Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Hector and Catalina Garcia Graduate Endowed Scholarship will provide scholarships for graduate students with financial need and who have demonstrated commitment to the Hispanic community at large through community service, leadership, and activism. Hector and Catalina Garcia were committed to helping Hispanic communities for decades. This scholarships expands on their vision and commitment to the Hispanic community.

Who is Eligible?

  • SJSU graduate students in good academic standing who are matriculated in an SJSU master’s or doctoral degree program, a teacher credential or an advanced certificate program.
  • And who has at least one more semester (after the semester in which the application is submitted) before completing their graduate program.

Selection Criteria

  • The awardee(s) shall have demonstrated commitment to the Hispanic community at large through community service, leadership, and activism.
  • The awardee is a graduate student with financial need. 

Available Awards

Awards consisting of $7,500 each, will be provided to the awardees at the beginning of the fall semester following the award by disbursement to their bursar’s account.

Application Timelines

Applications are due: Friday, April 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Review begin: Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Awards announced: On last week of instruction, Monday, May 13, 2024. Recipients will be contacted directly.

Application Procedures

  1.  A copy of your entire submitted FAFSA form for 2023-2024 or a CA Dream Act form. It must have been submitted to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for you to be eligible for this scholarship.
  2. A minimum of two letters of recommendation (maximum 3 letters). The letter writers should address how the candidate has demonstrated a commitment to the Hispanic community at large through community service, leadership, and activism. They can send the letters to: graduate-scholarships@sjsu.edu with the Subject Line "Garcia Scholarship - Letter of Recommendation for Your Name"
  3. A personal written statement of no more than 1,000 words by the candidate that addresses how the candidate has demonstrated a commitment to the Hispanic community at large through community service, leadership, and activism. The candidate may, but is not required to, describe any special circumstances that affect their financial need and how the scholarship would help them complete their graduate education.
  4. A completed application form [pdf].

Application materials number 1, 3, & 4 should be submitted in one email by the student to graduate-scholarships@sjsu.edu. Subject line: Garcia Scholarship Application Materials - Your Name." 

If you have questions about the application process, please email: graduate-scholarships@sjsu.edu.