Value: $5000–8000
Awards: Up to 3
Applications are accepted from February through March
ACUMEN stands for Aspire to College or University: Meet your Education Nexus. The ACUMEN Scholarship seeks to provide scholarships to students from Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) in Berkeley, Oakland Tech High School, and MyClymonds High School who face serious financial challenges and who are committed to attend college.
This scholarship will award up to 3 new scholarships each year. Awards for students attending 2-year colleges will be $5,000 each and awards for students attending 4-year colleges will be $8,000 each. Awards can cover educational costs including tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Current ACUMEN scholars are invited to renew their awards each year of college by demonstrating "good standing."
Eligibility requirements for new, first-time applicants:
- Current participants at Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) in Berkeley who are graduating from high school; OR
- Active participants and alumni at YSA who have graduated from high school and (a) not started college or (b) only attended community college (4 year college students are not eligible for first-time applications); OR
- Current, graduating seniors at Oakland Tech High School in Oakland; OR
- Current, graduating seniors at McClymonds High School in Oakland
- Must be attending either a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the upcoming fall term
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Must be eligible for federal free and reduced school lunch program
Winners will be selected by a committee based on the following priority areas:
- Financial need
- Sense of purpose and motivation for educational pursuits
- Desire to contribute to community, cultural, societal welfare
- Demonstrated qualities such as curiosity, perseverance, initiative, activism, empathy