The deadline to apply will be announced soon. http://www.nsrcfund.org

We also need to keep an eye out for those of our students who want to go beyond a bachelor’s. The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is one that I would definitely recommend but the deadline is November 8th, so you’d have to work fast to get your application in for this year. http://www.pdsoros.org/ Like most, this one is extremely competitive, but the support they give you throughout your program and beyond are outstanding.

What other scholarship programs would you recommend for Asian Pacific Islanders?