2025 Scholarship Applications Now Open!

We are delighted to announce the launch of our inaugural 2025 Carina Mae Scholars Fund, a collaboration across her family, close friends and community organizations she worked closely with.

To spread Carina’s legacy of inclusion and building community, our Fund will not only provide monetary awards but will maintain relationships with our Scholars to provide continuous leadership development and civic engagement opportunities.

Our Fund will award the following:

  • [3] $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students who blend their studies with social justice to advance the fields Carina devoted her life to: youth mentorship, leadership development, human services and Filipino American community issues.

  • Free admission to all LEAD Filipino cultural and leadership training programs from 2025-2026.

  • [1] $250 stipend to advance a civic engagement project or campaign in their local community during the spring of 2026.

To Apply:
We are not asking applicants to fill out an online form. Instead, we are asking applicants to submit the following items in a single PDF document:

  • Cover letter

    • Your first and last name

    • Your email address and phone number

    • Your year in school and what college you are attending

    • Your city and state (must be in USA)

  • Your resume/CV

    • Include any and all professional and community-based volunteer experiences that you feel best capture your leadership and activism.

  • Your most recent transcript

    • We are asking for this so we can confirm two eligibility criteria. Your enrollment in a college or university and minimum GPA of 2.9.

  • Responses to each of the following questions (no more than 500 words per response):

    • Describe a specific social justice issue that deeply affects you and why. Tell us about a time you took action to address this issue in your community.

    • How will your chosen academic field contribute to promoting social change? How do you plan to use your education to advocate for marginalized groups?

    • Discuss a significant experience that shaped your understanding of social justice.

    • Tell us about any student or community-based organizations you are involved with. What is your role with these groups?

Submit Application by May 16th:
https://bit.ly/carinamaescholars25 or send to info@carinamaescholars.org

Interview with Selection Committee:
Candidates who advance to the interview stage will be contacted in early June. We anticipate interviews taking place June 28th-30th.

Timeline:

  • Applications open: March 6, 2025

  • Application due: May 16, 2025

  • Review Applications and Interviews: June

  • Recipients Announced and Award Ceremony: July

Questions:
info@carinamaescholars.org